In 1941, Hitler sent in the German tank force, the Afrika Korps, in response to what?

This was a direct response to the defeat of the Italian forces after their invasion of Egypt failed in December 1940. The Italian forces were situated in Libya as it was the Italian colony for a long time. The British forces were stationed in Egypt. When the war broke the Italy invaded Egypt but lost in a few short months. The Italian defeat prompted Hitler to send his general, Erwin Rommel, who was in charge of the Africa Korps.