The men of the Afrika Korps also belonged to an, if not elite, at least distinct force and they knew it. This knowledge gave birth, precisely, to the wonderful unit spirit that possessed the units of the Afrika Korps, from their first to their last combat engagement on the North African front.
Indicative of the cruelty of the battles in North Africa, but also of the unit spirit of the Afrika Korps, is the first major tank battle, which took place between the tanks of the famous British 7th Armored Division (TTHM) of the "Desert Rats" and the panzers of the German 5th Light Division.
The British Armed Forces, having about 300 armored vehicles , of each type, attacked, on June 16, 1941, west of the Helfaya pass and approached Kapuzo, sweeping the weak German outposts in its path. From the Kapuzo area, the British sent an armored group to the south, with the aim of overrunning the German positions there.
Despite strong resistance from the defending Afrika Korps men, the British managed to break through, south of Hill 208. The British captured Kapuzo and then Solum and were now moving towards Bardia, threatening to trap all of the Axis forces fighting in the area. About 50 British tanks were moving at maximum speed towards Bardia.
Fortunately for Rommel, elements of the 33rd Anti-Tank Battalion, with only one 88mm gun at their disposal, managed, under the inspired command of Lieutenant Colonel Toschi, to hold off the British advance. The lone 88ari opened fire from a distance of 2,000m. destroying three British tanks in a row. The British iron phalanx halted and the tanks sought refuge further back, protected by a curtain of smoke.
The heroic resistance of Totsky and his men bought the necessary time for the arrival on the battlefield of the 1st Major General of the 8th Tank Regiment of the 5th Light Division of the Afrika Korps . The commandery was under the command of the commander Fenzki and had three islands. Fenzki immediately ordered the island of Hilarch Johannes Kimmel.
Kimmel led his team from the open turret of his Pz IV tank. In this way, although he was in danger, he could have a better picture of the battlefield and enemy movements. At the same time, of course, from the open hatch of the tank tower, a little fresh air also entered, which cooled down, in a way, the other crew members, who were simmering, inside the chest of the tank, scorched by the hot sun, at a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius.
Kimmel saw the British tanks and immediately, over the radio, ordered the ili:"Follow me. On them." Soon the first shells that left the barrels of the 2pdr guns of the British tanks began to whistle around him.
Kimmel entered the tower, closing the hatch above him, ordering his gunner:"fire at will". The gunner had already targeted a British tank. The heavy 7.5cm projectile was mounted in the breech. The distance from the opponent was 700m. With a thud the 7.5cm high explosive projectile left the short 24 caliber barrel of the Pz IV gun and flew towards the enemy.
Before he heard the explosion of the shell on the enemy tank, Kimmel heard a very unpleasant noise and saw, from the observation ports, one of the Pz II light tanks being torn to pieces by the British fire. A fraction of a second later his own shell was taking its revenge.
Before long, several of the island's Pz IIIs were deployed next to Kimmel's Pz IV. The German tanks were deployed in line and began to attack the British in groups. Within the hot interior of the tanks, the men heard the thunder of the cannons, the sharp sound of metal as they slammed into the strong chest of the British tanks, the shells, or the explosion that followed the piercing of the chest, of the enemy, but also of friends, chariots.
Drivers, loaders and gunners, like automatons, simply followed the orders of the crew chiefs, only having a sketchy perception of what was happening outside their iron protective shell.
"We got hit. The chariot is on fire. We're trying to abandon it," came the cry of anguish over the radio of one of Kimmel's platoon members. "We've got you covered," the chief replied sharply. But the burning Pz III was threatened by two Matildas. Kimmel coolly turned the rook towards the first and from a distance of 500m. ordered fire.
The 7.5cm high-explosive shell struck the British tank in the side, piercing its heavy armour. The British Matilda ended up a burning iron coffin for its crew. The second British tank was targeted by several German Pz IIIs. However, its strong armor protected it. It took more than 10 projectiles to neutralize it and only after one of them had hit it in the tower's rotation system.
The crew of the Matilda abandoned the wounded tank, alongside the crew of the burning Pz III. One of the German charioteers was burning alive. The British opponents, his colleagues, rushed upon him and wrapping him in their tunics, put out the fire and saved him. It was an act indicative of the chivalry with which the war in North Africa was conducted.
But the battle continued with undiminished intensity. Kimmel's village was hard pressed, but reinforcements arrived. The 2nd and 3rd Corps of the general were deployed on either side of Kimmel's 1st Corps, which by that time had borne the brunt of the fight, remaining with only six tanks.
Nevertheless, as soon as the reinforcements arrived, Kimmel ordered:"forward". "We can't get through," replied Lt. Gen. Stiefelmeier over the radio. After a while, the voice of Commander Fensky was heard on the radio. "The command was fixed. I'm asking for reinforcements." “The 2nd Division on Fenzki's left is coming. Hold on," came the immediate response of the commander of the 8th Tank Regiment, Lt. Col. Grammer.
The 2nd Division deployed in a wedge formation and attacked on the flank of the British, attempting to relieve the 1st Division. Grammer immediately took charge of the race. "Turn against the enemy's flank," he ordered Kimmel, directing the battle from the open hatch of his tank. Suddenly there was an explosion and Grammer let out a cry of pain.
Fragments from an enemy projectile had wounded him in the head. His crew pulled him inside the chariot. At the same time, 20 British tanks were attempting to maneuver to the side of the 2nd Army. Within moments three Pz IIs blew up. Kimmel, however, managed to maneuver and find himself with his remaining tanks on the side of the 20 British. Kimmel's tanks began to fire furiously, from a short distance, destroying eight British tanks in a few minutes.
After this the British retreated. The 8th Tank Regiment started the battle with 80 tanks. Now he was down to 30. But he had stopped the British advance, saving Bardia.