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Panzer greift an (known as Tank Attacks in English) is an unfinished book on armoured tactics and warfare by Erwin Rommel. It was to be the follow-up and companion work to his earlier and highly successful Infanterie greift an, which was published in 1937.
General Erwin Rommel and staff observe 7th Panzer Division practicing a river crossing at the Mosel, 1940. Following the completion of the invasion of Poland, the limited effectiveness of the light divisions caused the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH; German High Command) to order the reorganization of the four light divisions into full panzer divisions.
Rommel arrived at El Alamein on the evening of the 25th to resume command of the Panzer Army Africa, which was renamed the German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) that day. [61] Rommel's arrival boosted German morale, though there was little he could do to change the course of the battle. [62] Italian M13/40 tanks at Hill 28
The division was transported to Libya in April 1941, joining General Erwin Rommel's Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) as one of two German tank divisions in North Africa at the time, the other having been the 21st Panzer Division. [3] However, the Royal Navy intercepted and sank the ships carrying the division's Signal Reserve Battalion. [4]
In the attack, Rommel had suffered 2,940 casualties and lost 50 tanks, a similar number of guns, and 400 lorries, vital for supplies and movement. The British losses, except tank losses of 68, were much less, further adding to the numerical inferiority of Panzer Army Africa .
16 December: Rommel facing reduced Panzer numbers orders withdrawal from the Gazala line; 24 December: British forces capture Benghazi; 25 December: Agedabia reached by the Allies; 27 December: Rommel inflicts many losses on British tanks who have to withdraw allowing Rommel to fall back to El Agheila; 31 December: Front lines return to El Agheila
The Afrika Korps formed on 11 January 1941 and one of Adolf Hitler's favourite generals, Erwin Rommel, was designated as commander on 11 February.Originally Hans von Funck was to have commanded it, but Hitler loathed von Funck, as he had been a personal staff officer of Werner von Fritsch until von Fritsch was dismissed in 1938.
Rommel retained the initiative, maintaining his strength in the cauldron while the number of operational British tanks diminished. A number of probes were sent to test the various opposing strong points and from 6 to 8 June, further attacks were launched on Bir Hakeim and repulsed by the French garrison.