Rommel and Afrikakorps

 -1941-

Tripoli, Libya, February 15, 1941. Parade of the first contingent of the newly arrived Afrikakorps in North Africa. This photo was taken by Kriegsberichter Sturm of KBK Lw 7 (Kriegsberichter-Kompanie Luftwaffe 7), and shows the Commander of the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel (second from right), who had just arrived at the parade site. He was greeted by Generale d'Armata Italo Gariboldi (left, Italian Governor-General in Libya). Joining the salute to Rommel's left was Generalmajor Johannes Streich (Kommandeur 5. leichte-Division), while between Gariboldi and Rommel stood Oberstleutnant Claus von dem Borne (Chef des Stabes Deutsches Afrikakorps). Other pictures from this event can be seen HERE.


Although in paper the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) reported directly to Italian Comando Supremo under Libya General Governor's command, in practice Rommel set the agenda for all military operations in northern Africa. in this picture - taken in the period of April-July 1941 - Italian general Italo Gariboldi (Army Commander of Comando Supremo) is seated to the right of Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps).

 

The meeting between Oberleutnant Joachim Müncheberg (Staffelkapitän 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 26) and the "Desert Fox" General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) in North Africa, June-July 1941. Behind them parked a Heinkel He 111 H4 VG+ES (WNr 4085) medium bomber which served as the "Kurierstaffel vbz Africa" ​​(Rommel's private transport plane). Here Rommel seems to be or has already made an air trip, which can be seen from the schwimmweste (life jacket) he is wearing. Meanwhile, not visible from this angle is the bandage on Müncheberg's left knee that he received after he got injured in a sport competition in Erfurt in May 1941 (he fell during a 110-meter hurdles race!). Oberleutnant Müncheberg and his leading Staffel are the only elements of the Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) operating in North Africa, and that too only during June and July. During his brief existence, 7. Staffel was recorded to have shot down eight British aircraft, with five of them being recorded by the Staffelkapitän! This photo was taken by Kriegsberichter Opper of KB-Kp. Lw. 7 (Kriegsberichter-Kompanie Luftwaffe 7). Notice the field-modified sandals from the shoes worn by Joachim Müncheberg!


2 July 1941: General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) reviewing the German and Italian troops stationed at Sollum after their victory against the English operation under the code name "Brevity", on May 15, 1941. In this occasion, Rommel also expresses his gratitude to the brave German soldiers and their Italian comrades after the successful tank battle at Sollum, and delivering some awards.

 

General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Befehlshaber Panzergruppe "Afrika") posing while his command car is stuck to its axles in the Libyan mud. He is wearing the scarf made by his daughter. The picture was taken between July 1941 - January 1942.


General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Befehlshaber Panzergruppe "Afrika") with unknown Ritterkreuzträger in North Africa. Behind Rommel with face barely visible is Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Chef des Generalstabes Panzergruppe "Afrika"). The picture was taken in the period between July 1941 (Rommel promoted from Generalleutnant to General der Panzertruppe) and January 1942 (Rommel promoted to Generaloberst).

From left to right: Generalmajor (Luftwaffe) Stefan Fröhlich (Fliegerführer Afrika), unidentified Italian officer (does someone know his name?), Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Chef des Generalstabes Panzergruppe Afrika), and General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Panzergruppe Afrika). The picture was taken between September-November 1941.

Erwin Rommel (wearing Ritterkreuz) with his Afrikakorps. Third from right is one of his staff, Friedrich-Wilhelm von Mellenthin, the latter Generalmajor

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-1942-

On 9 February 1942, Generaloberst Erwin Rommel (left, Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika") awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse to two of his allied Italian generals, Generale di Corpo d'Armata Gastone Gambara (center, Italian XIX Corps Commander) and Generale d'Armata Ettore Bastico (right, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army in North Africa). Latter, Bastico would also receive a higher-ranking German medal - Deutsches Kreuz in Gold - on 5 December 1942. Behind Rommel is stood Generale di Brigata Giorgio Calvi di Bergolo (Chief of Staff of the Italian liaison officer with Panzerarmee "Afrika"). Photo by Kriegsberichter Ernst Alexander Zwilling.

The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Ernst Alexander Zwilling (Propaganda-Kompanie Luftwaffe 7) on 12 February 1942, and it shows Generaloberst Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika") with German and Italian officers, during his visit to the headquarters of Italian 17° Divisione Autotrasportabile "Pavia" (17th Motorised Division "Pavia") in El Agheila. In this occasion Rommel took the opportunity to talk to his Italian allies about the upcoming operational plans. This picture is also available in the book "Rommel's Italian Generals in North Africa" by Dr. Libro Di Zinno and Rudy D'Angelo, page 26. There the authors identify the individual as Generale di Brigata Michelangelo Nicolini, commander of the army artillery. He was in several pictures with Rommel. Unfortunately, Nicolini is one general the authors have noted in several other pictures as mis-identified. This greater focus on Nicolini could imply a better level of research, but that is only speculation. Most possible ID is Generale di Brigata Antonio Franceschini, commander of Pavia Division. On the photo it says Falzoni, it could have been a garbled version of Falconi and the officer Enzo Falconi. Only problem is that he was a colonel at the time and commander of the artillery regiment in the Ariete division. It is the only name and rank that comes close with the writing. For the German officers identification (apart from Rommel): fourth from right is Major Friedrich-Wilhelm von Mellenthin (Ic im Generalstab Panzerarmee "Afrika"). On his right is Oberleutnant Diekmann, Rommel's aide.

Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) awarded the Schwertern Grosse Urkunde (certificate for the medal of Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) to General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Befehlshaber Panzergruppe Afrika), in Führerhauptquartier Vinnitsa, Ukraine. The picture was taken in 25 March 1942, while the medal itself had been given previously in 20 Januari 1942.

Generaloberst Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika") chattered away while being interviewed by Kriegsberichter Lutz Koch, who held a Beyer M 19b microphone close to his mouth, while the bildberichter behind them was busy recording moving images with an Arriflex 35mm camera. Behind Rommel can be seen a radio operator busy working using the AEG magnetophone "Tonschreiber d (Dora)" - which is the world's first portable magnetophone (magnetic recorder) - in a Horch Typ 40 mittlerer geländegängiger Personenkraftwagen (m.gl.Pkw) Kfz 15 vehicle. This photo was taken on June 22, 1942 when German troops had just captured Tobruk from the Allies. This coastal city in Libya has a very strategic role in the battles of North Africa, and its control makes the German people lulled in euphoria: the occupation of Egypt is only a matter of time, and after that is the unification of German troops from Russia and Africa in the Caucasus! This interview was broadcast live to Germany, and was heard by many, including Adolf Hitler and his associates. That same day the Führer - overwhelmed with joy - decided to give his favorite general an extraordinary promotion, from Generaloberst (Colonel-General) to Generalfeldmarschall (Fieldmarshal), a five-star rank with no official retirement!

Source :
Bundesarchiv
NARA Archives
"Deutsche Afrikakorps (1941-1943)" by Ricardo Recio Cardona
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Rommel