# Panzer Army Africa

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. On 1943, during the Tunisian campaign, the Panzerarmee Afrika was changed to as the Army Group Africa, and was consisted of the newly-formed German 5th Army and the Italian 1st Army. During the campaigns in North Africa, the Panzerarmee Afrika was subordinated to the Italian command, as well as 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 Panzertruppe Erwin 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. | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | 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 | Maresciallo d'Italia Giovanni Messe (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 |