The 999th Afrika Brigade was a German army unit created in October 1942 as a penal military unit. It was later expanded into the 999th Light Afrika Division and began deploying to North Africa in early 1943. However, this was interrupted by the surrender of Axis forces in that theater. Those elements that made it to Africa before the collapse fought as independent units rather than as a division, and were lost in the general collapse. The remainder were sent to Greece for garrison and anti-partisan duty, where a number of those forced into service because of their anti-Nazi activities continued them, such as Falk Harnack, who deserted and formed the Anti-Fascist Committee for a Free Germany[1] with other soldiers. During the only fight many of the political prisoners in the division went over to the US troops or retreated, the US Army taking their positions without any heavy fighting.
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Commanders [edit]
Commanders were:[2]
- Oberst Heinz Karl von Rinkleff - October 1942 to 2 Feb 1943 (transferred to Russian front after the surrender at Stalingrad)
- Generalleutnant Kurt Thomas - From 2 Feb 1943 to 1 Apr 1943) (KIA 1 April 1943 when his plane was shot down en rute to Tunis.)
- Generalmajor Ernst-Günther Baade - From 2 Apr 1943 to 13 May 1943)
Organization [edit]
Order of battle of Afrika-Brigade 999[3]
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment (Infantry) 961
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
- Nachrichten-Kompanie (Communications) 999
Order of battle of 999 Afrika Division[4]
- Stab
- Divisions-Kartenstelle (Records) 999
- Musikkorps
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 961
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 962
- Afrika-Schützen-Regiment 963
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 999
- Artillerie-Regiment (Artillery) 999
- Pionier-Bataillon (Engineers) 999
- Aufklärungs-Abteilung (Reconnaissance) 999
- Astronomischer Messtrupp (Navigation) 999
- Werkstatt-Kompanie (Labor) 999
- Werkstatt-Kompanie 999
- Entgiftungs-Batterie (Cleaneers) 999
- Nachschubs-Bataillon (Supply) 999
- Schlächterei-Kompanie (Butchers) 999
- Bäckerie-Kompanie (Bakers) 999
- Divisions-Verpfelgungsamt (mot) 999
- Sanitäts-Kompanie (Medical) 999
- Krankenkraftwagen-Zug (Ambulance) 999
- Veterinär-Kompanie (Veterinary) 999
- Feldgendarmerie-Trupp (Military police) 999
- Feldpostamt (Postal) 999
See also [edit]
- Strafbattalion - punishment units in the Wehrmacht.
- North African Campaign
- Afrika Korps
- Panzer Army Africa
- Fliegerführer Afrika
- 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS
- Division (military), Military unit
- Wehrmacht divisions in World War II
References [edit]
- ^ Gottfried Hamacher, Andre Lohmar, Herbert Mayer and Günter Wehner, Gegen Hitler: Deutsche in der Resistance, in den Streitkräften der Antihitlerkoalition und der Bewegung "Freies Deutschland" Dietz, Berlin (March 2005), p. 76. ISBN 3-320-02941-X (German)
- ^ George F. Nafziger - The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941-1943
- ^ George F. Nafziger - The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941-1943
- ^ George F. Nafziger - The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941-1943
- Wendel, Marcus (2004). "999. Afrika-Brigade". Retrieved April 4, 2005.
- "Afrika-Brigade 999". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved April 4, 2005.
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