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Army Group Africa
As the number of German troops committed to the North African Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps, the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the enlarged ''Afrika Korps'', with Italian units under this new German command and a succession of commands were created to manage Axis forces in Africa: * Panzer Group Africa, (, ) August 1941 – January 1942; German-Italian force * Panzer Army Africa, (, ) January–October 1942 * German-Italian Panzer Army, (, ) October 1942 – February 1943 * Army Group Africa, (, ) February–May 1943 History Panzer Group Africa When the was formed on 11 January 1941 it was subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa. In the middle of 1941 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previously used term and was the manifestation of the Nazi regime's efforts to rearm Germany to a greater extent than the Treaty of Versailles permitted. After the Nazi rise to power in 1933, one of Adolf Hitler's most overt and audacious moves was to establish the ''Wehrmacht'', a modern offensively-capable armed force, fulfilling the Nazi régime's long-term goals of regaining lost territory as well as gaining new territory and dominating its neighbours. This required the reinstatement of conscription and massive investment and defense spending on the arms industry. The ''Wehrmacht'' formed the heart of Germany's politico-military power. In the early part of the Second World War, the ''Wehrmacht'' employed combined arms tactics (close-cover ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hans-Jürgen Von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen Bernard Theodor von Arnim (; 4 April 1889 – 1 September 1962) was a German general in the Nazi Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several armies. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Early life Hans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was born in the town of Ernsdorf in Prussian Silesia on April 4th 1889. His father, Hans von Arnim (1861–1931) was a General in the German Army and Jürgen would follow in his fathers footsteps and join the army in 1907. During the First World War he fought on both the Western and Eastern fronts and after the war, he remained in the Reichswehr. World War II When Hitler and the Nazis come to power in 1933 Von Arnim was still in the Reichswehr and continued to serve in the Wehrmacht as a major general. Arnim commanded the 52nd Infantry Division in both the Battles for Poland and France. In October 1940, Arnim was given command of the 17th Panzer Division. Von Arnim took part in Operation Barbar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Division Von Broich/von Manteuffel
Division von Broich was a German provisional infantry division active in 1942–43 in North Africa. It was created in November 1942 and named after its notable commander Friedrich von Broich. In February 1943, the division was renamed Division von Manteuffel after its new commander, ''Generalmajor'' Hasso von Manteuffel. Despite its makeshift nature, the unit proved itself as a capable force, taking part in numerous actions until forced to capitulate with the rest of Army Group Africa in May 1943. Service history The German action in Tunisia came in response to the Allied Landings in North Africa that took place 8 November 1942 and was intended to protect the Axis lines of communication. The unit was created on 15 November 1942 by renaming the ''Schützen-Brigade'' (Rifle Brigade) von Broich, a provisional unit formed from ''Ortskommandeur II/960'' on 10 November. The unit was specifically designed to command and control a variety of units flown in by the Germans to defend the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Division Hermann Göring
Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting of 10,000 to 25,000 troops ** Divizion, a subunit in some militaries *Division (naval), a collection of warships Science *Cell division, the process in which biological cells multiply *Continental divide, the geographical term for separation between watersheds * Division (biology), used differently in botany and zoology *Division (botany), a taxonomic rank for plants or fungi, equivalent to phylum in zoology *Division (horticulture), a method of vegetative plant propagation, or the plants created by using this method * Division, a medical/surgical operation involving cutting and separation, see ICD-10 Procedure Coding System Technology *Beam compass, a compass with a beam and sliding sockets for drawing and dividing circles larger than th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ramcke Parachute Brigade
The Ramcke Parachute Brigade was a Luftwaffe paratroop (''Fallschirmjäger'') brigade which saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II. Operational history The brigade was formed in 1942 and sent to join the Afrika Korps in North Africa. Ramcke's unit fought during the Afrika Korps's assault towards the Suez Canal, fighting alongside the Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna before British opposition solidified near the town of El Alamein. The British action resulted in the separation of the Brigade from German forces, and, lacking motorized transport, unable to move as fast as the battle lines. Taking heavy losses (about 450) fighting surrounded on all sides, they captured a British supply convoy carrying food and fuel, about which Ramcke later remarked the most welcome surprise was the tobacco and luxury goods. Using those trucks, about 600 survivors returned to German lines. The brigade was then engaged in the retreat into Tunisia. Ramcke was transferred ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
German 164th Infantry Division
The 164th Infantry Division (german: 164. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II. Formed in November 1939, the division took part in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. In January 1942, consolidating the Axis seizure of the island during the Battle of Crete, the 164th was reorganized as Fortress Division Kreta (FDK). In mid-1942 the division was transferred to North Africa and re-designated as 164th Light Afrika Division (german: Leichte Afrika Division). It surrendered in May 1943 in Tunisia at the end of the North African Campaign. Operational history The 164th Infantry Division was formed on 27 November 1939 with ''Oberst'' Konrad Haase as its commander. Stationed at Dresden, Wehrkreis IV, by January 1940, it included three infantry regiments and Haase had been promoted to '' generalmajor'' on 1 January 1940. It was held in reserve during the Battle of France and was later involved in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. Af ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
136th Armored Division "Giovani Fascisti"
The 136th Armored Division "Giovani Fascisti" ( it, 136ª Divisione corazzata "Giovani Fascisti") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. History The division was never fully formed and staffed, and it never had armored vehicles: the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment, which was briefly assigned to it never reached the division in Libya. Origins In 1940, with Italy's entry into the war, the fascist youth organization Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (GIL) organized the "March of the Youth": about twenty thousand young fascists and members of the fascist University groups, provisionally organized into 25 battalions, marched to Padua were Benito Mussolini reviewed them on 10 October 1940. The decision to dissolve these battalions was followed by such protests and riots that the National Fascist Party sent Major Fulvio Balisti, former Commander of the GIL battalions of Bologna to put down the revolt. On suggestion of National Fascist Party General Secreta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
17th Infantry Division "Pavia"
The 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" ( it, 17ª Divisione di fanteria "Pavia") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The Pavia was formed in on 27 April 1939 and named after the city of Pavia. The Pavia was classified as an auto-transportable division, meaning staff and equipment could be transported on cars and trucks, although not simultaneously. The Pavia had its recruiting area and regimental depots in the Romagna and its headquarters in Ravenna. Its two infantry regiments were based in Cesena (27th) and Ravenna (28th), with the division's artillery regiment based in Ravenna. Shortly after its formation the division was sent to Sabratha in Italian Libya. It participated in the Western Desert campaign and was destroyed during the Second Battle of El Alamein. History After the Second Italian War of Independence the Austrian Empire had to cede the Lombardy region of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia to the Kingdom of Sardinia. After taking contr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
133rd Armored Division "Littorio"
133rd Armored Division "Littorio" ( it, 133ª Divisione corazzata "Littorio") was an armored division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division's name derives from the fasces ( it, Fascio littorio) carried by the lictors of ancient Rome, which Benito Mussolini had adopted as symbol of state-power of the fascist regime. Sent to North Africa in January 1942 for the Western Desert Campaign the division was destroyed in the Second battle of El Alamein in November 1942. History Formation The 133rd Armored Division "Littorio" was formed on 6 November 1939 in Parma by reorganizing parts of the 4th Infantry Division "Littorio", which had had been made up of regular army "volunteer" and taken part in the Spanish Civil War. The Littorio was the third Italian armored division, after the 131st Armored Division "Centauro" and the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete"., group=nb Initially the Littorio fielded four tankette battalions, three Bersaglieri battalions, and two moto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battle Of Alam El Halfa
The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place between 30 August and 5 September 1942 south of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. '' Panzerarmee Afrika'' (''Generalfeldmarschall'' Erwin Rommel), attempted an envelopment of the British Eighth Army (Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery). In (Operation Surf), the last big Axis offensive of the Western Desert Campaign, Rommel intended to defeat the Eighth Army before Allied reinforcements arrived. Montgomery knew of Axis intentions through Ultra signals intercepts and left a gap in the southern sector of the front, knowing that Rommel planned to attack there and deployed the bulk of his armour and artillery around Alam el Halfa Ridge, behind the front. Unlike in previous engagements, Montgomery ordered that the tanks were to be used as anti-tank guns, remaining in their defensive positions on the ridge. When Axis attacks on the ridge failed and short on supplies, Rommel ordered a withdrawal. The 2nd N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Siege Of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk lasted for 241 days in 1941, after Axis forces advanced through Cyrenaica from El Agheila in Operation Sonnenblume against Allied forces in Libya, during the Western Desert Campaign (1940–1943) of the Second World War. In late 1940, the Allies had defeated the Italian 10th Army during Operation Compass and trapped the remnants at Beda Fomm. During early 1941, much of the Western Desert Force (WDF) was sent to the Greek and Syrian campaigns. As German troops and Italian reinforcements reached Libya, only a skeleton Allied force remained, short of equipment and supplies. The defenders quickly became known as the Rats of Tobruk. Operation ''Sonnenblume'' forced the Allies into a retreat to the Egyptian border. A garrison, consisting mostly of the 9th Australian Division (Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead) remained at Tobruk, to deny the port to the Axis, while the WDF reorganised and prepared a counter-offensive. The Axis siege of Tobruk began on 10 Apri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
XXI Army Corps (Italy)
The Italian XXI Army Corps was a formation of the Italian army in World War II. History The Corps fought in Northern Africa and took part in the Western Desert Campaign and Tunisian campaign between 1940 and 1943. It surrendered to the allies in Tunisia in May 1943, with the rest of Army Group Africa. Composition in 1940 * 61st Infantry Division Sirte * 64th Infantry Division Catanzaro * 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" in July 1941 * 27th Infantry Division Brescia * 17th Infantry Division Pavia * 102nd Motorised Division Trento in May 1942 * 132nd Armoured Division Ariete * 101st Motorised Division Trieste in October 1942 * 25th Infantry Division Bologna * 102nd Motorised Division Trento in 1943 * 80th Infantry Division La Spezia * 16th Infantry Division Pistoia Commanders * Gen. C.A. Mario Caracciolo di Feroleto (1 October 1937 – 1 December 1939) * Gen. C.A. Lorenzo Dalmazzo (1 December 1939 – 26 September 1940) * Gen. D. Carlo Spatocco (26 Septem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
