AK Afrika 1941 1943.pdf

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All the AK Interactive staff and myself
are proud to introduce this new book
full of information on the Deutsches
Arika Korps. Here you will find all the
references needed to paint almost any
armored vehicle; camouflages, division
signs, etc.
Variations of the most popular models
depending on the year, division and
army it belonged. A complete approach
to the German DAK, ready for the mod-
eler to achieve the most realistic look
in your vehicles. This book is meant for
all of us who enjoy and love this great
hobby.
Fernando Vallejo
AK Interactive President
2014
4
6
26
38
88
104
105
106
108
introduction
LiGHt veHicLes
medium / Heavy veHicLes
armoured FiGHtinG veHicLes
artiLLery
marKinGs
coLours
pHotos
pHoto credits / BiBLioGrapHy
Original Idea, Design Supervision:
Fernando Vallejo
Cover Design:
Enrique Royo
Publisher:
AK Interactive S.L.
Editor:
Fernando Vallejo
Concept Development and Project Manager:
Pedro Larrañaga
Layout:
BMS
Texts:
Luis Miguel García Ruiz, Jacques Skipper and Maciej Goralczyk
Illustrations:
Carlos Fresno (AF Editores), Thierry Vallet, Julio López Caeiro and Luís Fresno Crespo
Special thanks to:
Gordon Forrester, Kiko.
Depósito Legal:
LR-262-2014
Printed in Spain
© 2014 AK Interactive. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, present or future, including photocopy, recording or any information storage
or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Prologue
The vast majority of military episodes which
took place during World War II, speak of
terrible battles, with stories both cruel and
ruthless, which shrink the reader’s heart.
Even those accustomed to such stories of war
cannot do anything but shudder to imagine
the suffering of the protagonists. However,
the events that took place in the inhospitable
lands of Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, between
February 1941 and May 1943, enjoy a unique
aura, resulting in a mixture of heroism, cour-
age, recklessness, companionship and respect
for the enemy which has lasted until this day.
Following the disaster which was the Italian
campaign in North Africa, Hitler, in a decision
more political than military, decided to send
an expeditionary force to aid his allies. The
Italians were about to crumble and become
virtually disbanded in the face of the British. In
command of this army, was a general who had
featured in the campaign for France famed for
his mastery of the Panzer, and their use in the
German ‘Blitzkrieg’ doctrine that had so far
smashed Germany’s adversaries. His name
was Erwin Rommel, a name as well known as
the troops he commanded; the Afrika Korps.
Both of them are so intrinsically linked, that
to name one, invokes the name of the other.
Outnumbered by man and materiel from be-
ginning to end, only the audacity and great de-
termination of this force allowed them to keep
check with the Commonwealth forces, and
arrive at the gates of Alexandria. Only with the
sea behind them, and before a much stronger
enemy, were they forced to surrender after a
series of defensive maneuvers and counterat-
tacks that prevented their withdrawal.
Some of the phrases which most seem to de-
fine the personality a German are his planning,
organization and modus operandi. In North
Africa however, improvisation was perhaps
the most valuable of weapons. Despite having
no experience in desert combat and
specially prepared vehicles for oper-
ating in harsh conditions, the Africa
Korps saw successive victories over
the first months of their operations,
along the coast of North Africa to
the Halfaya Pass, through Egypt, and
onto the Tobruk, which was then besieged.
Months later, when a counter ally released the
German advance to Tobruk and Benghazi, it
seemed that the end was near for the Afrika
Korps and their Italian allies. Rommel recap-
tured lost ground and took Tobruk and swiftly
moved on to El Alamein, just 100 km away
from Alexandria. All these events forged
the Rommel legend, and his nickname, "Der
Wüstenfuchs" or Desert Fox. Rommel was
both revered by his troops and admired even
by his enemies.
Henceforth, their efforts to reach Cairo and
control the Suez Canal were in vain. Facing
a much better equipped enemy without any
supply shortages, the Germano-Italian lines
were totally exhausted, stretched, and short
of supplies. This also coincided with the sum-
mer of 1942, when preparations were afoot
for the second great offensive in Russia. This
in itself was much more difficult in obtaining
the necessary materials and equipment for the
campaign Many of the supply convoys trying
to reach by sea, were intercepted by Allied
aircraft. The African campaign was always
considered a secondary front, although this
theatre of war was paradoxically closer to the
Middle East oil than the supplied which would
be required from the Caucasus.
In October 1942, Montgomery triggered an
offensive against the Germans, with a force
that exceeded that of the Afrika Korps and its
ment; to the British forces, but the Germans
also lost a lot of soldiers and vehicles. However,
the British could re-supply in a short period, in
contrast to the Germans. This began a long
withdrawal to Tunisia which intensified after
the Americans landed in Morocco and Algeria,
and the French government in Vichy changed
sides. This mean that the Germans could be
attacked on two fronts. All this would perhaps
mean a rapid annihilation of Axis forces away
if so, but despite this, they were still able to
inflict a severe defeat on the Americans in the
Kasserine Pass.
Finally, on May 12, 1943, General von Arnim
surrendered to the Allies, but Rommel was
not there. Separated from his troops against
their will, by "Reasons of health”, it is true that
a good part of the German thrust and vital-
ity was lost forever. Those men who had at
all times accompanied Rommel in this desert
adventure, by the heat of the day, and with
their joyful, glorious anthem: Es rasseln die
Ketten, Es dröhnt der Motor! Panzer rollen
in Afrika vor! (squeaking tracks, echoes the
engine... The advancing panzers in Africa!)
now spent cold nights listening to the radio,
and the melancholy notes of "Lili Marleen".
Those sounds have, without doubt, forged
the memory of all who fought there and sur-
vived, along with personal testimonies, pho-
tographs, documentaries and
texts. These memories survive
to the present day, but with less
in terms of triumph, and more in
the respect for the sheer human
losses which were suffered. As
an amateur modeller, I would
like to follow this simple premise, and pay a
small tribute to that memory.
Luis Miguel García Ruiz.
allies by a ratio of 6 to 1. The Germans lacked
fuel, so they couldn't maneuver and therefore
had to open battle at El-Alamein. This battle
caused a lot of losses, both in men and equip-
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