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 became the Italian 1st Army, subject to the newly-formed Army Group Africa. 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 (, ). On 15 August 1941, Panzer Group Africa was activated with newly promoted Erwin Rommel in command. The Panzer Group controlled the and other units that were sent to North Africa.
Panzer Army Africa Panzer Group Africa was renamed Panzer Army 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 (, ) 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 February 1943 saw the formation of an Army Group Africa (, ), under Rommel, to manage the defence of Tunisia during the final stages of the North African Campaign. Army Group Africa included the German Fifth Panzer Army () under General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim and the German-Italian Panzer Army, re-named the Italian 1st Army and under the command of 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
See also List of World War II military units of Germany List of Italian divisions in World War II Panzer Division
Hans von Luck
Footnotes