The Deutsches Afrika Korps (abbreviated as Afrika Korps, Afrikakorps or DAK) was the headquarters commanding German panzer divisions in the desert of Libya and western Egypt, and later in Tunisia, during World War II. Gradually, the name Afrika Korps encompassed the HQ and the military units attached to it.
The DAK was formed on February 19, 1941 after the decision to send an expeditionary force to Libya to support Mussolini's troops. Indeed, the Italians were blocked by the counter-offensive of the British VIII Corps, a counter-offensive called Operation Compass. The German Expeditionary Force was commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and originally had the sole mission of reconquering Cyrenaica and Libya.
Organization
The Afrikakorps is a German army corps sent to Libya to support the effort of the Italian forces against the British.
* 15th Panzerdivision (armoured division).
* 5th Leichte Division (light division, converted to 21st Panzerdivision at the end of 1941).
* 90th Leichte Afrika Division.
This gave a total of 45,000 men and 250 tanks.
In August 1941 these divisions were commanded by General Cruewell. On May 25, 1942, as the Germans launched their last major offensive, the Afrikakorps counted:
* 320 German tanks
* 240 Italian tanks
Against over 900 allied tanks of the British 8th Army.
On June 13, 1942, the British had only 70 tanks left... while Rommel still had 150 tanks.
During the Allied El-Alamein offensive of October 23, the reinforced Allies can count on 1,200 tanks while the Axis forces only have about 500 German and Italian tanks. Reinforcements arriving with difficulty, the lack of material is accompanied by a lack of fuel, air support and artillery.
On November 3, 1942, the Afrikakorps only had... 20 tanks left, it would then be the crossing of the desert until its capitulation in Tunisia.
The German units of the Panzergruppe "Afrika", which became Panzerarmee "Afrika" then Heeresgruppe "Afrika" were subsequently, in addition to the three mentioned above:
* 164th Leichte Afrika Division, which replaced the 90th.
* 334th Infantry Division.
* 999th Leichte Afrika Division.
* 10th Panzer Division.
* Fallschirmjäger Brigade "Ramcke".
* Elements of the Fallschirm Panzer Division "Hermann Göring".
Operations schedule
When the Afrikakorps arrived in Libya, Italian Marshal Rodolfo Graziani had just lost Cyrenaica after an attempted invasion of Egypt which quickly turned into a rout. Rommel managed to regain lost ground as far as Marsa Matrukh (Masah Matrouk), which is 200 km from Alexandria. In June 1942, he reached El-Alamein which he lost on November 1.
In December 1942, English Marshal Bernard Montgomery seized Tobruk definitively.
Subsequently, the front moved to Tunisia where Rommel won the battle of Kasserine against the Americans of General Dwight David Eisenhower.
This was Rommel's last success, recalled to Europe by Hitler. His troops, who remained in Africa, capitulated on May 12, 1943.
The anthem of the Afrika Korps
Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht,
Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied.
Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand,
Stehen zur Schlacht gegen Engeland.
Es rasseln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor!
Panzer rollen in Afrika vor!
Under the scorching African sun,
The engines of our panzers sing.
German armor in the blazing sun,
Ready for battle against England.
The chains rattle, the engines roar!
In Africa, the tanks advance!