Erwin Rommel

1
Erwin Rommel
2
Early Life Of Erwin Rommel

• Rommel was born in Heidenheim, Germany just a few
  kilometers from Ulm.
• His father was a Protestant headmaster of a
  secondary school at Aalen and his mother was a
  daughter of a prominent dignitary.
• Rommel had also two brothers named Karl and
  Gerhard, and a sister named Helene.

3
Early Life Continued

• At the age of fourteen, him and a friend built a
  full scale glider. Through his childhood he
  considered becoming a engineer and continued to
  show his abilities.
• But because of his father he joined the 124th
  Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet
  in 1910. He was sent to Officer Cadet School in
  Danzig, and he graduated in 1911 and commissioned
  as a lieutenant by 1912.
• While in Cadet School he met his future wife and
  was married in 1916 and had a son in 1928.

4
Rommel In World War I

• Erwin Rommel fought in France, Romania, and Italy
  as apart of the Württemberg Mountain Battalion of
  the Alpenkorps. While he was serving Rommel
  gained a reputation of being a quick thinking
  tactician, taking advantage of the enemies
  confusion. While fighting he was wounded three
  times and awarded the Iron Cross, First and
  Second Class, and Prussias highest award the
  Pour le Merite.

5
Rommel In World War II

• Poland 1939 Rommel Continued command of the
  Führerbegleitbataillon during the Polish Campaign
  often moving close to the frontlines and seeing
  much of Hitler. He actually returned to Berlin to
  conduct Hitlers victory parade and was apart of
  Hitlers entourage.
• Rommel also asked Hitler for the command of a
  panzer division and on Feb. 6th 1940, just three
  months before the invasion of France and the Low
  Countries, he was given command of the 7. Panzer
  Division.

6
Rommel In World War II Continued

• Rommel took part in the invasion of France and
  the other Low Countries. His Division was given
  the name Gespenster-Division or Ghost Division
  because he always had the element of surprise and
  the higher ups could never keep track of his
  divisions movements.

7
Rommel In World War II (North Africa)

• For Rommel achievements he was promoted and given
  the 5th Light Division. It was in Africa where he
  was given the name The Desert Fox.
• He lead a offensive strike against the British
  Commonwealth forces that had been fighting
  against the Italian forces and previous to
  Rommels arrival had captured 130,000 Italian
  soldiers and nearly 400 tanks. With about 7,000
  Italian soldiers left Rommel lead them against
  the British and actually pushed the British back
  to a port called Tobruk.

8
Rommel In World War II (North Africa Continued)

• Axis and Allied forces throughout the North
  African Campaign sustained massive casualties and
  the lines moved back and forth. Final Rommel was
  defeated in Africa due to not enough German
  forces. He Returned to Germany and while he was
  there his staff car was strafed by a British
  Spitfire, he was hospitalized and had sustained
  major head injures. While he was in the hospital
  a plot against Hitler was put into motion but had
  failed to overthrow him. There was an
  investigation and Rommels name came up, but it
  was disproved and no evidence was found. Closer
  to the end of the war he was given the option of
  going against the Peoples Court or to commit
  suicide and be remembered as a hero. Rommel chose
  to commit suicide and died secretly, but he did
  explain the situation to his wife and son.

9
Sources

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel