1941.E2.80.931942 21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)

seven captured german self-propelled 15 cm howitzers division, near el alamein, egypt

gazala taken on 5 june, , during battle 20–21 june, 21st panzer along 90th light division , 15th panzer division broke through tobruk perimeter, capturing 35,000 prisoners. result, british eighth army fell back. fighting had taken toll on division, 15th , 21st panzer able field 44 tanks between them. four-fifths of transport vehicles had been captured when crossed egypt. british prepared new defensive position @ mersa matruh. 21st panzer used sweep behind british xiii corps, engaged in intense combat 2nd new zealand division @ battle of mersa matruh. british defeated , fell new line @ el alamein. in series of battles fought in july, eighth army able stop advance of afrika korps @ first battle of el alamein. shortages in equipment, ammunition , fuel limited further actions. rommel made last effort break through british positions on 31 august @ battle of alam el halfa, germans again repulsed. in series of battles in area 21st panzer division commander von bismarck killed british mine , oberst c. h. lungerhausen took command until major general heinz von randow arrived on 18 september.

on 23 october, british offensive , second battle of el alamein began. germans overwhelmed , 21st panzer reduced 4 tanks 7 november. during long retreat tunisia, 21st panzer fought rear guard actions. compound german problems, anglo-americans landed in morocco , algeria during operation torch , panzerarmee afrika, called, threatened annihilation, caught in vice. on 21 december, von randow killed.