Georg Stumme

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Georg Stumme (1886 - October 24, 1942) was a World War II German general most notable for his brief command of the Axis forces at the beginning of the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Stumme had achieved the rank of lieutenant general by the beginning of the war. He commanded the 2nd Light Division in the attack on Poland in 1939. Replaced by Erwin Rommel in 1940, he was appointed as commander of the 40th Army Corps, which fought in Bulgaria in 1941. He also participated in the attacks on Yugoslavia and Greece. In Operation Barbarossa Stumme served under Field Marshal Fedor von Bock. Stumme and his men succeeded in capturing Mozhaisk. He then participated in the attempt to capture Stalingrad.

In June some German plans were captured by Soviet forces. Hitler blamed Stumme and ordered that he be court-martialed. He was found guilty and was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but von Bock secured his release. Stumme was then sent to North Africa to join the Afrika Korps, which was confronting the British at El Alamein. During the temporary absence of Rommel, he commanded Panzer Group Africa (combined German and Italian forces) when the British attacked. Stumme died from a heart attack during the bombardment of 24 October 1942. He was replaced by General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma.