GERMAN FIELD MARSHAL ROMMEL RIBBON BAR

This is the reconstructed ribbon bar of Rommel with pin.

Ribbon bars are small ribbons mounted on small metal bars equipped with attaching devices, and are generally issued for wear in place of wearing the actual medals.

The following ribbon bars are included:

1. 1914 Iron Cross with 1939 Spange
2. Wurttemberg Military Merit Order Service Cross
3. Knight of the White Rose of Finland with Silver Swords
4. The Bavarian Military Merit Order with cross
5. Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary)
6. Honor Cross of the World War 1914-1918
7. Wehrmacht Long Service Award 1st Class
8. Wehrmacht Long Service Award  3^rd Class
9. Sudetenland Medal with Prague
10. Medal to Commemorate the Return to the Memel Region

The German Africa Corps (Deutsches Afrikakorps) or DAK was a German force in Africa in WWII during the North African Campaign. 

The Africa Corps was formed on January 11, 1941 and Hitler gave the command to one of his favourite generals, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.  At first named the Panzerarmee Afrika, it was renamed a few times during its campaign however both officers and men continued to call it AfrikaKorps until its surrender in May, 943.

Initially the DAK was only sent to help the Italians defense of their African colonies arriving in Libya it only consisted of the Panzer Regiment 5. Then organized into the 5^th Light Division (later to be called the 21^st Panzer Division) from February 10 to March 12, 1941.  Later that spring the 5^th Light joined some of the 15^th Panzer Division that came from Italy. Both divisions were subordinate to the Italian’s in Africa. On August 15, 1941 more German troops were sent to Africa and a new command headquarters was made called Panzer Group Afrika.  The Panzer Group was headed now by Ludwig Cruwell with Rommel still in command.

In November 1942 after the German defeat in the second battle of El Alamein, the XC Army Corps arrived in Tunisia, Africa and additional 5^th Panzer Army men were added.  On February 23,1943, the Panzer Army Africa was re-designed as the Italian 1^st Army which was under the control of Giovanni Messe. Rommel was placed in command of the New Army Group Africa which controlled the Italian 1^st Army, and the Panzer 5h Army.

On May 13, the Afrika Korps and remaining Axis forces surrender in North Africa.

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