As the number of German troops committed to the North African 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 enlarged Afrika Korps, with Italian units under this new Italian and German command and a succession of commands were created to manage Axis forces in Africa:
Panzer Group Africa, (Panzergruppe Afrika, Gruppo Corazzato Africa) August 1941 – January 1942; German-Italian force
Panzer Army Africa, (Panzerarmee Afrika, Armata Corazzata Africa) January–October 1942
German-Italian Panzer Army, (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee, Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca) October 1942 – February 1943
Army Group Africa, (Heeresgruppe Afrika, Gruppo d'Armate Africa) February–May 1943
When the Afrika Korps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW, Armed Forces High Command) created a larger command structure in Africa, forming a new headquarters, Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika, Gruppo Corazzato Africa). On 15 August 1941, Panzer Group Africa was activated with newly promoted General der PanzertruppeErwin Rommel in command. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps and other units that were sent to Africa (notably the 90th Light Infantry Division), and the Italian X Corps and XX Corps.
Panzer Army Africaedit
Panzer Group Africa was renamed Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika, Armata Corazzata Africa) on 30 January 1942. (A German Panzer group was an army-level headquarters. As the war progressed all of the Panzer groups were renamed Panzer Armies.)
German-Italian Panzer Armyedit
Panzer Army Africa was renamed German-Italian Panzer Army' (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee, Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca) in October 1942 during the long retreat after the defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign.
Army Group Africaedit
In February 1943, the headquarters was expanded and called Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika, Gruppo d'Armate Africa) to manage the defence of Tunisia during the final stages of the North African Campaign. Army Group Africa included the German Fifth Panzer Army (5. Panzerarmee) and the Italian 1st Army. Command of the Army Group was turned over from Rommel to Hans-Jürgen von Arnim in March. He surrendered the Army Group on 13 May 1943, ending the Axis presence in Africa.
Order of battleedit
Throughout its existence, this headquarters controlled the Afrika Korps and for most of its life it controlled a number of other German and Italian units as well. Not all 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. The following overview of its components is taken from lexikon-der-wehrmacht de, with dates corrected (see references).
Panzer Group Africa (Rommel)edit
As of September 1941: (during Rommel's first push into the Western Desert)
panzer, army, africa, panzer, armee, afrika, redirects, here, wargame, panzer, armee, afrika, board, game, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducin. Panzer Armee Afrika redirects here For the wargame see Panzer Armee Afrika board game This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message As the number of German troops committed to the North African 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 enlarged Afrika Korps with Italian units under this new Italian and German command and a succession of commands were created to manage Axis forces in Africa Panzer Group Africa Panzergruppe Afrika Gruppo Corazzato Africa August 1941 January 1942 German Italian force Panzer Army Africa Panzerarmee Afrika Armata Corazzata Africa January October 1942 German Italian Panzer Army Deutsch Italienische Panzerarmee Armata Corazzata Italo Tedesca October 1942 February 1943 Army Group Africa Heeresgruppe Afrika Gruppo d Armate Africa February May 1943 Contents 1 History 1 1 Panzer Group Africa 1 2 Panzer Army Africa 1 3 German Italian Panzer Army 1 4 Army Group Africa 2 Order of battle 2 1 Panzer Group Africa Rommel 2 2 Panzer Army Africa Rommel 2 3 German Italian Panzer Army Rommel 2 4 Army Group Africa 3 Commanders 4 See also 5 FootnotesHistory editPanzer Group Africa edit When the Afrika Korps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa In the middle of 1941 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht OKW Armed Forces High Command created a larger command structure in Africa forming a new headquarters Panzer Group Africa Panzergruppe Afrika Gruppo Corazzato Africa On 15 August 1941 Panzer Group Africa was activated with newly promoted General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel in command The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps and other units that were sent to Africa notably the 90th Light Infantry Division and the Italian X Corps and XX Corps Panzer Army Africa edit Panzer Group Africa was renamed Panzer Army Africa Panzerarmee Afrika Armata Corazzata Africa on 30 January 1942 A German Panzer group was an army level headquarters As the war progressed all of the Panzer groups were renamed Panzer Armies German Italian Panzer Army edit Panzer Army Africa was renamed German Italian Panzer Army Deutsch Italienische Panzerarmee Armata Corazzata Italo Tedesca in October 1942 during the long retreat after the defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign Army Group Africa edit In February 1943 the headquarters was expanded and called Army Group Africa Heeresgruppe Afrika Gruppo d Armate Africa to manage the defence of Tunisia during the final stages of the North African Campaign Army Group Africa included the German Fifth Panzer Army 5 Panzerarmee and the Italian 1st Army Command of the Army Group was turned over from Rommel to Hans Jurgen von Arnim in March He surrendered the Army Group on 13 May 1943 ending the Axis presence in Africa Order of battle editThroughout its existence this headquarters controlled the Afrika Korps and for most of its life it controlled a number of other German and Italian units as well Not all 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 The following overview of its components is taken from lexikon der wehrmacht de with dates corrected see references Panzer Group Africa Rommel edit As of September 1941 during Rommel s first push into the Western Desert Afrika Korps X Army Corps XX Army Corps 55th Infantry Division Savona Panzer Army Africa Rommel edit As of January 1942 during Rommel s second push into the Western Desert Afrika Korps X Army Corps XX Army Corps XXI Corpo 90th Leichte Afrika Division 55th Infantry Division Savona As of April 1942 before and during the Gazala battles and the Siege of Tobruk Afrika Korps X Army Corps XX Army Corps XXI Army Corps German 90th Leichte Afrika Division As of August 1942 in the lead up to the Battle of Alam el Halfa citation needed Afrika Korps X Army Corps XX Army Corps XXI Army Corps 133rd Armored Division Littorio German Italian Panzer Army Rommel edit As of November 1942 during the withdrawal from the Western Desert Afrika Korps X Army Corps XX Army Corps XXI Army Corps German 90th Leichte Afrika Division 17th Infantry Division Pavia 136th Armored Division Giovani Fascisti February 1943 defending southern Tunisia Afrika Korps XX Army Corps XXI Army Corps German 164th Light Division German Ramcke Parachute Brigade Army Group Africa edit From February 1943 German 5th Panzer Army 5 Panzerarmee Northern Tunisia Division Hermann Goring Division von Manteuffel 10th Panzer Division 334th Infantry Division 999th Light Division Italian 1st Infantry Division Superga Italian L Special Brigade Italian 1st Army Southern Tunisia 16th Motorized Division Pistoia 101st Motorized Division Trieste 131st Armored Division Centauro 136th Armored Division Giovani Fascisti German 15th Panzer Division German 21st Panzer Division German 90th Light Division German 164th Light DivisionCommanders editNo Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office1 nbsp Rommel Erwin GeneraloberstErwin Rommel 1891 1944 1 September 19419 March 1942189 days 2 nbsp Cruwell Ludwig General der PanzertruppeLudwig Cruwell 1892 1958 9 March 194219 March 194210 days 1 nbsp Rommel Erwin GeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel 1891 1944 19 March 194222 September 1942187 days 3 nbsp Stumme Georg General der PanzertruppeGeorg Stumme 1886 1942 22 September 194224 October 1942 32 days nbsp Thoma Wilhelm GeneralleutnantWilhelm Ritter von Thoma 1891 1948 Acting24 October 194225 October 19421 day 1 nbsp Rommel Erwin GeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel 1891 1944 25 October 194226 November 194232 days 4 nbsp Fehn Gustav General der PanzertruppeGustav Fehn 1892 1945 26 November 19422 December 19426 days 1 nbsp Rommel Erwin GeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel 1891 1944 2 December 194222 February 194382 days 5 nbsp Arnim Hans GeneraloberstHans Jurgen von Arnim 1889 1962 10 March 194313 May 194364 daysSee also editList of World War II military units of Germany List of Italian divisions in World War II Panzer Division Fliegerfuhrer Afrika Hans von LuckFootnotes edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Panzer Army Africa amp oldid 1222033831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
