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999th Light Afrika Division

January 01, 1970

The 999th Light Africa Division (999. leichte Afrika-Division) was a German Army unit formed in Tunisia in early 1943. The basis of the division was the 999th Africa Brigade (999. Afrika-Brigade), formed several months earlier, as a penal military unit. While all members of Nazi punishment units were labeled "criminals", a significant proportion of the brigade's members had been transferred to it for holding, or being perceived to hold, anti-Nazi ideas.

999th Africa Division
Afrika-Division 999
Emblem of the division
Active6 October 1942
Disbanded15 May 1943
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Heer (Wehrmacht)
TypeInfantry
RoleBandenbekämpfung
Combined arms
Desert warfare
Forward observer
Raiding
Garrison/HQHeuberg
EngagementsNorth African Campaign
Tunisian Campaign
Partisan war in Greece

The division was not fully-formed when Axis forces in North Africa began to collapse. Consequently, the elements of the division that fought in Tunisia generally did so as independent battalions or companies, which suffered high losses (in terms of casualties and captured) before being withdrawn. Fighting mostly against US Army forces, many members of the division reportedly surrendered their positions to the Americans without a fight.

Afterwards, the severely depleted division was sent to Axis-occupied Greece for garrison duties and to conduct "Bandenbekämpfung";[1] a term which, in Nazi usage, was usually a euphemism for anti-partisan campaigns.

During the deployment to Greece, some members of the division commenced (or recommenced) a range of subversive and/or anti-Nazi activities. The most prominent of these was Falk Harnack, who defected to the Greek resistance and, with other German defectors, formed the Anti-Fascist Committee for a Free Germany (AKFD).[2] Another notable member of the AKFD was August Landmesser, who reportedly refused to make the Nazi salute during his military service and had been depicted in such a protest, in a famous photograph.[3]

Commanders edit

Commanders were:[4]

  • Oberst Heinz Karl von Rinkleff – October 1942 to 2 February 1943 (transferred to Russian front after the surrender at Stalingrad)
  • Generalleutnant Kurt Thomas [de] – 2 February 1943 to 1 April 1943) (KIA 1 April 1943 when his plane was shot down by Luftwaffe fighters en route to Tunis.)
  • Generalmajor Ernst-Günther Baade – 2 April 1943 to 13 May 1943)

Organization edit

Order of battle of Afrika-Brigade 999[4]

  • Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (Infantry) 961
  • Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
  • Nachrichten-Kompanie (Communications) 999

Order of battle of 999 Afrika Division[4]

  • Stab
  • Divisions-Kartenstelle (Maps) 999
  • Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 961
  • Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
  • Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 963
  • Panzerjäger-Abteilung 999
  • Artillerie-Regiment (Artillery) 999
  • Pionier-Bataillon (Engineers) 999
  • Aufklärungs-Abteilung (Reconnaissance) 999
  • Astronomischer Messtrupp (Navigation) 999
  • Werkstatt-Kompanie (Laboratory) 999
  • Werkstatt-Kompanie 999
  • Entgiftungs-Batterie (Detoxification) 999
  • Nachschub-Bataillon (Supply) 999
  • Schlächterei-Kompanie (Butchers) 999
  • Bäckerei-Kompanie (Bakers) 999
  • Divisions-Verpflegungsamt (Rations) 999
  • Sanitäts-Kompanie (Medical) 999
  • Krankenkraftwagen-Zug (Ambulance) 999
  • Veterinär-Kompanie (Veterinary) 999
  • Feldgendarmerie-Trupp (Military police) 999
  • Feldpostamt (Postal) 999

See also edit

 
Stolperstein for Hans Klapper, a victim from the "Strafdivision 999"


References edit

  1. ^ Mark Mazower (1993). Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation, 1941-44. Yale University Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-300-06552-7.
  2. ^ Gottfried Hamacher, Andre Lohmar, Herbert Mayer and Günter Wehner, Gegen Hitler: Deutsche in der Resistance, in den Streitkräften der Antihitlerkoalition und der Bewegung "Freies Deutschland" Dietz, Berlin (March 2005), p. 76. ISBN 3-320-02941-X (in German)
  3. ^ Bartrop, Paul R. (2016). Resisting the Holocaust: Upstanders, Partisans, and Survivors. ABC-CLIO. p. 152. ISBN 9781610698795.
  4. ^ a b c George F. Nafziger – The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941–1943
  • Klausch, Hans-Peter (1986) "Die 999er: von der Brigade "Z" zur Afrika-Division 999 : die Bewährungsbataillone und ihr Anteil am antifaschistischen Widerstand". Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  • Tessin, Georg (1976). "Die Landstreitkräfte 801—13400" [Ground forces 801-13400]. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939—1945 (in German). Vol. 13. Osnabrück: Biblio. p. 200. ISBN 978-3-7648-1029-0.

External links edit

  • militaryhistorynow.com Strafbataillon
  • Condemned Men – Meet Hitler’s Penal Battalions, 29 July, 2013 [permanent dead link]
  • Strafbataillon 999, by Heinz G. Konsalik, first published January 1, 1962

January 01, 1970
999th, light, afrika, division, 999th, light, africa, division, leichte, afrika, division, german, army, unit, formed, tunisia, early, 1943, basis, division, 999th, africa, brigade, afrika, brigade, formed, several, months, earlier, penal, military, unit, whil. The 999th Light Africa Division 999 leichte Afrika Division was a German Army unit formed in Tunisia in early 1943 The basis of the division was the 999th Africa Brigade 999 Afrika Brigade formed several months earlier as a penal military unit While all members of Nazi punishment units were labeled criminals a significant proportion of the brigade s members had been transferred to it for holding or being perceived to hold anti Nazi ideas 999th Africa DivisionAfrika Division 999Emblem of the divisionActive6 October 1942Disbanded15 May 1943Country Nazi GermanyBranchHeer Wehrmacht TypeInfantryRoleBandenbekampfungCombined armsDesert warfareForward observerRaidingGarrison HQHeubergEngagementsNorth African Campaign Tunisian CampaignPartisan war in Greece The division was not fully formed when Axis forces in North Africa began to collapse Consequently the elements of the division that fought in Tunisia generally did so as independent battalions or companies which suffered high losses in terms of casualties and captured before being withdrawn Fighting mostly against US Army forces many members of the division reportedly surrendered their positions to the Americans without a fight Afterwards the severely depleted division was sent to Axis occupied Greece for garrison duties and to conduct Bandenbekampfung 1 a term which in Nazi usage was usually a euphemism for anti partisan campaigns During the deployment to Greece some members of the division commenced or recommenced a range of subversive and or anti Nazi activities The most prominent of these was Falk Harnack who defected to the Greek resistance and with other German defectors formed the Anti Fascist Committee for a Free Germany AKFD 2 Another notable member of the AKFD was August Landmesser who reportedly refused to make the Nazi salute during his military service and had been depicted in such a protest in a famous photograph 3 Contents 1 Commanders 2 Organization 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCommanders editCommanders were 4 Oberst Heinz Karl von Rinkleff October 1942 to 2 February 1943 transferred to Russian front after the surrender at Stalingrad Generalleutnant Kurt Thomas de 2 February 1943 to 1 April 1943 KIA 1 April 1943 when his plane was shot down by Luftwaffe fighters en route to Tunis Generalmajor Ernst Gunther Baade 2 April 1943 to 13 May 1943 Organization editOrder of battle of Afrika Brigade 999 4 Afrika Schutzen Regiment Infantry 961 Afrika Schutzen Regiment 962 Nachrichten Kompanie Communications 999 Order of battle of 999 Afrika Division 4 Stab Divisions Kartenstelle Maps 999 Afrika Schutzen Regiment 961 Afrika Schutzen Regiment 962 Afrika Schutzen Regiment 963 Panzerjager Abteilung 999 Artillerie Regiment Artillery 999 Pionier Bataillon Engineers 999 Aufklarungs Abteilung Reconnaissance 999 Astronomischer Messtrupp Navigation 999 Werkstatt Kompanie Laboratory 999 Werkstatt Kompanie 999 Entgiftungs Batterie Detoxification 999 Nachschub Bataillon Supply 999 Schlachterei Kompanie Butchers 999 Backerei Kompanie Bakers 999 Divisions Verpflegungsamt Rations 999 Sanitats Kompanie Medical 999 Krankenkraftwagen Zug Ambulance 999 Veterinar Kompanie Veterinary 999 Feldgendarmerie Trupp Military police 999 Feldpostamt Postal 999See also edit nbsp Stolperstein for Hans Klapper a victim from the Strafdivision 999 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Afrika Korps August Landmesser Division military Military unit Fliegerfuhrer Afrika North African Campaign Panzer Army Africa Strafbattalion punishment units in the Wehrmacht Wehrmacht divisions in World War IIReferences edit Mark Mazower 1993 Inside Hitler s Greece The Experience of Occupation 1941 44 Yale University Press p 200 ISBN 978 0 300 06552 7 Gottfried Hamacher Andre Lohmar Herbert Mayer and Gunter Wehner Gegen Hitler Deutsche in der Resistance in den Streitkraften der Antihitlerkoalition und der Bewegung Freies Deutschland Dietz Berlin March 2005 p 76 ISBN 3 320 02941 X in German Bartrop Paul R 2016 Resisting the Holocaust Upstanders Partisans and Survivors ABC CLIO p 152 ISBN 9781610698795 a b c George F Nafziger The Afrika Korps An organizational history 1941 1943 Klausch Hans Peter 1986 Die 999er von der Brigade Z zur Afrika Division 999 die Bewahrungsbataillone und ihr Anteil am antifaschistischen Widerstand Retrieved December 2 2015 Tessin Georg 1976 Die Landstreitkrafte 801 13400 Ground forces 801 13400 Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939 1945 in German Vol 13 Osnabruck Biblio p 200 ISBN 978 3 7648 1029 0 External links editmilitaryhistorynow com Strafbataillon Condemned Men Meet Hitler s Penal Battalions 29 July 2013 permanent dead link Strafbataillon 999 by Heinz G Konsalik first published January 1 1962 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 999th Light Afrika Division amp oldid 1222280284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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