As the number of German armed forces committed to the North Africa Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the now larger Afrika Korps, with Italian units under this new German command structure, a session of different German commands were created to manage the Axis assets in Africa: The battle in the North African desert during World War II from 1940-1943. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... The seal of Afrikakorps The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is...

• Panzer Group Africa, (Panzergruppe Afrika) August 1941 – January 1942
• Panzer Army Africa, (Panzerarmee Afrika) January 1942 – October 1942
• German-Italian Panzer Army, (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) October 1942 – February 1943
• Army Group Africa, (Heeresgruppe Afrika) February 1943 – May 1943

Panzer Group Africa

After the inital campaign when Rommel was techically under the command of the Italians, the German Armed Forces High Command (German acronym OKW) created a larger command structure in Africa, creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On August 15 1941 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. German cavalry and motorized units entering Poland from East Prussia during the Polish Defensive War of 1939 Wehrmacht (help· info) (Defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... Oberkommando der Wehrmacht OKW most notably stands for Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - the high Command of the Third Reich armed forces. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... Ludwig Crüwell (March 20, 1892 - September 25, 1958), German General known for his involvement with the Afrika Korps. ...

Panzer Army Africa

Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on January 30 1942.^[1] January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

German-Italian Panzer Army

Panzer Army Africa was redesignated as German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) in October 1942 during the long retreat after the defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign . Combatants British Commonwealth Poland Free French Forces Greece Germany Italy Commanders Bernard Montgomery Erwin Rommel Strength 250,000 men 1,030 tanks 900 guns 530 aircraft 90,000 men 500 tanks 500 guns 350 aircraft Casualties 23,500 dead or wounded 500 tanks 13,000 dead 46,000 wounded or... The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. ...

Army Group Africa

In February 1943 the headquarters was upgraded to Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika) to manage the defense of Tunisia during the final stages of the North African Campaign, its combat units – including the Afrika Korps – were turned over to the Italian First Army. Command of the Army Group was turned over to Hans Jürgen von Arnim in March, and it surrendered on May 13, 1943, ending the Axis presence in Africa. During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 (The USA started to directly supply the British in this effort on May 11, 1942) to May 13, 1943. ... The seal of Afrikakorps The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is... The Italian First Army was an Italian field army of World War II that fought on the North African Front. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

Order of battle

Throughout its existence this headquarters controlled the well-known Afrika Korps, and for most of its life it controlled a number of other German and Italian units as well.^[2] The following overview of its assets is taken from lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de, with dates corrected (see references).

Order of battle of Panzer Group Africa

Panzer Group Africa (Rommel)

• As of September 1941: (during Rommel's first push into the Western Desert)
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • German 15th Panzer Division

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (November 15, 1891–October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals of World War II and one of the greatest military leaders of his time. ... The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. ... The seal of Afrikakorps The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is... 33rd Infantry Division 15th Panzer Division 15th Panzergrenadier Division History This unit was created as the 33rd Infantry Division in 1936, and mobilized in 1939, but it did not take part in the invasion of Poland. ...

Order of battle of Panzer Army Africa

Panzer Army Africa (Rommel)

• As of January 1942: (during Rommel's second push into the Western Desert)
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian X Corps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • Italian Marmarica Corps
  • German 90th Light Africa Division
  • Italian 55th Division Savona
• As of April 1942: (before and during the Gazala battles and the Siege of Tobruk)
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian X Corps
  • Italian XX Motorized Corps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • German 90th Light Africa Division
• As of August 1942: (during the Battle of El Alamein)^[3]
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian X Corps
  • Italian XX Motorized Corps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • Italian 133rd Armored Division Littorio

Combatants United Kingdom Australia Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 - Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North African Campaign of World... Sup G There were two battles of El Alamein, both during 1942. ...

Order of battle of the German-Italian Panzer Army

German-Italian Panzer Army (Rommel)

• As of November 1942: (during the withdrawal from the Western Desert)
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian X Corps
  • Italian XX Motorized Corps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • German 90th Light Afrika Division
  • Italian 136th Motorized Infantry Division Giovanni Fascisti
  • Italian 17th Infantry Division Pavia
• As of February 1943: (defending southern Tunisia)
  • German Afrika Korps
  • Italian XX Motorized Corps
  • Italian XXI Corps
  • German 164th Light Afrika Division
  • German Ramcke Parachute Brigade

164th Infantry Division Fortress Division Kreta Fortress Brigade Kreta 164th Light Afrika Division Created as 164th Infantry Division in November 1939. ... The Ramcke Parachute Brigade was an organization of four battalions of Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers), plus supporting units, under the command of Hermann Ramcke during World War II. It was sent to North Africa in 1942 to bolster Axis forces in the Western Desert. ...

Order of battle of Army Group Africa

From February 1943:

• German Fifth Panzer Army (northern Tunisia)
• Italian First Army (southern Tunisia)

5. ... The Italian First Army was an Italian field army of World War II that fought on the North African Front. ...

See also

• Western Desert Campaign, Siege of Tobruk, North African Campaign
• Panzer, Armored warfare
• Army, Wehrmacht,
• List of World War II military units of Germany
• List of Italian divisions in WWII

The Western Desert Campaign was the primary early theatre of the North African Campaign of World War II. It is sometimes referred to as the Egypt-Libya Campaign. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia Poland Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Commanders Leslie Morshead Erwin Rommel Strength 14,000 - Casualties Britain: 9009 killed 941 captured estimated 12,000 total 8,000 The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces, mostly Australian, in the North African Campaign of World... During World War II the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from September 13, 1940 (The USA started to directly supply the British in this effort on May 11, 1942) to May 13, 1943. ... PzKpfw V-D, a Panther tank   Panzer? is German for armour. ... Armoured warfare in modern warfare is understood to be the use of armoured fighting vehicles as a central component of the methods of war. ... Army (from French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... German cavalry and motorized units entering Poland from East Prussia during the Polish Defensive War of 1939 Wehrmacht (help· info) (Defence force) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... The List of World War II military units of Germany contains all military units to serve with the armed forces of Germany during World War II. Major units above corps level are listed here. ... This is a list of Italian divisions in WWII. Alpine Divisions Italian 1 Alpini Division Taurinense Italian 2 Alpini Division Tridentina Italian 3 Alpini Division Julia Italian 4 Alpini Division Cuneense Italian 5 Alpini Division Pusteria Italian 6 Alpini Division Alpi Graie Armoured Divisions Italian 101 Armoured Division Centauro Italian...

References

• Wendel, Marcus (2004). "Panzer-Armee Afrika". Retrieved May 7, 2005.
• "164. leichte Afrika-Division". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 7, 2005.
• "Deutsches Afrika-Korps (DAK)". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 7, 2005.
• "Panzergruppe Afrika / Panzerarmee Afrika / Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 7, 2005.

• Pipes, Jason. "Heeresgruppe Afrika". Retrieved May 12, 2005.
• "Heeresgruppe Afrika". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 12, 2005.

May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ A German Panzer group was an army-level headquarters. As the war progressed all of the Panzer groups were redesignated as Panzer armies.
2. ^ Notice that a no time were all the German units in Africa subordinate to the Afrika Korps; some were reserves for the Panzer Army, and some were occasionally subordinated to Italian armies or corps.
3. ^ A very detailed order of battle for this period is given at axishistory.com. However, it may have a few inaccuracies in its details, e.g. other sources show the German 164th Light Afrika Division subordinate to the Italian XX Corps rather than directly to Panzer Army Afrika.