Afrika Korps at War, Vol. 2: The Long Road Back (Hitler's Forces Series)

Tautly written and highlighted by many photographs, Lieutenant-Colonel Forty's Afrika Korps at War paints a vivid picture of the German soldiers who fought in North Africa from February 1941 to May 1943.

By early 1941 the British were riding the crest of a wave in North Africa and yet two months later the situation was completely reversed following the arrival of General Erwin Rommel and his legendary Deutches Afrika Korps. The book traces the highlights of the Deutches Afrika Korps initial momentous year in the desert during 1941. The story continues from January 1942 and details the history of Rommel's efforts to destroy the Eighth Army, which would have changed the whole course of the war. However, dogged British resistance gradually wore down the DAK and, once the thrust towards Alexandria was halted, the end was in sight for the Afrika Korps.
Apart from the exhilarating beginning, this book should tell a tale of defeat and despair but few armies have ever carried out a more dogged, hard fought and orderly withdrawal over such difficult terrain. Even when the 'Operation Torch' landing had taken it in the rear the DAK was still able to show its teeth at Kasserine. Its record is one of which any army could be proud and its ultimate defeat in Cape Bon holds for them no less glory than did Dunkirk for the gallant survivors of the BEF.