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.
Source :
"Rommel's Italian Generals in North Africa 1941-1943" by Dr. Libro Di Zinno and Rudy D'Angelo
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1982-0927-503,_Bei_El_Agheila,_Rommel_bei_italienischer_Division.jpg
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