Afrika Korps

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Image:Pswastika.gif
The seal of the Deutsches Afrikakorps.

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

Contents

[edit] Organization

The Afrika Korps (This is properly written in one word and not two words) was formed upon the arrival on February 12, 1941, of Gen. Erwin Johannes Eugen 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 Erwin 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 did not 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 Afrika Korps 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).

Image:Rommel in Africa1941.jpg
Rommel in Africa - Summer 1941.

In August, 1941, the German 5th Light Division was redesignated 21st Panzer Division or commonly written as 21./PD, still attached to the enlarged entity still known as the Afrika Korps

During the summer of 1941 OKW and Oberkommando des Heeres / 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 Afrika Korps was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrika Korps 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.

Image:Von arnim.jpg
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, commander of Army Group Africa from March to May 1943.

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 Africa Korps 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 Africa Korps along with all other remaining Axis forces in North Africa surrendered.

[edit] Composition and terminology

Image:Observe(Afrika).jpg
Observing enemy positions.

Strictly speaking the term "Afrikakorps" refers to the original expeditionary force which became part of the expanded German and Italian presence in North Africa. However it is sometimes used by the news media and veteran Allied soldiers as a name for all the German units in North Africa before the retreat to Tunisia. Some notable attached units include the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, Afrika zbV ("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 Gerhard Ramcke). There were also eight Italian divisions under Rommel's command in Panzer Army Afrika, including two armored divisions, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and 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) did not 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 5th Light Division had an organization that was missing elements to make it a completed Panzer 'division' and it eventually became 'meated' out into the 21st Panzer Division, whereas the 164th Light Afrika Division was at first a partially motorized infantry division and never had any tanks at all but had armored cars and reconnaissance vehicles. 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 Armys fielded for service in North Africa completely met the service KStN's directed for their completion because of battle losses, sinkings across the Mediterranenan while in transit and wear.



[edit] Herman Göring Panzer Division

Luftwaffe fallschirmjäger (parachute) from FJR3 and FJR5, plus ground and mechanized forces were sent to Tunisia beginning in mid-November of 1942 and through to major components into March of 1943. Over 5000 from this force were buried in the Cape Bon peninsula, Tunisia from this group alone.

[edit] Historical Perspectives

Resurrection of Units and Divisions after the cessation of fighting in Tunisia


15./Panzer Division 21./ Panzer Division (in France)

Herman Göring Panzer Division reconstituted in Sicily and Italy

[edit] Africa Korps marching songs

Image:Panzer IV Afrika.jpg
Unloading of a Panzer IV for the Afrika Korps.
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]
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!:|
Image:DAK Graveyard.jpg
Africa Korps graveyard.

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'Generalmarsch[›]
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 will 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!:|

[edit] See also

Image:Arnim 4.jpg
General von Arnim's staff car at the Eastbourne Redoubt.

[edit] References

^ Generalmarsch: A German military signal meaning:"Attention! Assemble at your positions!"

  1. ^ Song text and MP3(not identical at the ending of the third verse) of Unser Rommel Retrieved 2007-02-12

[edit] Further reading

  • Editor Major-General Alfred Toppe Desert warfare:German experiences in World War II, written with the assistance of nine German commanders who served in North Africa, the manuscript (translated by Mr. H. Heitman) represents a collaborative attempt to determine "as many factors as possible which exerted a determining influence on desert warfare."
  • Hans von Lucks memoirs Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck include chapters from his time in North Africa under Rommel.ar:فيلق الصحراء

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