Panzer Army Africa
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
The Panzerarmee Afrika, referred to as Gruppo Corazzato Africa in Italy, was a combined German-Italian field army that fought in the North African campaign during World War II. It consisted of one German corps and three Italian corps in the unit. As of 1943 the new command structure, the Army Group Africa, consisted of the German 5th Army and the Italian 1st Army. During the campaigns in North Africa the unit was under the Italian chain of command.
Panzerarmee Afrika/Gruppo Corazzato Africa | |
---|---|
Active | 15 August 1941 – 13 May 1943 |
Country | Nazi Germany Kingdom of Italy |
Branch | Heer ( Wehrmacht) Royal Italian Army |
Type | Field army |
Role | Desert warfare Expeditionary warfare Tank warfare |
Part of | Comando Supremo Oberbefehlshaber Süd |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Hans-Jürgen von Arnim Giovanni Messe |
History
[edit]Panzer Group Africa
[edit]When the Afrikakorps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 the 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 Afrikakorps and other units that were sent to North Africa.
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) and subordinated to the Comando Supremo and to the Oberbefehlshaber Süd 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-Jürgen von Arnim in March. He surrendered the Army Group on 13 May 1943, ending the Axis presence in Africa.
Order of battle
[edit]Panzer Army Africa
[edit]- During the Western Desert Campaign:
Army Group Africa
[edit]- During the Tunisian Campaign:
Commanders
[edit]No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | Generaloberst1 September 1941 | 9 March 1942 | 189 days | |
2 | Ludwig Crüwell (1892–1958) | General der Panzertruppe9 March 1942 | 19 March 1942 | 10 days | |
3 | Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | Generalfeldmarschall19 March 1942 | 22 September 1942 | 187 days | |
4 | Georg Stumme (1886–1942) | General der Panzertruppe22 September 1942 | 24 October 1942 † | 32 days | |
5 | Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma (1891–1948) Acting | Generalleutnant24 October 1942 | 25 October 1942 | 1 day | |
6 | Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | Generalfeldmarschall25 October 1942 | 26 November 1942 | 32 days | |
7 | Gustav Fehn (1892–1945) | General der Panzertruppe26 November 1942 | 2 December 1942 | 6 days | |
8 | Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | Generalfeldmarschall2 December 1942 | 22 February 1943 | 82 days | |
9 | Maresciallo d'Italia Giovanni Messe[a] (1883–1968) | 22 February 1943 | 13 May 1943 | 80 days | |
10 | Hans-Jürgen von Arnim (1889–1962) | Generaloberst10 March 1943 | 13 May 1943 | 64 days |
See also
[edit]- List of World War II military units of Germany
- List of Italian divisions in World War II
- Panzer Division
- Fliegerführer Afrika
- Hans von Luck
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ The German-Italian Panzerarmee Afrika was renamed Italian First Army by General Messe and was deployed in the Southern front in Tunisia and fought until May 1943.