999th Light Afrika Division (Wehrmacht)

999th Light Afrika Division (Wehrmacht)

The 999th Afrika Brigade was a German army unit created in October 1942 as a penal military unit. It was later expanded into the 999th Light Afrika Division and began deploying to North Africa in early 1943. However, this was interrupted by the surrender of Axis forces in that theater. Those elements that made it to Africa before the collapse fought as independent units rather than as a division, and were lost in the general collapse. The remainder were sent to Greece for garrison and anti-partisan duty, where a number of those forced into service because of their anti-Nazi activities continued them, such as Falk Harnack, who deserted and formed the Anti-Fascist Committee for a Free Germany with other soldiers. During the only fight many of the political prisoners in the division went over to the US troops or retreated, the US Army taking their positions without any heavy fighting.