Today in History: Afrika Korps German Panzer formed [02/20/41]

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[yankeedame]

Afrika Korps

The Afrika Korps was formed on February 12, 1941 after the German Armed Forces High Command (OKW) had decided to send an expeditionary force to Libya to support the Italian army, which had been routed by an Allied counteroffensive, Operation Compass. The German expeditionary force, commanded by Erwin Rommel, at first consisted only of the 5th Panzer Regiment and various other small units. These elements were organized into the 5th Light Division when they arrived in Africa in February. In the spring the 5th Light Division was joined by the 15th Panzer Division, though it did not arrive until after Rommel had made a counter-offensive and re-taken most of Cyrenaica and gone back over to the defensive. At this time the Afrika Korps consisted of the two divisions plus various smaller supporting units, and was officially subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa (though Rommel had conducted his offensive without any authorization).

Rommel in Africa - Summer 1941.On October 1, 1941, the German 5th Light Division was redesignated 21st Panzer Division, still attached to the Afrika Korps.

During the summer of 1941 OKW invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On August 15 Panzer Group Africa was activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrika Korps was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units. (A German "group" was approximately the equivalent of an army in other militaries, and in fact Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on January 30, 1942.)

[Pistolshot]

Exceptional commander, wrong crusade, wrong superior.

[johnny7]

Exceptional commander, wrong crusade, wrong superior...

cool uniforms

[dfwgator]

Rommel you magnificent bastard.....

[Nevernever]

May 13, 1943 - Tunis / Bizerte: The last Axis resistance in Africa ended with the surrender of over 275,000 prisoners of war... A much better day to celebrate, in my estimation...

[PzLdr]

DAK eventually included the 90th and 164th Light Infantry Divisions, and Ramcke's Parachute regiment

[PzLdr]

Great weapons [Mark IV with the long barreled 75,the 88mm AA/AT gun, the armored cars].

[PzLdr]

I became an Armor Officer because of Erwin. For tankers, Rommel is God.

[gate2wire]

Agreed. Screw rommel. He killed Americans, tried to kill one of my uncles. I hope he's burning in hell for what he did to help that insane effin' paper hanger.

[SunkenCiv]

Well put, although the African campaign was taken very seriously by the British due to the petroleum and the canal. Had Hitler not had kaka for brains, that is, had some grasp of strategy (or tactics, for that matter), the loss of the canal and the oil would have brought about even worse conditions in Britain, perhaps leading to the starvation of the British navy. Without the expenditure brought on by Barbarossa, the Germans could have managed it. I don't think the UK would have capitulated, but under such conditions, who knows?

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The Desert Generals [Cassell Military Classics] by Correlli Barnett

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[Michael81Dus]

I´m glad my grandpa served in Rommel´s staff and not in one Nazi staff. At least we know for sure that Erwin Rommel fought for the bad side fair battles with a human face. Rommel was one of the good guys on the wrong side, and he´s one General the German Army can be proud of.

[Michael81Dus]

Rommel was the enemy, but he refused to kill POW´s - despite of Hitler´s order - so he has proven to have resist against the evil. He served the wrong side, but do you wish every German soldier to rot in hell, just because he served his country, which was his obligation upon death?

[gate2wire]

I have no sympathy for anyone who fought for those madmen.