The Armies of Rommel

287 Pages·1999·14.69 MB·English

by  George Forty

THE ARMIES OF
R O M M EL

THE ARMIES
OF ROMMEL
George Forty
ARMS AND
ARMOUR
Arms and Armour
A Cassell imprint
Wellington House, 125 Strand, London WC2R 0BB.
© George Forty, 1997
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical
including photocopying recording or any information storage and
retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher.
First published 1997
This edition 1999
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data: a catalogue record
for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 1-85409-503-X
Distributed in the USA by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.,
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810.
Maps by Anthony A. Evans
Designed and edited by DAG Publications Ltd.
Designed by David Gibbons; edited by Michael Boxall;
printed and bound in Great Britain
Contents
Introduction & Acknowledgements, 9 c. Artillery, 42
d. Reconnaissance, 43
1 EARLY DAYS (1891-1918), 11 e. Engineers, 43
Beginning as an Infantryman, 11 f. Anti-Tank, 43
A typical Swabian, 11 g. Anti-Tank/Anti-Aircraft, 43
The Imperial German Army, 12 h. Signals, 43
The Great War Begins, 13 i. Supply, 43
First Battle, 14 j. Administrative Units, 44
Company Commander, 16 Attached Luftwaffe Units, 44
Service with the Mountain Battalion, Divisional Headquarters Staff, 44
18 Personalities, 45
Uniform and Personal Equipment, 19 Otto Heidkämper, 45
Weapons and Equipment, 19 Major Ziegler, 46
Mountain artillery, 21 Personal staff, 46
Into Battle Once More, 21 Gefechtsstaffel, 46
Pour le Mérite, 23 ADCs, 46
NCOs, 46
2 BETWEEN THE WARS (1919-1939), Batman, 47
26 Nazis, 47
Peacetime Soldiering, 26 Other means of transportation, 47
A New Beginning, 26 The German Soldier, May 1940, 47
Infantry Division Establishment, 27 Basic Dress and Equipment, 47
Command, 28 Personal Weapons, 49
Enter Adolf Hitler, 29 Blitzkrieg Tactics, 49
In the Service of the Führer, 30 Planning the Assault in the West, 52
Expansion, 30 'Fall Gelb', 52
Liaison Officer to the Hitler Youth, 31 7th Panzer Division's Position in the
Führerbegleitbataillon, 32 Assault, 53
Major-General and Headquarters The Campaign, 54
Commandant, 32 Phase 1, Across the Meuse (9-14 May
Hitler's train, 33 1940), 54
Organisation of the Escort Battalion, 34 Phase 2, Breakthrough from the Meuse
Uniform, 35 (15-19 May 1940), 57
Special Weapons, 35 Phase 3, Success at Cambrai, Reverses at
Arras (19-21 May 1940), 62
3 THE GHOST DIVISION Phase 4, Stops and Starts on the Way to
(1939-1940), 37 Lille (22 May-2 June 1940), 64
A Field Command (September 1939 - Phase 4 (continued), The Somme and
June 1940), 37 on to the Seine (3-10 June 1940), 66
Getting Back into Trim, 38 Phase 5, St-Valery-en-Caux and after
Organisation of Seventh Panzer (10-15 June 1940), 68
Division c.1940, 38 Phase 6, The End at Cherbourg, then on
a. Tanks, 39 to Bordeaux (17-25 June 1940), 69
b. Motorised Infantry, 41 Die Rechnung, 71
CONTENTS
4 NORTH AFRICA: OPERATION Private Secretary, 95
SUNFLOWER (SONNENBLUME) Interpreter, 96
AND THE AFRIKAKORPS War Correspondent, 96
(FEBRUARY 1941 -JULY 1941), 73 Vehicles and Vehicle Crews, 96
'It's One Way of Getting My Kampfstaffel, 96
Rheumatism Treatment', 73 Radio Intercept, 97
Problems in Europe, 73 Senior Officer Casualty Rate, 97
Problems in North Africa, 74 A Soldier of the Deutsches
'Could you obtain some magnificent Afrikakorps, 98
German tanks?', 74 Dress, 98
Preparations for North Africa, 76 Equipment, 100
Journey to Africa, 77 Insignia, 100
Basic Organisations, 78 Personal Weapons, 100
Rommel's First Headquarters, 78 Vehicles and Heavy Weapons, 101
The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK): Tanks, 101
Order of Battle, 81 Other AFVs, 101
Corps Commanders, 81 Artillery, 102
Corps Headquarters staff (Stab des Mines, 106
Korps), 81 Specialised Units, 106
5 Light (leichte) Division, 82 The Brandenburgers, 106
15th Panzer Division, 83 Secret Field Police, 107
Corps Commanders (in addition to Paratroops, 107
Rommel), 84 German Red Cross, 107
Lieutenant-General Ludwig Crüwell, Supporting arms and services, 107
84 Tactics, 107
Lieutenant-General Walther K. The DAK In Battle, 107
Nehring, 84 Divisional Signs and Symbols on
Major-General Gustav von Värst, 85 vehicles, 109
Gen d.Pz.Tr. Wilhelm Ritter von Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine Support,
Thoma, 85 111
Gen d. Pz. Tr. Gustav Fehn, 86 Support from air and sea, 111
Major-General Kurt Freiherr von The Campaign, 112
Liebenstein, 87 Phase 1, Arrival and First Offensive,
Gen d. Pz. Tr. Hans Cramer, 87 February-April 1941, 113
Divisional Commanders, 87 Phase 2, 'Brevity' and 'Battleaxe',
5 leichte, 87 May-June 1941, 119
21st Panzer, 88
15th Panzer, 89 5 PANZERGRUPPE
Initial Staff List of the DAK, 90 AFRIKA/PANZERARMEE AFRIKA,
21st Panzer Division Order of Battle (AUGUST 1941 - AUGUST 1942),
(wef 1 October 1941), 92 124
DAK Headquarters Personalities, 92 Panzergruppe Afrika
Lieutenant-Colonel von dem Borne, (August-December 1941), 124
92 Outline Organisation of Axis Forces,
Lieutenant-Colonel von dem Borne, August 1941, 125
92 Commanders of the Panzergruppe, 125
Colonel Fritz Bayerlein, 92 Main staff officers, 126
Major Siegfried Westphal, 93 Organisation of Main Units of
Major Otto, 94 Panzergruppe Afrika, November 1941,
Rommel's Personal Staff, 94 127
Adjutant, batman and ADCs, 94 Afrika Division z.b.V., 127
Nazis, 95 55 Savona Infantry Division, 129
Private Medical Adviser, 95 Other Italian Units, 129
6
CONTENTS
The Italian Soldier: Equipment, Senior Commanders and Outline
Weaponry and Uniforms, 131 Organisation of
Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 132 Panzer Armeeoberkommando 5, 170
Artillery, 133 AOK Commanders, 170
Infantry weapons, 134 AOK Staff, 171
Uniforms, 134 AOK Orbat (17 December 1942), 172
Rations, 135 Panzerarmee Staff, 172
Panzergruppe Operations, 135 10th Panzer Division, 172
Operation 'Crusader', 137 Main divisional staff, 172
Panzerarmee Afrika Operations 10th Panzer Division Orbat as at 1
(January-July 1942), 142 January 1943, 172
Operation 'Venezia', 143 Panzerarmee Orbat (1 March 1943), 173
A Tactical Advantage, 146 Orbat changes, 175
'Rommel an der Spitze!', 146 Division von Manteuffel, 175
Strike for the Delta!, 147 Weapons, Uniforms and Equipment,
Casualties, 148 176
Alam el Haifa, 148 Rifle Grenade Device (Schiessbecher), 176
Maschinengewehr 42 (MG42), 176
6 PANZERARMEE AFRIKA: ALAMEIN Clothing, 176
TO TUNISIA (SEPTEMBER 1942 - 999 leichte Afrikadivision, 176
JANUARY 1943), 152 Operations, 177
The Lull before the Storm, 152 Annex 'A': Order of Battle of Panzer-
Orbat of Panzerarmee Afrika, 155 Armeeoberkommando 5, 179
Army Headquarters, 155
German formations, 155 8 ON TO ITALY, 181
Italian formations, 155 Out of Africa, 181
Army Troops and supporting units, A New Command, 182
155 Corps Commanders, 184
New Formations, 157 LI Mountain Corps, 184
164th leichte Division, 157 LXXXVII Corps, 184
Parachute Brigade Ramcke, 158 II SS Pz Corps, 185
Sick leave, 158 Divisional Commanders, 185
PzKpfw VI, 159 44th Inf Div, 185
Nebelwerfer, 159 65th Inf Div, 185
Montgomery attacks!, 160 71st Inf Div, 185
The Battle, 161 76th Inf Div, 185
The Great Withdrawal, 162 94th Inf Div, 185
Withdrawal from Mersa el Brega, 164 305th Inf Div, 186
3rd Pz Gren Div, 186
7 TUNISIA AND ARMY GROUP 2nd Para Div, 186
AFRIKA' (HEERESGRUPPE AFRIKA), 24th Pz Div, 186
167 1st SS Pz Div, 186
Operation 'Torch', 167 Outline Organisation of Divisions, 186
Outline of the campaign, 167 'What a shameful end for an army!',
Organisation of Axis forces, 168 187
Army Group 'Afrika' (Heeresgruppe
Afrika), 169 9 NORTH WEST EUROPE, 189
Heeresgruppe commanders, 169 Preparations, 189
Heeresgruppe Staff, 169 The Grand Tour, 189
Heeresgruppe Orbat, 169 Army Group B Assumes Command, 192
Deutsches Afrika Korps, 170 OB West, 193
Italian XX Corps, 170 A Move to a New Location, 194
Italian XXI Corps, 170 HQ Army Group B, 195
7
CONTENTS
Army Group B: Composition, Spring 2nd Parachute Division, 213
1944, 198 3rd Parachute Division, 214
The Netherlands, 199 5th Parachute Division, 214
LXXXVIII Army Corps, 199 Divisional Changes Before D-Day, 214
347th Infantry Division, 200 77th Infantry Division, 215
719th Infantry Division, 200 275th Infantry Division, 215
16th Luftwaffe Field Division, 200 353rd Infantry Division, 215
Fifteenth Army, 201 709th Infantry Division, 216
LXXXI Corps, 201 D-Day Organisation, 216
LXXXII Corps, 201 The Panzers, 216
LXXXIX Corps, 201 Panzer Group West, 217
LXVII Reserve Corps, 202 I SS Panzer Corps, 218
The Front-Line Divisions, 202 XLVII Panzer Corps, 218
47th Infantry Division, 202 1st SS Panzer Division, 219
49th Infantry Division, 202 12th SS Panzer Division, 219
70th Infantry Division, 202 Panzer Lehr Division, 219
344th Infantry Division, 203 2nd Panzer Division, 220
348th Infantry Division, 203 21st Panzer Division, 220
711th Infantry Division, 204 116th Panzer Division, 220
17th Luftwaffe Field Division, 204 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division
18th Luftwaffe Field Division, 204 'Götz von Berlichingen', 221
In-Depth Divisions, 204 Organisation and Equipment, 221
64th Infantry Division, 204 Infantry, 221
85th Infantry Division, 205 Paratroops, 222
89th Infantry Division, 205 Panzer Troops, 222
182nd Infantry Division, 205 Panther, 222
326th Infantry Division, 206 Jagdtiger and Royal Tiger, 223
331st Infantry Division, 206 Panzergrenadiers, 224
346th Infantry Division, 206 The Coastal Defences, 224
712th Infantry Division, 207 Operations, 225
19th Luftwaffe Field Division, 207 5-6 June 1944, 225
Divisional Changes Prior to D-Day, 207 HQ Fifteenth Army, 226
48th Infantry Division, 207 HQ Seventh Army, 226
84th Infantry Division, 208 HQ Army Group B, 227
165th Infantry Division, 208 HQ OB West, 227
245th Infantry Division, 208 The Allied Landings, 228
D-Day Organisation, 209 7-9 June 1944, 229
Seventh Army, 209 10-16 June 1944, 230
Army Corps, 209 17-30 June 1944, 232
XXV Army Corps, 209 Conferences with Hitler, 232
LXXIV Army Corps, 210 1-16 July 1944, 233
LXXXIV Army Corps, 210 17 July 1944, 234
II Para Corps, 210 Annex 'A': Main Staff Members of Army
Divisions, 210 Group 'B' as at May 1944, 234
84th Infantry Division, 210
243rd Infantry Division, 210 10 THE END, 238
265th Infantry Division, 211 Wounded, 238
266th Infantry Division, 211 Suicide or Disgrace, 240
319th Infantry Division, 212 The Legend Lives On, 241
343rd Infantry Division, 212
352nd Infantry Division, 212 Select Bibliography, 243
716th Infantry Division, 213
91st Air Landing Division, 213 Index, 245
8
Introduction and
Acknowledgements
This is my second book in Arms & Armour's series dealing with the
armies of famous commanders. Last time I had the privilege of writing
about one of my Second World War heroes - General George Smith Pat-
ton, Jr. This book deals with another one - Field Marshal Erwin Johannes
Eugen Rommel. It has not been easy to write, principally because there
are so many books about Rommel already in print that almost everything
has been said before by someone else, although only a few of these deal
with his entire life story. The 'pick of the crop' are those by David Fraser,
David Irving, Desmond Young and Charles Douglas-Home, together of
course with Sir Basil Liddell Hart's definitive editing of The Rommel Papers
on which all books about Rommel naturally rely so heavily. All of these
excellent books have, however, dealt more with the man himself, rather
than with the troops under his command, which is the raison d'etre for
this series. So, as with the Patton book, I look upon this as being a 'nuts
and bolts primer', to support the others and certainly not a vain attempt
to replace any of them. Despite what I thought had been a carefully writ-
ten introduction to the Patton book, in which I tried to make this point
clear, I'm afraid that it was lost upon some reviewers; one, for example,
found it a 'strange book', markedly different from what he had expected
from its title, yet he closed his review by saying quite rightly that it
should be considered as a 'technical resource' to be studied alongside
other volumes referred to in the text for a rounded picture to be per-
ceived. This is exactly what it was meant to be, but clearly I did not make
this sufficiently clear in my introduction, which is why I am going to
some length here to underline the point. Again, much of this book is
devoted to facts and figures, to names and mini-biographies of those who
served with or under Rommel, to organisations and staff tables, to
descriptions of uniforms, weapons and equipment, to brief battle-
records, etc. Naturally, the life story of Rommel is what holds it all
together, but of necessity, this cannot be told in full detail as there is so
much else to cram in. What I have tried to do is to gather all the varied
material together in one volume, in the hope that it will answer the
queries which inevitably spring to mind when one is reading a more eru-
dite treatise about the life of the great commander himself.
Unashamedly I consider Rommel to have been one of the best field
commanders of the Second World War on either side. Ruthless, impatient
and single-minded he may have been, but brave, decent and honourable he
undoubtedly was and this shines through all his doings, no matter who is
9
INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
writing about him. Rommel's own philosophy, right up to the time when
he suddenly realised the full impact of blind obedience to his Führer, is
probably best explained in his own words, namely those with which he
closes his book on the Great War, Infanterie Greift An, when, having told
how the graves of the German soldiers who had followed the path of duty
to the bitter end were to be found to the east, west and south, he goes on to
adjure the reader - whom he assumes to be German - that these dead should
be:'... a constant reminder to us who remain behind and to our future gen-
erations that we must not fail them when it comes to making sacrifices for
Germany'. Rommel was always prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for
Germany on the battlefield. Sadly, for most of the war, he saw obedience to
Hitler to be the same as obedience to the Fatherland - after all, had he not
sworn to this effect along with every other German soldier? Too late he
began to realise his mistake, but even then he would not take any direct
action which he saw as being against the spirit of his oath. He paid for this
mistake with his own life, having first made as certain as he was able that
he would not fail those most precious to him who had to remain behind,
while he followed his path of duty to the bitter end.
I have, as always, many people to thank for helping me with this
book, in particular those who have allowed me to quote from their work;
details of their kind assistance is reflected in the notes. In particular I must
also thank the past curators and staff of the Panzermuseum at Münster who
initially assisted me when I wrote Afrika Korps at War back in 1978, because
I have used much of this background material again in this book. In addi-
tion, I must thank the present curator, Herr Heinz Winkler, who has once
more kindly provided more detailed staff lists, biographical information,
etc. Also my thanks go to those who have generously supplied photographs,
in particular the Imperial War Museum and the Tank Museum, and to
David Irving and Rolf Munninger. What a pity that it was impossible to
include all the many vivid images of Rommel and his armies which I had
collected, but I hope those that have been chosen will do them justice.
Heia Safari!
GEORGE FORTY
Bryantspuddle, April 1997
10