Panzer Army Africa

Panzer Army Africa
German: Panzerarmee AfrikaItalian: Gruppo Corazzato Africa
Active	15 August 1941 – 13 May 1943
Country	Germany Italy
Branch	Heer (Wehrmacht) Royal Italian Army
Type	InfantryPanzer
Size	Field army
Part of	Comando SupremoOberbefehlshaber Süd
Engagements	North African campaign Western Desert campaign Tunisian campaign
Commanders
Notablecommanders	Erwin RommelGeorg StummeGiovanni MesseHans-Jürgen von Arnim

The Panzer Army Africa (German:Panzerarmee Afrika; Italian:Gruppo Corazzato Africa) was a joint German-Italian field army that fought in the North African campaign during World War II. It consisted of one German corps and three Italian corps. In 1943, during the Tunisian campaign, the Panzerarmee Afrika 's name was changed to Army Group Africa, and its composition became the newly-formed German 5th Army plus the Italian 1st Army. During the campaigns in North Africa, the Panzerarmee Afrika was subordinate to the Italian command and to German command headquarters in the Mediterranean.

History

Panzer Group Africa

When the Afrikakorps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 the 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 PanzertruppeErwin Rommel in command. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrikakorps and other units that were sent to North Africa.

Panzer Army Africa

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

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

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) under General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim and the Italian 1st Army under General Giovanni Messe. Command of the Army Group was turned over from Rommel to General von Arnim in March. Both General von Arnim and Messe surrendered on May 1943, and the Army Group Africa was disbanded. Thus, ending the Axis presence in Africa.

Order of battle

Panzer Group Africa

• During the Western Desert Campaign (in 1941):
  • Deutsches Afrika Korps
  • Italian XX Army Corps
  • Italian XXI Army Corps

Panzer Army Africa

• During the Western Desert Campaign (in 1942):
  • Deutsches Afrika Korps
  • Italian XX Army Corps
  • Italian XXI Army Corps
  • Italian X Army Corps

Army Group Africa

• During the Tunisian Campaign (in 1943):
  • German Fifth Army
  • Italian First Army

Commanders

No.	Portrait	Commander	Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Rommel, ErwinGeneraloberstErwin Rommel(1891–1944)	1 September 1941	9 March 1942	189 days
2		Crüwell, LudwigGeneral der PanzertruppeLudwig Crüwell(1892–1958)	9 March 1942	19 March 1942	10 days
3		Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel(1891–1944)	19 March 1942	22 September 1942	187 days
4		Stumme, GeorgGeneral der PanzertruppeGeorg Stumme(1886–1942)	22 September 1942	24 October 1942 †	32 days
5		Thoma, WilhelmGeneralleutnantWilhelm Ritter von Thoma(1891–1948)Acting	24 October 1942	25 October 1942	1 day
6		Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel(1891–1944)	25 October 1942	26 November 1942	32 days
7		Fehn, GustavGeneral der PanzertruppeGustav Fehn(1892–1945)	26 November 1942	2 December 1942	6 days
8		Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel(1891–1944)	2 December 1942	22 February 1943	82 days
9		Maresciallo d'ItaliaGiovanni Messe[a](1883–1968)	22 February 1943	13 May 1943	80 days
10		Arnim, HansGeneraloberstHans-Jürgen von Arnim(1889–1962)	10 March 1943	13 May 1943	64 days

See also

• List of World War II military units of Germany
• List of Italian divisions in World War II
• Panzer Division
• Fliegerführer Afrika
• Hans von Luck

Footnotes

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.