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Starting in February 1941, General Erwin Rommel commanded the German units that were sent to Libya to assist the Italians in the desert combat against the British in eastern North Africa (Libya & Egypt). This unit was called the Deutsches Afrikakorps (German Africa Corps). As the number of German units sent to North Africa increased, Rommel assumed command of the newly created and larger Panzergruppe Afrika (PanzerGroup Africa) from August 1941 to January 1942. This group included two Italian Corps in addition to the German units. His skill earned him the nickname "Desert Fox". On January 30, 1942 his command was redesignated as the Panzerarmee Afrika (Panzer Army Africa). However, after his defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt (October 23, 1942-November 5, 1942), his command was forced to retreat to the west, all the way to south Tunisia by January 1943. By then Rommel's command had been redesignated as the Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee (German-Italian Panzer Army). The Americans & British had recently invaded Morocco & Algeria (Operation Torch) and were driving east towards Tunisia. At northern Tunisia German General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim commanded the newly arrived German 5th Panzer Army. Field Marshal Albert Kesselringwas appointed the overall Axis commander in North Africa after the Allied invasions in Morocco and Algeria, for the purpose of defending Tunisia.

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12y ago

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