Ah, Herr General, I hope you have enjoyed your leave.  As you know, British and Commonwealth troops have defeated our Italian allies in North Afrika and pushed them back into Italian colonial territory.  The General staff has decided to send aid to the Italians in the form of an Afrika Korps, commanded by Feldmarschall Rommel.  You and your men will serve under him.  His mission is to stop the British and then make a drive to the East.