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The 21st Panzer Division was a German armoured division best known for its role in the battles of the North African Campaign from 1941 to 1943 during World War II when it was one of the two armoured divisions making up the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK).
On 15 August 1941, the German 5th Light Division was redesignated 21st Panzer Division, the higher formation of which was still the Afrika Korps. During the summer of 1941, the OKW increased the presence in Africa and created a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa.
This is the order of battle for the Battle of Alam el Halfa, a World War II battle between the British Commonwealth and the Axis Powers of Germany and Italy in North Africa between 30 August and 5 September 1942. [1] The forces were the Eighth Army (British and New Zealand units) and the Panzer Armee Afrika (German and Italian units)
Panzer Group Africa commanded by General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel. German Afrika Korps (commanded by Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell) 15th Panzer Division (Generalmajor Walter Neumann-Silkow until 6 December (killed in action), then Generalmajor Gustav von Vaerst) 8th Panzer Regiment (2 bns) 1st Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment
In May 1941, he was appointed commander of the 5th Light Division, at the time operating in North Africa. His command was soon redesignated as the 21st Panzer Division . He was captured by soldiers from the Intelligence section, 21 Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Division during the British Eighth Army 's Operation Crusader .
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.
The main attack was to be led by the 15th Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Division and the 90th Light Division to the south which would turn north once through the British minefields. [13] The Eighth Army would be surrounded and destroyed, leaving the Axis forces with a promenade through Egypt to the Suez Canal. [14] [15]
Rommel launches Panzer attacks on the British XXX Corps but faces resistance from SA, NZ and British forces; British and NZ forces withdraw towards Bir el Gubi; 25 November: Panzer attack on Indian forces at Sidi Omar is repulsed; In the second attack in the evening, Indian forces destroy the 5th Panzer Regiment of the 21st Panzer Division