Panzer Army Africa
The Panzerarmee Afrika or 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 consists of one German corps and three Italian corps in the unit. As of 1943 . The newly command structure, Army Group Africa were consisted of the German 5th Army and the Italian 1st Army. The unit was under the command of the Italian chain of command in North Africa.
- North African campaign
- Western Desert campaign
- Tunisian campaign
commanders
Georg Stumme
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Giovanni Messe
History
Panzer Group Africa
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 North Africa.
Panzer Army Africa
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
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
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
Panzer Army Africa
- During the Western Desert Campaign:
- Deutsches Afrika Korps
- Italian X Army Corps
- Italian XX Army Corps
- Italian XXI Army Corps
Army Group Africa
- During the Tunisian Campaign:
- German Fifth Army
- Italian First Army
Commanders
No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rommel, ErwinGeneraloberst Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 1 September 1941 | 9 March 1942 | 189 days | |
2 | Crüwell, LudwigGeneral der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell (1892–1958) | 9 March 1942 | 19 March 1942 | 10 days | |
3 | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 19 March 1942 | 22 September 1942 | 187 days | |
4 | Stumme, GeorgGeneral der Panzertruppe Georg Stumme (1886–1942) | 22 September 1942 | 24 October 1942 † | 32 days | |
5 | Thoma, WilhelmGeneralleutnant Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma (1891–1948) Acting | 24 October 1942 | 25 October 1942 | 1 day | |
6 | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 25 October 1942 | 26 November 1942 | 32 days | |
7 | Fehn, GustavGeneral der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn (1892–1945) | 26 November 1942 | 2 December 1942 | 6 days | |
8 | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 2 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 | Arnim, HansGeneraloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim (1889–1962) | 10 March 1943 | 13 May 1943 | 64 days |
See also
- 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
- ^ 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.
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