Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps formed on the 11th of January 1941. Adolf Hitler designated Erwin Rommel as commander on the 11th of February. Originally Hans von Funck was to have commanded it, but Hitler loathed von Funck. Von Funck had been a personal staff officer of Werner von Fritsch until von Fritsch was dismissed in 1938. The German Armed Forces High Command decided to send a blocking force to Italian Libya. This move supported the Italian army after its defeat. The Italian 10th Army had been routed by the British Commonwealth Western Desert Force. That campaign ran from the 9th of December 1940 to the 9th of February 1941. It ended with capture at the Battle of Beda Fomm. Rommel's initial force consisted only of Panzer Regiment 5. These elements were taken from the second regiment of the 3rd Panzer Division. They arrived in Africa between the 10th of February and the 12th of March 1941. Upon arrival they organized into the 5th Light Division. In late April and May, the division received support from Italy. Elements of the 15th Panzer Division transferred from Italy joined them. At this time the Afrika Korps included two divisions. It remained subordinated to the Italian chain of command.
On the 15th of August 1941 the German 5th Light Division changed designation to 21st Panzer Division. The higher formation still carried the name Afrika Korps. During summer 1941 the OKW increased presence in Africa. They created a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa. On the 15th of August the Panzer Group activated with Rommel in command. Command of the Afrika Korps passed to Ludwig Crüwell. The group comprised the Afrika Korps plus additional German units. Two corps of Italian units also joined the structure. On the 30th of January 1942 the Panzer Group redesignated as Panzer Army Africa. After defeat at El Alamein and Allied landings in Morocco, the OKW upgraded African presence again. Walter Nehring led XC Army Corps to Tunisia on the 19th of November 1942. An additional 5th Panzer Army arrived on the 8th of December under Hans-Jürgen von Arnim. On the 23rd of February 1943 the original Panzer Army Africa became Italian 1st Army. Giovanni Messe commanded this force. Rommel took command of a new Army Group Africa. This group controlled both the Italian 1st Army and the 5th Panzer Army. Remnants of the Afrika Korps retreated into Tunisia. Command of the Army Group transferred to Arnim in March. On the 13th of May the Afrika Korps surrendered along with all other Axis forces.
The unit fought from March 1941 until surrender in May 1943. Erwin Rommel earned the nickname Desert Fox for his tank command skills. The campaign included major battles like Operation Compass and Second Battle of El Alamein. British Commonwealth Western Desert Force routed the Italian 10th Army early in the conflict. German forces arrived as a holding unit to shore up Italian defenses. They faced repeated Allied advances across the desert terrain. The arrival of American and British troops in Morocco shifted strategic balance. Walter Nehring led XC Army Corps into Tunisia during late 1942. Hans-Jürgen von Arnim commanded the 5th Panzer Army that winter. General Gastone Gambara oversaw two Italian armored divisions named Ariete and Trieste. These units remained under Italian control within the XX Motorized Corps. Fighting continued through multiple redesignations of German formations. The final surrender occurred on the 13th of May when all remaining Axis forces laid down arms. The campaign lasted twenty-seven months total. Rommel's reputation grew despite eventual defeat. His tactics influenced military thinking long after the war ended.
Historians often describe the North African campaign as War without hate. Jewish people suffered under fascist regime laws in Libya. Albert Kesselring supervised deportation of thousands of Jews to Italy. Others endured forced labor and ill treatment by Italian administration. A Schutzstaffel and SD detachment participated in these actions. Robert Satloff documented how retreating German and Italian forces targeted Libyan Jews. Afrika Korps soldiers plundered Jewish property along the Libyan coast. Violence against civilians only ceased with General Montgomery's arrival in Tripoli on the 23rd of January 1943. Maurice Remy noted no known cases of abuse against Jewish Eighth Army soldiers. Isaac Levy, Senior Jewish Chaplain of the Eighth Army, reported seeing no antisemitic signs among Afrika Korps troops. Giordana Terracina wrote that Italians recaptured Benghazi on April 3. They deported Jews from Cyrenaica to concentration camps like Giado. Water and food supplies remained meager within those camps. Trucks used for Rommel's supply sometimes transported Jews instead. Gershom stated Italian authorities were responsible for bringing Jews into camps. The Jerusalem Post review noted Italians were far more brutal than Rommel's forces. German authorities found Libyan Jews well equipped with needed goods. Strategic economic arrangements led Germans to perceive Jews less threateningly.
Most Afrika Korps prisoners of war traveled to the United States after surrender. Camp Shelby in Mississippi held many captured soldiers. Camp Hearne in Texas housed another large group. Other POW camps across America detained remaining prisoners until war ended. A 1943 drawing by US army artist Rudolph von Ripper depicted these men. The caption read laden with the loot of many country's [sic], the Africa-Corps is brought into captivity. Ludwig Crüwell landed near British troops on the 29th of May and was taken prisoner. Walter Nehring also became a captive during the campaign. Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma served as commander from September 1942 to November 1942 before capture. Fritz Bayerlein commanded briefly in November 1942. Gustav Fehn took command from November 1942 to January 1943. Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein led from January 1943 to February 1943. Karl Bülowius commanded in February 1943. Heinz Ziegler served from February to March 1943. Hans Cramer commanded until surrender in March 1943.
Certain divisions re-formed in Europe after fighting ceased in Tunisia. The 15th Panzer Division became 15th Panzergrenadier Division in Sicily, Italy and Western Front. The 21st Panzer Division operated in France during post-war years. Hermann Göring Panzer Division fought in Sicily and Italy. The 90th Light Division transformed into 90th Panzergrenadier Division for Italian campaigns. These units contributed to military history through their later engagements. Erwin Rommel's reputation endured despite final defeat at El Alamein. His nickname Desert Fox remains associated with tank warfare tactics. The Afrika Korps existed as official name for less than six months. Officers and men used the term throughout the entire campaign duration. The force evolved through multiple redesignations including Panzer Group Africa and Army Group Africa. Walter Nehring and Ludwig Crüwell led successive phases of command. The legacy includes both tactical innovations and historical debates about conduct. Historians continue examining accounts of treatment toward local populations and prisoners.
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Common questions
When did the Afrika Korps form and who commanded it?
The German Africa Corps formed on the 11th of January 1941. Adolf Hitler designated Erwin Rommel as commander on the 11th of February.
What was the duration of the Afrika Korps campaign in North Africa?
The unit fought from March 1941 until surrender in May 1943. The campaign lasted twenty-seven months total before all remaining Axis forces laid down arms on the 13th of May.
How many divisions comprised the Afrika Korps during its peak strength?
At this time the Afrika Korps included two divisions consisting of the 5th Light Division and elements of the 15th Panzer Division transferred from Italy. These units remained subordinated to the Italian chain of command while operating under the higher formation name Panzer Group Africa.
Where were most Afrika Korps prisoners of war held after surrender?
Most Afrika Korps prisoners of war traveled to the United States after surrender. Camp Shelby in Mississippi held many captured soldiers while Camp Hearne in Texas housed another large group.
Why did the Afrika Korps change its designation multiple times between 1941 and 1943?
The German Armed Forces High Command increased presence in Africa by creating new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa on the 15th of August 1941. This structure later redesignated as Panzer Army Africa on the 30th of January 1942 following strategic shifts including Allied landings in Morocco.