90. Leichte Afrika-Division was formed as Afrika-Division z.b.V Aug 1941 around a cadre from smaller units serving in Africa. It took part in the assualt on Tobruk Nov 1941 and later fought at Sidi Rezegh. It was redesignated 90. Leichte Infanterie-Division 27 Nov 1941.
It fought at Gazala, Got el Valeb, Bir Macheim and later at El Alamein where it suffered heavy losses. It later continued to suffer heavy losses durign the retreat (in Jan 1943 the division was at half strength) and finally surrendered in Tunision 12 May 1943.
| Commanders | |
| Generalmajor Max Sümmermann | (1 Sep 1941 - 10 Dec 1941) (KIA) (1) |
| Generalleutnant Richard Veith | (10 Dec 1941 - 10 Apr 1942) |
| General der Panzertruppen Ulrich Kleemann | (10 Apr 1942 - 13 July 1942) |
| Generalleutnant Carl-Hans Lungershausen | (13 July 1942 - 10 Aug 1942) |
| General der Panzertruppen Ulrich Kleemann | (10 Aug 1942 - 1 Nov 1942) |
| Generalleutnant Theodor Graf von Sponeck | (1 Nov 1942 - 12 May 1943) |
| Area of operations | |
| North Africa | (Sep 1941 - May 1943) |
Holders of high awards
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (1)
Seidel, Wolfgang, 07.06.1943 (1856), Hauptmann, Kdr. II./Art.Rgt. 190 (mot)
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (20)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (8)
Holders of the Romanian Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class (Orden “Michael der Tapfere” III. Klasse) (1)
Kayser, Erich, Königlichen Dekrets Nr. 2517 / 13.09.1943, Major d.R., Pz.Gren.Rgt. 155
Order of battle
Stab
Division-Kartenstelle (mot) 259
Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 155
Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 200
Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 361
Panzergrenadier-Regiment (mot) Afrika (aka Sonderverband 288)
Kolbeck-Bataillon
Schwerste Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 707
Schwerste Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 708
Panzerjäger-Abteilung (mot) 190
Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 190
Aufklärungs-Kompanie (mot) 580
Nachrichten-Abteilung (mot)
Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 900
Feldersatz-Bataillon
Krankenkraftwagen-Zug (mot) 638
Kraftwagenwerkstatt-Zug 566
Munitionsverwaltungs-Kompanie (mot) 540
Bäckerei-Kompanie (mot) 535
Schlächterei-Kompanie (mot) 517
Divisions-Verpflegungsamt (mot)
Feldgendarmerie-Trupp (mot)
Feldpostamt (mot) 190
Footnotes
1. Max Sümmermann was killed 10 December 1941 by a strafing British aircraft.
Sources used
François de Lannoy & Josef Charita - Panzertruppen: German armored troops 1935-1945
French Maclean - Quiet Flows the Rhine: German General Officer Casualties in World War II
George F. Nafziger - The Afrika Korps: An organizational history 1941-1943
Reference material on this unit
- None known at this time -
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