The Deutsches Afrikakorps (often just Afrika Korps or DAK) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt's Western Desert during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps the term is commonly used to refer to the headquarters plus its attached combat units as an organic body. This article is about a military unit. ... Tiger II, perhaps the most advanced Panzer Panzer is an abbreviation of Panzerkampfwagen, a German compound noun which translates as Armoured Combat Vehicle. It became synonymous with German tanks during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. ... A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around 10,000 soldiers. ... The battle in the North African desert during World War II from 1940-1943. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Organization of the DAK

The DAK was formed, on February 19, 1941, after OKW had decided to send an expeditionary force to Libya to support the Italian army, which had been routed by the British 8^th Army's 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 Rommel had already re-taken most of Cyrenaica and gone back over to the defensive. At this time the DAK 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). February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht or OKW (Wehrmacht High Command, Armed Forces High Command) was part of the command structure of the Nazi armed forces during World War II. In theory, it served as the military general staff for Adolf Hitlers Third Reich, coordinating the efforts of the German Army... The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ... Operation Compass was a World War II Allied military operation in the Western Desert Campaign. ... Erwin Rommel Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals and commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II. He is also known by his nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs). ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... 5th Light Division 21st Panzer Division Created as 5th Light Division or 5th Light Afrika Division in Africa in early 1941, from an ad hoc collection of smaller units rushed to support the collapsing Italian army. ... 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. ... Roman province of Cyrenaica, 120 AD Cyrenaica was a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between Egypt and Numidia; it had been formerly Greek. ...

Rommel in Africa - Summer 1941

On October 1, 1941, the 5th Light Division was redesignated as the 21st Panzer Division, still attached to the DAK. Rommel in Africa - Summer 1941 This work is copyrighted. ... Rommel in Africa - Summer 1941 This work is copyrighted. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ...

During the summer of 1941 OKW invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Afrika. On August 15 Panzer Group Afrika was activated with Rommel in command, and command of the DAK was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The Panzer Group controlled the DAK 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, and in fact Panzer Group Afrika was redesignated as Panzer Army Afrika on January 30, 1942.) 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. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

After the defeat at El Alamein and the Allied invasion of western North Africa, OKW once more upgraded its presence in Africa by creating the XC Army Corps in Tunisia on November 19 1942, and then creating a new 5^th Panzer Army headquarters there as well on December 8. On February 23, 1943 Panzer Army Afrika was redesignated as the 1^st Italian Army and put under the command of an Italian general, while Rommel was placed in command of a new Army Group Afrika created to control both the 1^st Italian Army and the 5^th Panzer Army. The remnants of the DAK and other surviving units of the 1^st Italian Army retreated into Tunisia and were lost along with the rest of Army Group Afrika in the general surrender there on May 13. El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast. ... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Canary Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ...

Terminological Notes

Strictly speaking the term Deutsches Afrika Korps refers only to the corps headquarters and its attached units, though amateur writers often carelessly use the name in reference to all the German units in North Africa before the retreat to Tunisia. The most notable of those other units were the Afrika zbV ("special purpose") Division, which was created as an infantry division and slowly upgraded to a fully motorized division, and then redesignated as the 90th Light Afrika Division; the 164th Light Afrika Division, also an infantry division; and the Ramcke parachute brigade (named after its commander). There were also eight Italian divisions under Rommel's command in Panzer Army Afrika, including two armored divisions with very inferior equipment, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and one Folgore parachute division. The army was supported by a number of smaller units from both the German and Italian armed forces. Infantry in the First World War Infantry (or Infantrymen) are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, using personal weapons. ... Division zbV Afrika 90th Light Infantry Division 90th Light Afrika Division 90th Panzergrenadier Division Created in August 1941 as Division zbV Afrika, from units already in Africa under the control of . ... 164th Infantry Division Fortress Division Kreta Fortress Brigade Kreta 164th Light Afrika Division Created as 164th Infantry Division in November 1939. ... Panzergruppe Afrika Panzerarmee Afrika Panzerarmee Afrika was a formation of the German Heer whcih fought during World War II. Panzerarmee Afrika saw action in North Africa, and incorporated the famous Deutsches Afrikakorps, as well as several Italian corps. ...

The designation Light (G. leichte) did not refer to a standardized table of organization and equipment (TOE) for the various German divisions that bore that designation. For instance, the 5^th Light Division had an organization very similar to the 21^st Panzer Division, whereas the 164^th Light Afrika Division was at first a partially motorized infantry division and never had any tanks at all. Various German divisions in Africa occasionally reorganized or re-equipped without a change of name, or conversely were redesignated with a new name without any substantial reorganization.

Historical Postscript

After the surrender in Africa three of the German divisions that had fought in the Western Desert were reconstituted in Europe. Apa copied this from wikipedia.org The 15^th Panzer Division was reconstituted as the 15^th Panzergrenadier Division, the 90^th Light Division was reconstituted as the 90^th Panzergrenadier Division, and the 21^st Panzer Division was reconstituted under its own name. This article needs cleanup. ...

Afrika Korps Marching Songs

Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht.

Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied!

Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand,

Stehen zur Schlacht gegen Engeland

Es rasseln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor,

Panzer rollen in Afrika vor.

Translation: Heat (abbreviated Q, also called heat change) is the transfer of thermal energy between two bodies which are at different temperatures. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... A Sun is the star at the centre of a solar system. ... A motor is a device that converts energy into mechanical power, and is often synonymous with engine. ... Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice. ... This page is about musical songs. ... The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... See also the town of Battle, East Sussex, England Generally, a battle is an instance of combat between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...

Hot over African ground, the sun is glowing.

As the panzer engines sing their song!

German panzers in the blazing sun,

As they stand in battle against England

2nd Song: "Unser Rommel" (Our Rommel): World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Tiger II, perhaps the most advanced Panzer Panzer is an abbreviation of Panzerkampfwagen, a German compound noun which translates as Armoured Combat Vehicle. It became synonymous with German tanks during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...

Mit uns im Kampf und im Siege vereint,

marschieren Italiens Scharen.

Bis einst die Sonne des Friedens uns scheint,

und wieder gen Deutschland wir fahren.

Doch wenn mich die feindliche Kugel fand,

so lasset mich ruhen im Wüstensand,

und rühret noch einmal die Trommel,

Vorwärts, vorwärts mit unserem Rommel.

Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel.

Translation:

Together with us in battle and victories,

the Italians are marching with us.

Till soon the sun of peace will shine for us,

and we will return to Germany.

But if an enemy shot hit me,

let me back in the desert sand,

but tabour for a last time for me.

Forwards, forwards with our Rommel,

Forwards with our Rommel.

See also

• Western Desert Campaign, North African Campaign
• Panzer, Panzer Division, Armored warfare

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 Libya-Egypt Campaign. ... The battle in the North African desert during World War II from 1940-1943. ... Tiger II, perhaps the most advanced Panzer Panzer is an abbreviation of Panzerkampfwagen, a German compound noun which translates as Armoured Combat Vehicle. It became synonymous with German tanks during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. ... Panzer Division is the German term for armored division. ... Armoured warfare in modern warfare is understood to be the use of armoured fighting vehicles as a central component of the methods of war. ...

References

• Cooper, Matthew (1990). The German Army 1933-1945. Scarborough House. Chelsea, MI, USA. ISBN 0-8128-8519-8.
• von Mellenthin, Major General F. W. (1956). Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War. First Ballantine Books Edition, 1971. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0345244400.
• Rommel and the Afrika Korps (http://www.third-reich-books.com/afrikakorps.htm)