Deutsches Afrikakorps / DAK | |
---|---|
![]() Seal of the Afrika Korps | |
Active | 21 February 1941 – 13 May 1943 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Army |
Type | Expeditionary forces |
Role | Desert warfare Expeditionary warfare |
Size | Corps June 1941: 33,500 men in total[1] |
Garrison/HQ | Tripoli, Italian Libya |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma Walther Nehring |
The German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, pronounced [ˈdɔʏtʃəs ˈʔaːfʁikaˌkoːɐ̯] ; DAK), commonly known as Afrika Korps, was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of its African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.