General Walter Nehring was a vital part of the Nazi war effort in North Africa. He commanded German forces in the Afrika Korps under the leadership of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the joint German and Italian commander. When Rommel fled from El Alamein and Egypt he sought to link up with Nehring's armies in Tunisia. Nehring assumed command of Afrika Korps following the capture of Ludwig Cruewell on May 29, 1942. Later in the war Nehring led the XXIV Panzer Division in Russia.