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Birth
General Erwin Rommel was born on November 15th, 1891 in Heidenheim, 28 miles from Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg (then part of the German Empire). -
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General Erwin Rommel's Lifespan
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Joined the local 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment
General Erwin Rommel joined the local 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet. -
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Years of service
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Promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Rommel was promoted to the rank of Corporal. -
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant
Rommel was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. -
Graduated from the Officer Cadet School in Danzig, Poland.
He graduated from the Officer Cadet School in Danzig, Poland. -
Commissioned lieutenant
He was commissioned as a lieutenant. -
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World War 1
World War 1 -
Battle of the Argonne Forest
The Battle of the Argonne Forest was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front. France and the United States were against the German Empire. Victory went to the Allies. Erwin Rommel's first battle as a soldier. -
Iron Cross first class
Rommel received the Iron Cross first class for bravery. -
Carpathian Offensive
The Carpathian Offensive, also known in Soviet historical sources as the liberation of right-bank Ukraine, was a strategic offensive executed by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, along with the 1st Belorussian Front, against the German Army Group South, intended to retake all of the Ukrainian and Moldavian territories occupied by Axis forces. Germany and Romania were against the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. The Soviets won the battle. Rommel fought in this battle as a soldier. -
Married Lucia Maria Mollin
General Erwin Rommel married Lucia Maria Mollin in Danzig. -
Pour le Mérite
Rommel received Prussia's highest award, the order of Pour le Mérite, after fighting in the Battles of the Isonzo in the north-eastern Alps on the Isonzo river front. -
Promoted to the rank of Captain
Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Captain after receiving the Pour le Mérite. -
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Between World War 1 and 2
The time period between the end of World War 1 and the beginning of World War 2. -
Had a son, Manfred Rommel.
Erwin Rommel and Lucia Maria Mollin had a son, Manfred Rommel. Manfred Rommel is still alive today. -
Promoted to the rank of Major
Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Major and was sent to Goslar, where he commanded a mountain battalion. -
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Rommel was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and received the position of the teacher in War Academy in Potsdam. -
The invasion of Poland
The Invasion of Poland was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe. One week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, it ended with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing the whole of Poland. Germany, Slovakia and the Soviet Union were against Poland. Decisive German/Slovak and Soviet victory. Beginning of World War II. Rommel acted as commander of the Führer escort headquarters. -
Promoted to the rank of Major General
Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Major General and received the command of Adolf Hitler’s Bodyguard for the duration of the Polish Campaign. -
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World War 2
World War 2 -
Received the command of 7th Panzer Division
Rommel received the command of 7th Panzer Division. The 7th Panzer Division was a German armored formation which participated in the Battle of France. It was nicknamed the "Ghost Division" because of its speed and independent movement, which even the German High Command had difficulty following. After service in France, the division served mainly on the Eastern Front, ending its days in the defense of Germany and surrendering to the British army northwest of Berlin in 1945. -
Fall of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Case Yellow, German armored units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium. France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Luxembourg were against Germany and Italy. Decisive Axis victory. Rommel fought in the battle. -
Battle of Arras
The Battle of Arras was an Allied counterattack against the flank of the German army that took place near the town of Arras, in north-eastern France. The German forces were pushing north toward the channel coast, in order to entrap the Allied Forces that were advancing east into Belgium. The counterattack at Arras was an Allied attempt to cut through the German spearhead and frustrate the German advance. The United Kingdom and France were against Germany. German victory. Rommel's first command. -
Western Desert Campaign (The Desert War)
Where Rommel earned the name "Desert Fox". During the Second World War, the North African Campaign included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia. The United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Free French, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Greece, were against the Italian Libya, Germany, and Vichy France. Victory went to the Allies. Rommel’s first defeat as commander in battle. -
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
Rommel was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. -
Arrival in Africa
Rommel's Arrival in Africa. -
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Australia, Czechoslovakia. Poland, the United Kingdom and British India were against Germany and Italy. Victory by the Allies. Rommel single handedly commanded the German/Italian army during the battle. -
Promoted to the rank of General Field Marshal
Rommel was promoted to the rank of General Field Marshal. Rommel the youngest German Field Marshal ever, since he received the promotion at the age of 50. -
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army in Africa. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk. The United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Poland and Czechoslovakia were against, Germany and Italy. Allied victory. Rommel commanded the attack. -
Battle of Gazala/Battle of Bir Hakeim
The Battle of Gazala and the Battle of Bir Hakeim was an important battle of the Second World War Western Desert Campaign, fought around the port of Tobruk in Libya. The United Kingdom, India, South Africa, and the Free French were against Poland, Germany and Italy. Axis victory. Rommel single handedly commanded the army during the battle. -
First Battle of El Alamein
The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa, and Allied forces of the British Eighth Army. The battle halted the second advance by the Axis forces into Egypt, El Alamein being only 66 miles from Alexandria. Britain, British India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand were against Germany and Italy. Tactical stalemate, strategic Allied victory. Rommel commanded the army during the battle. -
Battle of Alam el Halfa
The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place south of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Panzerarmee Afrika—a German-Italian force commanded by Rommel—attempted an envelopment of the British 8th Army. Rommel had planned to defeat the British 8th Army before Allied reinforcements made an Axis victory impossible. The United Kingdom and New Zealand were against Germany and Italy. Allied victory. Rommel single handedly commanded the army during the battle. -
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. The Allied victory ended Axis hopes of occupying Egypt, and taking control of the Middle Eastern oil fields. The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British India, the Free French Forces and Greece were against Nazi Germany and Italy. Decisive Allied victory. Rommel commanded the army during the battle. -
Battle of the Kasserine Pass
The Battle of the Kasserine Pass was a battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II. It was a series of battles fought around Kasserine Pass, a 2 mile wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia. The United States, the United Kingdom and Free France were against Germany and Italy. Allied victory. Rommel single handedly commanded the army during the battle. -
Battle of Medenine
The Battle of Medenine, also known as Operation Capri, was a German counter-attack at Medenine, Tunisia, intended to disrupt and delay the 8th Army's attack on the Mareth Line. The German attack failed to make much impression and was abandoned at dusk on the same day. The United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Free French Forces were against Germany and Italy. Allied victory. Rommel single handedly commanded the army during the battle. -
The Invasion of Normandy and D-Day
The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in 1944 during World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history. Decisive Allied victory. Rommel was one of the three generals commanding the army during D-Day. -
Forced suicide
General Erwin Rommel was forced to commit suicide to save his family after being implicated in a attempt to assassinate Hitler. -
Burial
General Erwin Rommel was buried with full military honors outside of the town of Herrlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (west of Ulm).
