 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Panzer Army Africa | |
|---|---|
| German:Panzerarmee Afrika Italian:Gruppo Corazzato Africa | |
| Active | 15 August 1941 – 13 May 1943 |
| Country |  Germany Italy |
| Branch |  Heer ( Wehrmacht) Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry Panzer |
| Size | Field army |
| Part of | Comando Supremo Oberbefehlshaber Süd |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Erwin Rommel Georg Stumme Giovanni Messe Hans-Jürgen von Arnim |
ThePanzer Army Africa (German:Panzerarmee Afrika;Italian:Gruppo Corazzato Africa) was a joint German-Italianfield army that fought in theNorth African campaign duringWorld War II. It consisted of one German corps and three Italian corps. In 1943, during theTunisian campaign, thePanzerarmee Afrika 's name was changed toArmy Group Africa, and its composition became the newly-formed German5th Army plus the Italian1st Army. During the campaigns in North Africa, thePanzerarmee Afrika was subordinate to the Italian command and to German command headquarters in the Mediterranean.
When theAfrikakorps was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 theOberkommando 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 promotedGeneral der PanzertruppeErwin Rommel in command. The Panzer Group controlled theAfrikakorps and other units that were sent to North Africa.
Panzer Group Africa was renamedPanzer 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.)
Panzer Army Africa was renamedGerman-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee,Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca) and subordinated to theComando Supremo and to theOberbefehlshaber Süd in October 1942 during the long retreat after the defeat at theSecond Battle of El Alamein during theWestern Desert Campaign.
In February 1943, the headquarters was expanded and calledArmy Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika,Gruppo d'Armate Africa) to manage the defence ofTunisia during the final stages of theNorth African Campaign. Army Group Africa included theGerman Fifth Panzer Army (5. Panzerarmee) under GeneralHans-Jürgen von Arnim and the Italian1st Army under GeneralGiovanni 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.
| No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) | Rommel, ErwinGeneraloberst Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 1 September 1941 | 9 March 1942 | 189 days |
| 2 |  | Crüwell, LudwigGeneral der Panzertruppe Ludwig Crüwell (1892–1958) | 9 March 1942 | 19 March 1942 | 10 days |
| 3 | | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 19 March 1942 | 22 September 1942 | 187 days |
| 4 |  | Stumme, GeorgGeneral der Panzertruppe Georg Stumme (1886–1942) | 22 September 1942 | 24 October 1942 † | 32 days |
| 5 |  | Thoma, WilhelmGeneralleutnant Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma (1891–1948) Acting | 24 October 1942 | 25 October 1942 | 1 day |
| 6 | | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 25 October 1942 | 26 November 1942 | 32 days |
| 7 |  | Fehn, GustavGeneral der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn (1892–1945) | 26 November 1942 | 2 December 1942 | 6 days |
| 8 | | Rommel, ErwinGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) | 2 December 1942 | 22 February 1943 | 82 days |
| 9 | ![Giovanni Messe[a]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aGiovanni_Messe.jpg) | Maresciallo d'Italia Giovanni Messe[a] (1883–1968) | 22 February 1943 | 13 May 1943 | 80 days |
| 10 |  | Arnim, HansGeneraloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim (1889–1962) | 10 March 1943 | 13 May 1943 | 64 days |