German WWII Afrika Korps DAK Mauser 98K Rifle Web and Leather Sling- K98k New Made Items

New Made Item: This is a top quality Mauser K98k heavy cotton web leather rifle sling with leather fittings. Our stunning reproduction is correctly weaved complete with steel buckle and keeper. These were the type issued to Rommel’s Afrika Korps and are marked with German WW2 Makers code, date, and waffenamt marking . Correct for all German WWII Rifles. Fabulous!

Made exclusively for IMA from an original in the IMA collection. These are the very best around, period.

The German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK), or just the Afrika Korps, was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. The term “Afrika Korps” is derived from the original German name and is properly written as one word. Strictly speaking, the term refers to the original formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which became incorporated into the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. However, it was often used by the news media and Allied soldiers as a name for all German units in North Africa. The reputation of the Afrika Korps is tied with that of its first commander, Erwin Rommel.

The Afrika Korps formed upon Adolf AH’s personal orders on 11 January 1941. AH picked Erwin Rommel to be their commander on 12 February 1941 (Rommel himself landed on African soil in Libya on 14 February 1941 to begin leading his forces that would be brought into action). The German Armed Forces High Command (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, OKW) and Army High Command (Oberkommando des Heeres, OKH) had decided to send a “blocking force” (Sperrverband) to Libya to support the Italian army. The Italian army group had been routed by the British Commonwealth Western Desert Force in Operation Compass (9 December 1940 – 9 February 1941). The German “blocking force”, commanded by Rommel, at first consisted of only the 5./leichte “Afrika” Panzer Regiment, which was quickly cobbled together from the second regiment of the 3./Panzer Division and various other small units attached for water treatment and medical care. These elements were organized into the 5th Light Division when they arrived in Africa from 10 February – 12 March 1941. In late April and into May, the 5th Light Division was joined by transference of the various elements constituting the 15th Panzer Division from Italy, though it did not completely arrive until after Rommel had made a counter-offensive and re-taken most of Cyrenaica and then subsequently gone back over to the defensive. At this time, the Afrikakorps consisted of the two divisions plus various smaller supporting units, and was officially subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa (though Rommel had conducted his offensive without any authorization).