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Panzer Army Africa

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(Redirected from German Army Group Afrika)

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, the Army Group Africa were consisted of the German 5th Army and the Italian 1st Army. During the campaigns in North Africa, the unit was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in North Africa.

Panzerarmee Afrika/Gruppo Corazzato Africa
Active15 August 1941 – 13 May 1943
Country Nazi Germany
 Kingdom of Italy
Branch Heer ( Wehrmacht)
 Royal Italian Army
TypeField army
RoleDesert warfare
Expeditionary warfare
Tank warfare
Part ofComando Supremo
Oberbefehlshaber Süd
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Erwin Rommel
Georg Stumme
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Giovanni Messe

History

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Panzer Group Africa

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Panzer Army Africa

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Army Group Africa

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Commanders

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No. Portrait Commander Took office Left office Time in office
1
Erwin Rommel
Rommel, ErwinGeneraloberst
Erwin Rommel
(1891–1944)
1 September 19419 March 1942189 days
2
Ludwig Crüwell
Crüwell, LudwigGeneral der Panzertruppe
Ludwig Crüwell
(1892–1958)
9 March 194219 March 194210 days
3
Erwin Rommel
Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
(1891–1944)
19 March 194222 September 1942187 days
4
Georg Stumme
Stumme, GeorgGeneral der Panzertruppe
Georg Stumme
(1886–1942)
22 September 194224 October 1942 †32 days
5
Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma
Thoma, WilhelmGeneralleutnant
Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma
(1891–1948)
Acting
24 October 194225 October 19421 day
6
Erwin Rommel
Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
(1891–1944)
25 October 194226 November 194232 days
7
Gustav Fehn
Fehn, GustavGeneral der Panzertruppe
Gustav Fehn
(1892–1945)
26 November 19422 December 19426 days
8
Erwin Rommel
Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
(1891–1944)
2 December 194222 February 194382 days
9
Giovanni Messe[a]
Maresciallo d'Italia
Giovanni Messe[a]
(1883–1968)
22 February 194313 May 194380 days
10
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Arnim, HansGeneraloberst
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
(1889–1962)
10 March 194313 May 194364 days

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ 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.