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Redirect|DAKRefimprove|date=September 2008Infobox military unit|unit_name = Deutsches Afrikakorps |image =|caption =|dates = 12 February 1941 – 13 May 1943|country = flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany |branch = Wehrmacht Heer |type = Expeditionary warfare|Expeditionary Force |role =|size = Corps |command_structure =|garrison = Tripoli , Italian Libya |past_commanders =|ceremonial_chief =|notable_commanders = Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Walther Nehring |identification_symbol_2 = Seal of the Deutsches Afrikakorps |nickname =|patron =|motto = Ritterlich im Kriege, wachsam für den Frieden ("Chivalrous in War, Vigilant for Peace")|colors = Yellow, Brown|march =|mascot =|battles = World War II
North African Campaign
* Siege of Tobruk
* Battle of Gazala
* Second Battle of El Alamein|Battle of El Alamein
|anniversaries = |decorations = |battle_honors =
The German Africa Corps (lang-de|Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK Audio|De-Deutsches_Afrikakorps-pronunciation.ogg|listen), or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II . The reputation of the Afrika Korps is synonymous with that of its first commander Erwin Rommel , who later commanded the With Rommel in the Desert by Heinz Werner Schmidt Panzer Army Africa which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army ( Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee ) and Army Group Africa , all of which Afrika Korps was a distinct and principal component. Throughout the North African campaign , the Afrika Korps fought against Allied forces until its surrender in May 1943.
Organization
On 15 August 1941, the German 5./leichte " Afrika " Division was redesignated German 21st Panzer Division|21st Panzer Division (commonly written as 21./PD), still attached to the enlarged entity still known as the Afrikakorps .
During the summer of 1941, the OKW and OKH invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called German Panzer Group Africa| Panzer Group Africa ( Panzergruppe Afrika ). On 15 August, 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| Panzer Army Africa ( Panzerarmee Afrika ) on 30 January 1942.)
After the defeat at El Alamein and the Allied invasion in Morocco and Algeria Operation Torch|Operation Torch , the OKW once more upgraded its presence in Africa by creating the German XC Army Corps|XC Army Corps in Tunisia on 19 November 1942, and then creating a new 5th Panzer Army headquarters there as well on 8 December, under the command of Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim .
On 23 February 1943, Panzer Army Africa—now called the German-Italian Panzer Army—was redesignated as the Italian First Army|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 13 May, remnants of the Afrikakorps surrendered, along with all other remaining Axis forces in North Africa.
Composition and terminology
" Afrika Korps " is derived from the original German name properly written as 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 is 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 German 90th Light Afrika Division|90th Light Afrika Division ; the German 164th Light Afrika Division|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 10 Italian Divisions in North Africa) under Rommel's command in German Panzer Army Afrika| Panzer Army Afrika , including two armored divisions, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and the Folgore Parachute Brigade|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: Leicht ) 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 5./ leichte " Afrika " 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 27 months of the campaign for this force.Citation needed|date=September 2011 Additional German forces were sent to Africa and became components of the Panzer Army Africa, Panzerarmee Afrika . Examples such as 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, only 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 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.
Ramcke Brigade
The Luftwaffenjäger -Brigade 1, known more commonly as the Ramcke Parachute Brigade , worked alongside the Afrika Korps after Operation Hercules (the planned invasion of Malta ) was cancelled and the Brigade was subsequently re-deployed to Germany.
Internment in Mississippi
Thousands of Korps POWs were held in camps at Camp Shelby in Mississippi after their capture. http://books.google.com/books? id=ULiKL5r68eQC "I Was There When It Happened", Jimmy Lee Beasley. Xlibris Corporation, 2010. ISBN 1-4535-4457-7, ISBN 978-1-4535-4457-0. p. 262
Resurrection of units
Certain divisions were resurrected in Europe after the cessation of fighting in Tunisia:
15./ Panzer Division
21./ Panzer Division (in France)
Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring|Hermann Göring Panzer Division (in Sicily and Italy)
Afrika Korps marching songs
copy section to Wikisource 1st song: Panzer rollen in Afrika vor / Heiß über Afrikas Boden
Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht . Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied ! Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand , Stehen zum Kampf gegen England Es rasseln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor , Panzer rollen in Afrika vor!
Translation The sun shines hot over Africa n ground. Our panzer engines are singing their song! German panzers in the blazing sun, As they stand ready for battle against England. The tracks rattle, the engine roars, Panzers rolling forwards in Africa.
' 2nd Song: " Unser Rommel " ("Our Rommel") 'Song text and MP3 (not identical at the ending of the third verse) of http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirsinda.html Unser Rommel Retrieved 2007-02-12
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 attack like the Devil Make things hot for the Tommys We fear neither heat nor desert sand We brave the thirst and the blazing sun Marching 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 Winston Churchill|Churchill und Franklin Roosevelt|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 British fear us like the plague They're like cats on a hot tin roof We're taking revenge for German East Africa|German East (Africa) and for German South-West Africa|South-West (Africa) Which were cowardly stolen from us Churchill and Roosevelt are getting mad We beat the enemy in every country The drum beats 'get ready'r|group=Note|GeneralmarschForwards, 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 |: Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel! :|
Translation of verse 3 With us united in battle and in victory Italy's cohorts are marching Until one day the sun of peace will shine on us And we will return to Germany. But if the enemy's bullet gets me Then let me rest in the desert sand Let the drum beat once more. Forwards, forwards |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|
See also
Commons category
Army Group Africa
Erwin Rommel
Panzer Army Africa
Fliegerführer Afrika
Western Desert Campaign
North African Campaign
First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942)
Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 4 November 1942)
László Almásy
Operation Salaam
Hans von Luck
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Panzer Division
Afrika Korps (game)
German Army|Heer
Eastbourne Redoubt , home of General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim 's Steyr 1500A Africa Korps Staff Car
Notes
reflist |group=Note |refs=A German military signal meaning: "Attention& #33; Assemble at your positions!"
References
reflistRefbegin
Cooper, Matthew (1990). The German Army 1933–1945 . Scarborough House. Chelsea, MI, USA. ISBN 0-8128-8519-8.
cite book | author=von Mellenthin, Major General F. W. | title= Panzer Battles (book)|Panzer Battles: A Study of the Employment of Armor in the Second World War | edition=First| year=1971 | location=New York | publisher= Ballantine Books | origyear=1956 | isbn=0-345-24440-0
http://www.AFRIKAKORPS.org AFRIKAKORPS.org/AANA Research Group
Editor Major-General Alfred Toppe http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/csi/toppe/toppe.asp 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 Luck 's memoirs Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck include chapters from his time in North Africa under Rommel.
External links
http://www.afrikakorps.org/ Afrika Korps HistoryDead link|date=June 2010
http://www.afrikakorps.org/germanuniforms.htm Afrika Korps UniformsDead link|date=June 2010
http://ingeb.org/Lieder/wirsinda.html Unser Rommel - Wir sind das deutsche Afrikakorps - in MP3 format
http://www.historisches-tonarchiv.de/lieder.htm Deutsches Historisches Tonarchiv - see "Lieder und Märsche des Afrika Korps" (Commercial site with songs available on CD)
German Army Corps of the Wehrmacht Category:Corps of Germany in World War II Category:German units in Africa Category:Military units and formations established in 1941
