Monty's Meatgrinder: The Battle for Caen, Normandy, June-August 1944

When Hitler sent armoured forces to aid the collapsing Italian forces in Africa at the start of 1941, no one an­ticipated that the Deutsches Afiikakorps would become a legend. 5. Leichte Division (5lh Light Division) became 21. Panzerdivision (21st Armoured Division) in September 1941, and with 15- Panzerdivision fought in the desert battles that raged back and forth across North Africa. Despite always being outnumbered, they very nearly won. The soldiers of 21. Panzerdivision had confidence in their comrades, their equipment and their commander GeneralfeldmarschallErwin Rommel—the 'Desert Fox. On 6 May, 1943, after more than two years in Africa, the Deutsches Afiikakorps surrendered to the combined British and American armies at Tunis.
As the final battle ofTunis was being fought, Schnelle Brigade West (Mobile Brigade West), the mobile reserve for France, was combined with 100. Panzerreginient to form Schnelle Division West (Mobile Division West). A month later on 27 June, 1943, Schnelle Division West was renamed 21. Panzer­division in honour of those who fought and died in North Africa. Two thousand Afiikakorps veterans were assigned to this new division being assembled at Rennes, a city in the Brittany region of northwest France.