Afrika Korps Totally Explained

Everything about Afrika Corps totally explained

The German Afrikakorps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK ) was the original German expeditionary force in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. The force was kept as a distinct formation and became the main German contribution to Panzer Army Africa which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) and Army Group Africa.

Organization

The Afrikakorps was formed upon the arrival on February 12, 1941, of General Erwin Rommel after the German Armed Forces High Command or Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) and Army High Command or Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) had decided to send a "blocking force" to Libya to support the Italian army, which had been routed by a Commonwealth Force's counter-offensive led by the British Eighth Army, in Operation Compass. The German "blocking force", commanded by Rommel, at first consisted of only the 5./leichte "Afrika" Panzer Regiment which was quickly cobbled together from the second regiment of the 3./Panzer Division and various other small units attached for water treatment and medical care. These elements were organized into the 5th Light Division when they arrived in Africa from February 10–March 12, 1941. In late April and into May the 5th Light Division was joined by transference of the various elements constituting the 15th Panzer Division from Italy, though it didn't completely arrive until after Rommel had made a counter-offensive and re-taken most of Cyrenaica and then subsequently gone back over to the defensive. At this time the Afrikakorps 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). In August, 1941, the German 5th Light Division was redesignated 21st Panzer Division (commonly written as 21./PD), still attached to the enlarged entity still known as the Afrikakorps.
   During the summer of 1941 OKW and OKH invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On August 15 Panzer Group Africa was activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrikakorps was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrikakorps 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 in other militaries, and in fact Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as German Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on January 30, 1942.)
   After the defeat at El Alamein and the Allied invasion in Morocco and Algeria Operation Torch, 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 5th Panzer Army headquarters there as well on December 8, under the command of Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim.
   On February 23, 1943 Panzer Army Africa, (now called the German-Italian Panzer Army,) was redesignated as the Italian 1st Army and put under the command of Italian general Giovanni Messe, while Rommel was placed in command of a new Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika) created to control both the Italian 1st Army and the 5th Panzer Army. The remnants of the Afrikakorps and other surviving units of the 1st Italian Army retreated into Tunisia. Command of the Army Group was turned over to von Arnim in March. On May 13 remnants of the Afrikakorps along with all other remaining Axis forces in North Africa surrendered.

Composition and terminology

"Afrika Korps" is derived from the original German name properly written in one word. Strictly speaking the term refers to the original formation which, although not dissolved, became part of the ever expanding German and Italian presence in North Africa for its February, 1941- May, 1943 role in the North African Campaign. However, it's sometimes used by the news media and veteran Allied soldiers as a name for all the German units in North Africa. Some notable attached units include the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, Afrika zbV (zur besonderen Verwendung, "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, the 999 Light "Afrika" Division, also the 334th Infantry division; and the Luftwaffenjäger-Brigade 1 or Fallschirmjäger-Ramcke Brigade Ramcke Parachute Brigade (named after its commander Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke). There were also eight Italian divisions (out of the ten Italian Divisions in North Africa) under Rommel's command in Panzer Army Afrika, including two armored divisions, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and the Folgore parachute division. The army was supported by a number of smaller units from both the German and Italian armed forces.
The designation "Light" (German: Leichte) didn't refer to a standardized table of organization and equipment (TOE) for the various German divisions that bore that designation. German unit organizations were based on tables of organization, (Kriegsstärkenachweisungen or KStN). Every unit in the German Army raised had one, and all orders raising units indicated the corresponding KStN number and date which applied to them. For instance, the 5./leichte "Africa" or 5th Light "Africa" had an organizational structure that was missing specific elements to make it a complete Panzer 'Division' as did its late April to May 1941 arriving 'full complement' partner division in Africa... the 15./Panzer Division. The 5./le. "Africa" Division eventually became at least partially expanded into the 21./PD or 21st Panzer Division. It was given German unit elements that were already on the ground in North Africa and some replacement equipment to meet the prescribed full Panzer Division KStN constraints (except for the Motorcycle Battalion component which was never complete) and then renamed in August 1941. As the entire Afrikakorps organization was restructured and even renamed in August 1941, the nomenclature of Afrikakorps lasted less than six months. The famous force, with the short-lived name Afrikakorps, became a major German component of Panzer Army Africa - Panzerarmee Afrika which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army - Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee and then to Army Group Africa - Heeresgruppe Afrika in the twenty seven months of the campaign for this force.
Additional forces were brought to Africa and became components of the Panzer Army Africa - Panzerarmee Afrika. Examples like the 164./le. "Africa" or 164th Light Afrika Division was at first only a partially motorized infantry division and actually never had any tanks at all but only armored cars and reconnaissance vehicles attached to this division. 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. None of the German Armies actually fielded for service in North Africa completely met the service KStNs directed for their completion because of battle losses, sinkings across the Mediterranenan while in transit and the tremendous wear on the vehicles.

Herman Göring Panzer Division

Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) from FJR3 and FJR5 of the Herman Göring Panzer Division, plus ground and mechanized forces were sent to Tunisia beginning in mid-November 1942 and through to major components into March 1943. Over 5,000 from this force were buried in the Cape Bon peninsula, Tunisia.

Ramcke Brigade

Luftwaffenjäger-Brigade 1 known by its most common name today as the Ramcke Parachute Brigade

Resurrection of units

Certain divisions were resurrected in Europe after the cessation of fighting in Tunisia:

15./Panzer Division
21./Panzer Division (in France)
Herman Göring Panzer Division (in Sicily and Italy)

AfricaKorps (DAK) AFV markings

Africa Korps marching songs

� Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht.

    Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied! � Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand,

    Stehen zum Kampf gegen Engeland � Es rasseln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor,

    Panzer rollen in Afrika vor. Translation � Hot over African ground, the sun is glowing.

   Our panzer engines sing their song! � German panzers in the blazing sun,

   As they stand in battle against England. � The tracks rattle, the engine roars,

   Panzers roll in Africa. 2nd Song: "Unser Rommel" ("Our Rommel")
1.
� Wir sind das deutsche Afrikakorps

   Des Führers verwegene Truppe
� Wir stürmen wie die Teufel hervor

   Versalzen dem Tommy die Suppe
� Wir fürchten nicht Hitze und Wüstensand

   Wir trotzen dem Durst und dem Sonnenbrand
� Marschieren beim Takt unserer Trommel

   Vorwärts, vorwärts
� |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!:|

Translation of verse 1
� We are the German Africa Korps

   The Führer's daring troops
� We assault like the Devil

   Oversalt the Tommy's soup
� We fear neither heat nor desert sand

   We resist the thirst and the blazing sun
� March to the beat of our drum

   Forwards, forwards
� |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|

2.
� Die Briten fürchten uns wie die Pest

   Sie sitzen auf glühenden Kohlen
� Wir rächen Deutsch-Ost und rächen Südwest

   Das einst sie uns feige gestohlen
� Sind Churchhill und Roosevelt auch Wut entbrannt

   Wir werfen die Feinde in jedem Land
� Es schlägt Generalmarsch die Trommel

   Vorwärts, vorwärts
� |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!:|

Translation of verse 2
� The Brits fear us like the plague

   They are on tenterhooks
� We revenge German East (Africa) and revenge South-West (Africa)

   Which once were dastardly stolen from us
� Let Churchill and Roosevelt be inflamed with rage

   We beat the enemies in every country
� The drum beats 'get ready'

   Forwards, forwards
� |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|

3.
� 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 (disputed line)
� |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!:|

Translation of verse 3
� In battle and in victory united with us

   Italy's cohorts are marching
� Until one day the sun of peace will shine for us

   And we'll return to Germany.
� But if the enemy's bullet meets me

   Than let me rest in the desert sand
� And beat the drum once again.

   Forwards, forwards (disputed line)
� |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|

Further Information

Get more info on 'Afrika Corps'.

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