The PzKpfw II (Panzerkampfwagen II) was a German light tank from the Second World War. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1934, and serial production continued in the period 1935-1944, ending with the production of about 1,850 cars. The A version of the tank was powered by a single Maybach HL 57 TR engine with a capacity of 130 HP. It was armed with 1 20mm KwK 30 gun and 1 7.92mm MG 34 machine gun. placed in the tower.
PzKpfw II was created as a result of a competition announced by the German Armaments Bureau for a light tank weighing up to 10 tons, armed with a 20 mm gun. The competition was won by MAN in cooperation with Daimler-Benz. Serial production started in 1935, and many variants of the PzKpfw II tank were created during it. Chronologically, the first was version A, but it was produced in relatively small quantities. Soon after, version B was created, which already had a new, more powerful engine and a changed chassis. Already in 1937, the C version was created, with a substantially changed chassis and reinforced frontal hull armor. At the end of 1940, the F version was created, which had stronger armor and a better gearbox than the C version. In 1942, the production of the L ("Luchs") version began, which had a completely new chassis, a new 180 HP engine and significantly increased speed maximum - from 40 km / h to 60 km / h. Numerous other vehicles were also built on the chassis of the PzKpfw II, such as the Wespe self-propelled howitzer or the Marder II tank destroyer. PzKpfw II tanks were used on almost all fronts of World War II, and from 1942 they were assigned to secondary tasks.
Afrika Korps (full German name: Deutsches Afrikakorps, abbreviated as DAK) is colloquially understood as the collective name of German land units fighting in North Africa in 1941-1943. The Afrika Korps was formed in February 1941, as a result of the painful defeats suffered by the Italian army during the battles with the British in Africa at the turn of 1940/1941. His main task was to come to the aid of the Italian ally and stop the advance of British troops in Libya. The commander of the unit was a general, and later a field marshal, Erwin Rommel. Initially, the DAK consisted of only the 5th Light Division (later transformed into the 21st Armored Division), in May 1941 it was joined by the 15th Armored Division, and at the end of 1941 - the 90th Light Division. It is worth adding that already in the middle of 1941 the Panzergruppe Afrika was founded, headed by Erwin Rommel, and it was joined by Afrika Korps. Despite the defensive tasks, the DAK (or more broadly the Panzergruppe Afrika) very quickly after landing - on the initiative of its commander - went into strictly offensive operations, inflicting a series of defeats in the desert on the British in 1941-1942. However, it was then that its commander was nicknamed the Desert Fox. At the same time, however, from the very beginning, DAK was troubled by supply problems, which had a negative impact on its ability to conduct offensive actions. He suffered a significant defeat during the Second Battle of El Alamein (October-November 1942), which forced the DAK to retreat as far as Tunisia, in which he fought until May 1943.