All About Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel(1)…
| Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel | |
|---|---|
| 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944 (aged 52) | |
  Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel |
|
| Nickname | Wüstenfuchs (Desert Fox) |
| Place of birth | Heidenheim, Kingdom of WürttembergGerman Empire |
| Place of death | Herrlingen, Germany |
| Resting place | Cemetery of Herrlingen |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Years of service | 1911–1944 |
| Rank | Generalfeldmarschall |
| Commands held | 7th Panzer Division Afrika Korps Panzer Army Africa Army Group Africa Army Group B |
| Battles/wars | World War I
World War II
|
| Awards | Pour le Mérite Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary) |
| Relations | Manfred Rommel |
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (
listen (help·info)) (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), popularly known as the Desert Fox(Wüstenfuchs, listen (help·info)), was a famous German Field Marshal of World War II.
He was a highly decorated officer in World War I, awarded the Pour le Mérite for his exploits on the Italian front. In World War II, he further distinguished himself as the commander of the Ghost Division during the 1940 invasion of France. However, it was his leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign that established the legend of the Desert Fox. He is considered to have been one of the most skilled commanders of desert warfare in the war. He later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion in Normandy.
Rommel is regarded as a chivalrous and humane officer because his Afrikakorps was never accused of any war crimes. Soldiers captured during his Africa campaign were reported to have been treated humanely; furthermore, he ignored orders to kill capturedJewish soldiers and civilians in all theaters of his command.
Late in the war, Rommel joined the conspiracy against Adolf Hitler, but he opposed the failed 20 July Plot of 1944 to kill the dictator. Because of his great prestige, Hitler allowed him to commit suicide rather than be tried and executed. He was buried with full military honors; the reason for Rommel’s death only emerged at the Nuremberg Trials.
Contents |
Early life and career…
Rommel was born in Heidenheim, 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg (then part of the German Empire). He was baptised on 17 November 1891. He was the second child of the Protestant headmaster of the secondary school atAalen, Professor Erwin Rommel Senior (1860–1913), and Helene von Luz, who had two other sons and a daughter. Rommel wrote that „my early years passed quite happily.”
At age 14, Rommel and a friend built a full-scale glider that was able to fly short distances. Rommel even considered becoming anengineer and throughout his life displayed extraordinary technical aptitude. Acceding to his father’s wishes, Rommel instead joined the local 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet in 1910 and was sent to the Officer Cadet School in Danzig. He graduated on 15 November 1911 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in January 1912.
While at Cadet School, Rommel met his future wife, 17-year-old Lucia Maria Mollin (commonly called Lucie). They married on 27 November 1916 in Danzig and on 24 December 1928 had a son, Manfred Rommel, who later became the Mayor of Stuttgart. Some historians believe Rommel also had an affair with Walburga Stemmer in 1913, which allegedly produced a daughter, Gertrud.[3]
World War I…
During World War I, Rommel fought in France as well as in Romania (see: Romanian Campaign) and Italy (see: Italian Campaign), first in the 6th Württemberg Infantry Regiment, but through most of the war in the Württemberg Mountain Battalion of the élite Alpenkorps. He gained a reputation for great courage, making quick tactical decisions and taking advantage of enemy confusion. He was wounded three times and awarded the Iron Cross; First and Second Class. Rommel also received Prussia’s highest medal, the Pour le Mérite, after fighting in the mountains of west Slovenia—the Battles of the Isonzo on the Soča front. The award was for the Battle of Longarone and the capture of Mount Matajur and its defenders, totaling 150 Italian officers, 9,000 men, and 81 artillery pieces. His battalion used chemical warfare gas during the battles of the Isonzo and also played a key role in the victory over the Italian Army at theBattle of Caporetto. Rommel for a time served in the same infantry regiment as Friedrich Paulus. While fighting at Isonzo, Rommel was behind Italian lines and escaped capture though almost all of his staff was taken prisoner by the Italians. Later, when the German and Italian armies were allies during the Second World War, Rommel tempered his initial disdain of Italian soldiers, when he realised that their lack of success was principally due to poor leadership and equipment, which when overcome made them equal to the German forces.
Career between the world wars…
Rommel turned down a post in the Truppenamt (the camouflaged General Staff), whose existence was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles—the normal path for advancing to high rank in the German army. Instead, he preferred to remain a frontline officer.
Rommel held battalion commands and was an instructor at the Dresden Infantry School from 1929 to 1933. In 1934, his book for infantry training, “Gefechts-Aufgaben für Zug und Kompanie : Ein Handbuch fuer den Offizierunterricht“ (Combat tasks for platoon and company: A manual for the officer instruction), appeared. This book was printed until 1945 in five editions, with revisions and changes of title. From 1935 to 1938, Rommel held commands at the Potsdam War Academy. Rommel’s war diaries, Infanterie greift an (Infantry Attacks), published in 1937, became a highly regarded military textbook and attracted the attention of Adolf Hitler, who placed Rommel in charge of the War Ministry liaison with the Hitler Jugend’s (Hitler Youth), Headquarters of Military Sports, the branch involved with paramilitary activities, primarily terrain exercises and marksmanship. Rommel applied himself energetically to the task. The army provided instructors to the Hitler Jugend Rifle School in Thuringia, which in turn supplied qualified instructors to the HJ’s regional branches.
In 1937, Rommel conducted a tour of Hitler Jugend meetings and encampments and delivered lectures on German soldiering while inspecting facilities and exercises. Simultaneously, he was pressuring Baldur von Schirach, the Hitler Jugend leader, to accept an agreement expanding the army’s involvement in Hitler Jugend training. Schirach interpreted this as a bid to turn the Hitler Jugend into an army auxiliary, a „junior army” in his words. He refused and denied Rommel (whom he had come to dislike personally, apparently out of envy for his „real soldier’s” appeal) access to the Hitler Jugend. An agreement was concluded, but on a far more limited scope than Rommel sought; cooperation was restricted to the army’s providing personnel to the rifle school. By 1939 the Hitler Jugend had 20,000 rifle instructors. Simultaneously, Rommel retained his place at Potsdam. Rommel was awarded the highest war ribbons for excellent performance.
In 1938 Rommel, now a colonel, was appointed Kommandant (commander) of the War Academy at Wiener Neustadt (Theresian Military Academy). Rommel was removed after a short time, however, to take command of Adolf Hitler’s personal protection battalion (FührerBegleitbataillon), assigned to protect him in the special railway train (Führersonderzug) used during his visits to occupied Czechoslovakia and Memel. It was during this period that he met and befriended Joseph Goebbels, the Reich’s minister of propaganda. Goebbels became a fervent admirer of Rommel and later ensured that Rommel’s exploits were celebrated in the media.
All About Deutsches Afrikakorps…
| Deutsches Afrikakorps | |
|---|---|
| Active | February 12, 1941 – May 13, 1943 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Wehrmacht Heer |
| Type | Expeditionary Force |
| Size | Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Tripoli |
| Motto | Ritterlich im Kriege, wachsam für den Frieden („Courteous in the war, watchfully for the peace”) |
| Colors | Yellow, Brown |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Erwin Rommel Ludwig Crüwell Walther Nehring |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
 |
| Identification symbol |
Seal of the Deutsches Afrikakorps |
The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK listen (help·info)) was the German expeditionary force in Libyaand Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II. The force was kept as a distinct formation and became the main German contribution to Panzer Army Africa which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) and Army Group Africa.
The Afrika Korps was derived and formed upon Adolf Hitler’s personal choice of Erwin Rommel to its command on February 12, 1941 (Rommel himself landed on African soil in Libya on February 14, 1941 to begin leading his forces that would be brought into action). The German Armed Forces High Command or Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) and Army High Command orOberkommando des Heeres (OKH) had decided to send a „blocking force” or Sperrverband to Libya to support the Italian army. The Italian army group had been routed by Commonwealth Force’s counter-offensive led by the British Eighth Army, in OperationCompass. The German „blocking force”, commanded by Rommel, at first consisted of only the 5./leichte „Afrika” Panzer Regiment, which was quickly cobbled together from the second regiment of the 3./Panzer Division and various other small units attached for water treatment and medical care. These elements were organized into the 5th Light Division when they arrived in Africa from February 10 to March 12, 1941. In late April and into May, the 5th Light Division was joined by transference of the various elements constituting the 15th Panzer Division from Italy, though it did not completely arrive until after Rommel had made a counter-offensive and re-taken most of Cyrenaica and then subsequently gone back over to the defensive. At this time, the Afrikakorps consisted of the two divisions plus various smaller supporting units, and was officially subordinated to the Italian chain of command in Africa (though Rommel had conducted his offensive without any authorization).
Organization…
On August 15, 1941, the German 5th Light Division5./leichte „AFRIKA” Division was redesignated 21st Panzer Division (commonly written as 21./PD), still attached to the enlarged entity still known as the Afrikakorps.
During the summer of 1941 OKW and OKH invested more command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters calledPanzer Group Africa (Panzergruppe Afrika). On August 15, Panzer Group Africa was activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrikakorps was turned over to Ludwig Crüwell. The Panzer Group controlled the Afrikakorps plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units. (A German „group” was approximately the equivalent of an army in other militaries, and in fact, Panzer Group Africa was redesignated as German Panzer Army Africa (Panzerarmee Afrika) on January 30, 1942.)
After the defeat at El Alamein and the Allied invasion in Morocco and Algeria Operation Torch, OKW once more upgraded its presence in Africa by creating the XC Army Corps in Tunisia on November 19, 1942, and then creating a new 5th Panzer Army headquarters there as well on December 8, under the command of Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim.
On February 23, 1943 Panzer Army Africa, (now called the German-Italian Panzer Army,) was redesignated as the Italian 1st Army and put under the command of Italian general Giovanni Messe, while Rommel was placed in command of a new Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika), created to control both the Italian 1st Army and the 5th Panzer Army. The remnants of the Afrikakorps and other surviving units of the 1st Italian Army retreated into Tunisia. Command of the Army Group was turned over to von Arnim in March. On May 13, remnants of the Afrikakorps surrendered, along with all other remaining Axis forces in North Africa.
Composition and terminology…
„Afrika Korps” is derived from the original German name properly written in one word. Strictly speaking, the term refers to the original formation which, although not dissolved, became part of the ever-expanding German and Italian presence in North Africa for its February 1941 to May 1943 role in the North African Campaign. However, it is sometimes used by the news media and veteran Allied soldiers as a name for all the German units in North Africa. Some notable attached units include the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, Afrika zbV (zur besonderen Verwendung, „special purpose”) Division, which was created as an infantry division and slowly upgraded to a fully motorized division, and then redesignated as the 90th Light Afrika Division; the 164th Light Afrika Division, the 999 Light „Afrika” Division, also the 334th Infantry division; and the Luftwaffenjäger-Brigade 1 or Fallschirmjäger-Ramcke Brigade Ramcke Parachute Brigade (named after its commander Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke). There were also eight Italian divisions (out of the ten Italian Divisions in North Africa) under Rommel’s command in Panzer Army Afrika, including two armored divisions, two motorized divisions, three infantry divisions, and the Folgore parachute division. The army was supported by a number of smaller units from both the German and Italian armed forces.
The designation „Light” (German: Leicht) did not refer to a standardized table of organization and equipment (TOE) for the various German divisions that bore that designation.
German unit organizations were based on tables of organization, (Kriegsstärkenachweisungen or KStN). Every unit in the German Army raised had one, and all orders raising units indicated the corresponding KStN number and date which applied to them. For instance, the 5./leichte „Afrika” or 5th Light „Africa” had an organizational structure that was missing specific elements to make it a complete Panzer ‘Division,’ as did its late April to May 1941 arriving ‘full complement’ partner division in Africa, the 15./Panzer Division. The 5./le. „Africa” Division eventually became at least partially expanded into the 21./PD or 21st Panzer Division. It was given German unit elements that were already on the ground in North Africa and some replacement equipment to meet the prescribed full Panzer Division KStN constraints (except for the Motorcycle Battalion component, which was never complete) and then renamed in August 1941. As the entire Afrikakorps organization was restructured and even renamed in August 1941, the nomenclature of Afrikakorps lasted less than six months. The famous force, with the short-lived name Afrikakorps, became a major German component of Panzer Army Africa; Panzerarmee Afrika, which evolved into the German-Italian Panzer Army (Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee) and then to Army Group Africa (Heeresgruppe Afrika) in the twenty-seven months of the campaign for this force.
Additional German forces were sent to Africa and became components of the Panzer Army Africa, Panzerarmee Afrika. Examples such as the 164./le. „Africa” or 164th Light Afrika Division was at first only a partially-motorized infantry division, and actually never had any tanks at all, only armored cars and reconnaissance vehicles. Various German divisions in Africa occasionally reorganized or re-equipped without a change of name, or conversely were redesignated with a new name without any substantial reorganization. None of the German Armies actually fielded for service in North Africa completely met the service KStNs directed for their completion because of battle losses, sinkings across the Mediterranenan while in transit and the tremendous wear on the vehicles.
Herman Göring Panzer Division…
Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) from FJR3 and FJR5 of the Herman Göring Panzer Division, plus ground and mechanized forces were sent to Tunisia beginning in mid-November 1942 and through to major components into March 1943. Over 5,000 from this force were buried in the Cape Bon Peninsula, Tunisia.
Ramcke Brigade…
Luftwaffenjäger-Brigade 1 known by its most common name today as the Ramcke Parachute Brigade
Resurrection of units…
Certain divisions were resurrected in Europe after the cessation of fighting in Tunisia:
- 15./Panzer Division
- 21./Panzer Division (in France)
- Herman Göring Panzer Division (in Sicily and Italy)
Afrika Korps marching songs…
1st song: Panzer rollen in Afrika vor / Heiß über Afrikas Boden
- Heiß über Afrikas Boden die Sonne glüht.
- Unsere Panzermotoren singen ihr Lied!
- Deutsche Panzer im Sonnenbrand,
- Stehen zum Kampf gegen England
- Es rasseln die Ketten, es dröhnt der Motor,
- Panzer rollen in Afrika vor!
Translation
- The sun shines hot over African ground.
- Our panzer engines are singing their song!
- German panzers in the blazing sun,
- As they stand ready for battle against England.
- The tracks rattle, the engine roars,
- Panzers rolling forwards in Africa.
2nd Song: „Unser Rommel” („Our Rommel”)
1.
- Wir sind das deutsche Afrikakorps
- Des Führers verwegene Truppe
- Wir stürmen wie die Teufel hervor
- Versalzen dem Tommy die Suppe
- Wir fürchten nicht Hitze und Wüstensand
- Wir trotzen dem Durst und dem Sonnenbrand
- Marschieren beim Takt unserer Trommel
- Vorwärts, vorwärts
- |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!😐
Translation of verse 1
- We are the German Africa Korps
- The Führer’s daring troops
- We attack like the Devil
- Make things hot for the Tommys
- We fear neither heat nor desert sand
- We brave the thirst and the blazing sun
- Marching to the beat of our drum
- Forwards, forwards
- |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|
2.
- Die Briten fürchten uns wie die Pest
- Sie sitzen auf glühenden Kohlen
- Wir rächen Deutsch-Ost und rächen Südwest
- Das einst sie uns feige gestohlen
- Sind Churchill und Roosevelt auch Wut entbrannt
- Wir werfen die Feinde in jedem Land
- Es schlägt Generalmarsch die Trommel
- Vorwärts, vorwärts
- |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!😐
Translation of verse 2
- The British fear us like the plague
- They’re like cats on a hot tin roof
- We’re taking revenge for German East (Africa) and for South-West (Africa)
- Which were cowardly stolen from us
- Churchill and Roosevelt are getting mad
- We beat the enemy in every country
- The drum beats ‘get ready’Generalmarsch[›]
- Forwards, forwards
- |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|
3.
- Mit uns im Kampf und im Siege vereint
- Marschieren Italiens Scharen
- Bis einst die Sonne des Friedens uns scheint
- Und wieder gen Deutschland wir fahren.
- Doch wenn mich die feindliche Kugel fand
- So lasset mich ruhen im Wüstensand
- Und rühret noch einmal die Trommel
- Vorwärts, vorwärts (disputed line)
- |:Vorwärts mit unserem Rommel!😐
Translation of verse 3
- With us united in battle and in victory
- Italy’s cohorts are marching
- Until one day the sun of peace will shine on us
- And we will return to Germany.
- But if the enemy’s bullet gets me
- Then let me rest in the desert sand
- Let the drum beat once more.
- Forwards, forwards (disputed line)
- |:Forwards with our Rommel!:|
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