General
der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches
Afrikakorps) directs the movements of his force with Oberst Erwin Menny
(Kommandeur 15.Schützen-Brigade / 15.Panzer-Division) in North Africa.
The picture was taken before Menny received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes (26 December 1941).
General
der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches
Afrikakorps) sitting in the rooftop of "Max", a captured AEC Armoured
command vehicle captured from the British. With his is unknown Italian
officer. Standing in waiting beside "Max" is Rommel's adjutant,
Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Schraepler. The picture was possibly taken in the
summer of 1941.
Shortly
after his arrival in North Africa, Erwin Rommel had quick successes and
by April 1941 its Afrikakorps capturing many British and allied
vehicles along the way, especially trucks, which he sorely needed for
his advance. Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3, for example, managed to captured
at Mechili two British generals and three AEC Armoured Command Vehicles:
Lieutenant-General Philip Neame (8th Army Cmmander) and his assistant
commander, Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor, plus Major-General
Michael Gambier-Parry, commander of 2nd Armoured.Division. Although the
capture was a formidable propaganda coup for the Germans, for Rommel,
the capture of Both vehicle was welcome as they were spacious,
comfortable, had good radios and were well tailored for off-roads
conditions in North Africa. Former O'Connor's vehicle (L4426425) was
named "Max", and "Moritz" was given to Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell's
vehicle, Generalmajor Johannes Streich using a third one. Rommel's "Max"
was disabled in September 1941 and abandoned, Rommel returning to his
Opel Blitz Bus.
AEC Armoured Command Vehicle itself was a series
of command vehicles built by the British Associated Equipment Company.
During the Second World War, the United Kingdom was the only country to
develop and widely employ purpose-built armoured command vehicles. Those
were essentially armoured buses based on truck chassis.
The most
common ACV of the British Army was the AEC 4x4 ACV. The vehicle, based
on AEC Matador chassis, entered production in 1941. A total of about 415
units were built. The vehicle was used for the first time in the North
African Campaign and remained in service until the end of the war. Big
and comfortable, it was nicknamed Dorchester by the troops, after the
luxury hotel in London. Three ACVs of this type were captured by the
German Afrika Korps. Two of them, named "Max" and "Moritz", were
employed by Rommel and his staff throughout the campaign.
Source :
Jim Haley photo collectio
https://www.o5m6.de/wehrmacht/wm_na_romcars.phpn
https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/AEC-4x4-ACV-Dorchester.php
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.
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).
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).
Rommel pictured with his Leica camera, a gift from Joseph Goebbels. An ardent photographer, he often requested that his ADC take a shot that included him. During the French campaign he wrote to his wife, Lucie, requesting that she 'cut out all the newspaper articles' featuring him. Later during the evening of 7 February 1941, he penned a 'coded' letter to her explaining that his new assignment would hasten his 'rheumatism treatment', his physician having recommended the warm North African climate as a remedy for his condition. Nazi propagandist Dr. Josef Goebbels knew by 1940 that he had something special in Rommel. He was a rebel who refused to play by the rules. He was personally brave, he always led from the front, and he drove himself as hard as his men. In fact it was Goebbels that was instrumental in him receiving the Leica III Rangefinder he was to use in Europe and his North African campaigns. Many 'photos of his authorship or probable authorship survive from the various theatres of war he was a part of.
Rommel even had a German propaganda staff Lieutenant Alfred Berndt, in North Africa who directed photographers and suggested poses for Rommel to appear in the propaganda magazines of the time.
In 1980, Gianni Rogliatti, a researcher discovers a letter in the Leica Wetzlar's archives. The correspondence is between Rommel and Leica's Dr Ernst Leitz. The letter was sent on 6 February 1943 with the letterhead bore the mark of the fearsome Panzerarmee Afrika".
The correspondence was addressed to Dr. Ernst Leitz, and Rommel gave thanks to him on his creation with camera serial number No. 375000. Rommel was a great admirer of the famous German camera, which he used with regularity and appreciated its legendary qualities.
TRANSLATION:
Panzer army Africa
The Supreme Commander
Headquarters, 6 February 1943
To Mr. Dr. Ernst Leitz, owner of the company, G.m.b.H., Ernst Leitz Wetzlar. Dear Mr. Leitz I would like to express my Special thanks to the Leica camera 375000 I was sent. I will be a faithful companion in my future work, since I know from personal experience what value has the photo, not only as a souvenir but also as study material and knowledge. Thank you also for your good wishes, of which we will have soon particularly need.
Heil Hitler!
Rommel
General field marshal
The camera with this serial number was never found and if it does pop up one day, you can bet t would be worth a small fortune.
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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.General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) directs the movements of his force with Oberst Erwin...
