The German Afrika Korps was an outstanding military organisation that experienced both the height of glory and the depth of defeat in the Western Desert campaign.
This in-depth investigation examines the battles of the Afrika Korps as seen through the eyes of a trained general staff officer under Rommel, and gives a key insight into this formidable fighting force at the height of its powers.
Inside the Afrika Korps exposes the secrets of this exemplary fighting force’s success as well as highlighting those weaknesses which led to its eventual defeat.

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Editor’s Introduction
  • Sources
  • Colonel Rainer Kriebel
  • A Note on Terminology
• Part One: History of the Campaign in North Africa
  • 1 Political and Operational Conduct of the German and Italian High Command
  • 2 Preparations for the Autumn Battle
    • Organisational Activities
    • Panzergruppe Afrika
  • 3 The Defensive Battle on the Egyptian Frontier
    • Construction of the Strongpoints
    • The Enemy Situation
    • Preparations for the Attack on Tobruk
    • The Siege Front
    • Arrival of German Artillery
    • Ammunition Supplies
    • The Plan for the Attack
    • The Order for the Attack
    • New Tactics for Armored Formations
    • Cooperation of Weapons
    • Command
    • Reconnaissance
    • Supplies
    • The Situation in the Air
    • The Supply Position in Summer and Autumn 1941
  • 4 Repulse of the First British Advance on Tobruk
    • The Beginning of the British Attack (16–20 November)
    • Events during 16/18 November
    • The Beginning of the Battle on 19 November
    • Decisions Taken on 19 November
    • The Failure on 20 November
    • 21 November
    • The Diversionary Attack of the Afrika Korps
    • The Battle of the Cauldron of Sidi Rezegh
    • The Battle on the “Bloody Sunday of the Dead”
    • The Solium Front, 18–23 November
    • The Air Situation
    • The Push to Egypt, 24–27 November
    • Rommel’s Instructions
    • The Conduct of the Pursuit up to Arrival at the Solium Position early on 25 November
    • The Fighting around the Solium Position
    • Return of the Afrika Korps to the Tobruk Front on 27 November
    • Course of the Fighting on the Morning of 27 November
    • The Fighting during the Afternoon of 27 November
    • The Fighting before Tobruk, 24–27 November
    • The Smashing of the 2nd New Zealand Division
    • The Plan of Attack of the Afrika Korps
    • The Course of 28 November
    • Orders of the Africa Korps for 29 November
    • The Battle for El Duda on 29 November
    • Orders issued by the Afrika Korps during the Evening of 29 November
    • The Battle for Belhamed
    • The Fighting for Sidi Rezegh on 30 November
    • Plan for the Attack on 1 December
    • The Morning Attack against Belhamed
    • The Fighting during the Afternoon of 1 December
    • Orders for 2 December
    • Course of 2 December
    • Observations
    • The Last Fighting East of Tobruk, 2–4 December
    • The Fighting on 3 and 4 December
    • The Course of 4 December
    • Observations
    • The Situation in the Air
    • The Supply Situation
  • 5 The Battle for the Gazala Position
    • The Attack on Bir el Gubi
    • Decision taken by the Afrika Korps
    • Events on 6 December
    • The Defensive Battle of 7 December
    • Evacuation of the Area East of Tobruk
    • The Withdrawal
    • Decision to Withdraw into the Gazala Position
    • The Withdrawal into the Gazala Position
    • The Withdrawal during 8–9 December
    • The Withdrawal on 10–11 December
    • The Battle in the Gazala Position, 12–16 December
    • The Beginning of the Battle on 11–12 December
    • The Crisis in the Battle, 13–14 December
    • Course of 14 December
    • The Fighting on 15 December
    • Conduct of Operations from 11 to 15 December
    • The Decision to Abandon Cyrenaica
    • First Orders for the Withdrawal
    • The Situation in the Air
  • 6 The Withdrawal of Panzergruppe Afrika from Gazala to the Marsa el Bregha Position, 17 December 1941–12 January 1942
    • Breaking Away from the Gazala Position
    • The Withdrawal towards Benghazi, 19–21 December
    • The Warding off of British Pursuing Columns North of Agedabia, 22–25 December
    • The Fighting around Agedabia, 25 December–5 January
    • The Counterattack on the South Wing of the Panzergruppe
    • The Fighting in the Morning on 28 December
    • Events on 29 December
    • Events on 30 December
    • Local Skirmishes in the Agedabia Area
    • The Withdrawal from Agedabia into the Marsa el Bregha Position, 6–12 January
    • The Actual Withdrawal
    • The Situation in the Air
    • The Supply Problem during the Withdrawal, 5 December–1 January
  • 7 The German Counteroffensive for the Reconquest of Cyrenaica, January–February 1942
    • Planning and Preparations for the Attack
    • The Battle in the Area of Agedabia, 21–26 January
    • Appreciation of the Situation by the Panzerarmee
    • Events on 22 January
    • The Tank Battles in the Area of Saunnu, 23–24 January
    • Events on 24 January
    • The Advance of the Afrika Korps to Msus on 25 January
    • The Advance to Benghazi and Pursuit to the Gazala Position, 26 January–6 February
    • The Coup de Main against Benghazi, 27–30 January
    • The Pursuit into Cyrenaica, 30 January–6 February
    • The Situation on the Ground
    • The Situation in the Air
    • The Supply Situation
  • 8 Events on the British Side, 18 November 1941–17 February 1942
    • Conclusion
• Part Two: Artillery in the Desert
  • Reconnaissance
  • Methods of Observation
  • Selection and Occupation of Positions
  • Terrain
  • Dispersion
  • Camouflage
  • Communications
  • Visual Signals
  • Wire
  • Radio
  • Codes
  • German Tactics
  • Effect of Terrain
  • Formations
  • Offensive Tactics
  • German Method of Forcing Gaps through Minefields
  • Defensive Tactics
  • British Tactics
  • The Approach
  • The Attack
  • The Defense
  • Withdrawal
  • Counterbattery
  • Naval Bombardment
  • Antitank Operations
  • Positions
  • German Tank Tactics
  • British Tactics
  • The Main Role: To Form a Secure Base
  • Effect of Artillery on Tanks
  • Smoke
  • Characteristics
  • Tactical Employment
  • Supply Methods
• Part Three: German Defensive Tactics, 7 May–15 June 1941
  • Original Doctrine
  • The Plan Unfolds
  • The Theory Tested on the Frontier
  • The Action at Halfaya Pass
  • The Action at Point 208
  • The Action at Point 206
  • The Mobile Infantry Reserve
  • The Tank Striking Force
  • New Theory from Experience on the Frontier
    • Neumann-Silkow
    • Summermann
    • Ravenstein
  • Rommel
  • The Action at Tobruk
  • The November Offensive
  • Comments and Lessons
  • Antimechanised Obstacles
  • Artillery
  • Reconnaissance
  • Morale
• Bibliography