When things started going badly for Rommel, he was paid lip service by both Hitler, and General Kesselring. When Hitler refused to allow Rommel to return to Tunisia, von Arnim was promoted to full general (Generaloberst), on 4 December 1942, Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Africa and de facto commander of the Afrika Korps

(Von Arnim is seen here after he was captured by American forces)   

US ARMY SIGNAL CORP PHOTO - NAT'L ARCHIVES