From
left to right: Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef der
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Giuseppe Bastianini (Undersecretary at the
Italian Foreign Ministry), and Dino Alfieri (Italian ambassador to
Berlin). The picture was taken by Walter Frentz in Schloss Klesheim in
Salzburg, 8-9 April 1943.
Source :
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-a-b/#&gid=1&pid=23
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Generalleutnant
Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) during the
parade of the first Afrikakorps contingent - newly arrived in North
Africa - in Tripoli, Libya, February 15, 1941. Behind him stands two
Italian officers (who were allies of Germany in World War II). The
officer on the left of the picture (Rommel's right) is wearing the
berretto (cap) insignia of colonnello (colonel) of the Stato Maggiore
(Army High Command). However the shoulder board edging looks more like
the thinner braid of a ufficiali inferiori than the thicker braid edging
of a ufficiali superiori. The officer on the right of the picture
(Rommel's left) appears to be a maresciallo of the CC.RR (Carabinieri
Reali) or Military Police. In this photo, Rommel is still wearing his
Continental uniform and hasn't changed into his tropical uniform, just
like the majority of his troops. The first unit that was quick to change
uniforms when it arrived in Africa was Flak-Regiment 33 (motorisiert)
from the Luftwaffe, while its compatriots from the Army still wore
"European" uniforms.
The military parade of the first contingent
of the Afrikakorps which were held in Tripoli, Libya, 15 February 1941.
From left to right: Oberstleutnant Claus von dem Borne (Chef des Stabes
Deutsches Afrikakorps), Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender
General Deutsches Afrikakorps), and two unidentified Italian officers.
In the background is an equestrian statue of Mussolini holding the
"Sword of Islam". This statue was inaugurated on October 28, 1938, as a
tribute to the Italian dictator's status as "Protector of Islam".
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)
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
From left to right: Maresciallo d'Italia Ugo Cavallero (chief of the Italian High Command), Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Chef des Generalstabes Panzerarmee "Afrika"), and Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Afrika"). No information about date or place, but surely in North Africa after June 1942. Cavallero had a rather conflicting relationship with Rommel, whose advance into Egypt after his success at the Battle of Gazala he opposed, advocating instead the planned invasion of Malta; his opinion, shared by Kesselring and Rintelen, was however discounted by Hitler and Mussolini.
Adolf Seitz
Date of Birth: 24.02.1891 - Münich, Bavaria (German Empire)
Date of Death: 16.11.1945 - Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg (West Germany)
Promotions:
01.07.1912 Unteroffizier
01.07.1913 Vizefeldwebel der Reserve
01.12.1914 Leutnant der Reserve
15.03.1918 Oberleutnant der Reserve
01.05.1935 Hauptmann (Ersatz) (RDA 01.01.1934)
15.07.1936 Hauptmann (RDA 01.07.1933)
01.04.1937 Major (RDA: -42-)
01.10.1940 Oberstleutnant (RDA: -6-)
08.04.1942 Oberst (RDA: 01.04.1942, -476-)
15.02.1943 Oberst (RDA: 01.02.1942, -295a-)
Career:
01.10.1911 als Einjährig-Freiwilliger in das Kgl. Bayerische 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment eingetreten
30.09.1912 zur Reserve entlassen
04.08.1914 beim Kgl. Bayerischen 9. Feldartillerie-Regiment eingezogen
01.06.1916 wounded
27.06.1916 der Ersatz-Abteilung des 9. Feldartillerie-Regiments überwiesen
08.12.1916 zur Luftschiffer-Ersatz-Abteilung kommandiert
22.01.1917 dorthin versetzt
22.03.1917 in die Feldluftschiffer-Abteilung Nr. 4 versetzt
24.03.1917 Beobachter beim Ballonzug Nr. 211
02.05.1917 Führer des Ballonzuges Nr. 212
03.12.1918 discharged
01.05.1935 Chef der Ergänzungsmaschinengewehrkompanie 64 (Laufen / Oberbayern)
06.10.1936 Chef der 16. (E MG) / Gebirgsjägerregiment 100 (Brannenburg / Oberbayern)
12.10.1937 im Stab des Gebirgsjägerregiments 99 (Füssen)
xx.xx.1938 Kommandeur des II. / Gebirgsjägerregiment 99 (Füssen)
17.01.1941 kommandiert zum Stab des XXX. Armeekorps
15.04.1941 Führerreserve OKH (VII)
05.06.1941 im Stab der Deutschen Heeresmission in Rumänien
21.08.1941 im Stab der 11. Armee
23.09.1941 Führerreserve OKH (VII)
09.12.1941 Kommandeur des Gebirgsjägerersatzregiments 1
28.09.1942 Kommandeur der Gebirgsjägerschule Mittenwald
01.11.1943 Führerreserve OKH (HGr B)
26.11.1943 Kommandeur des Gebirgsstabes Italien
26.07.1944 mit der stellvertretenden Führung des Jägerregiments 741 beauftragt
10.09.1944 kommandiert zum Kommandostab Voralpen
30.12.1944 Verbindungsoffizier zum Reichsverteidigungskommissar [Franz Hofer?] und Inspekteur der Erkundungsstäbe
Awards and Decorations:
03.12.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
21.02.1916 Königlich Bayerischer Militär-Verdienstorden, IV.Klasse mit Schwertern
09.06.1916 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
22.07.1918 Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in schwarz
00.00.193_ Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1914-1918
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht (Heer) Dienstauszeichnung IV.Klasse
00.00.1939 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
00.00.19__ Abzeichen für Heeresbergführer
00.00.19__ 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernen Kreuze II.Klasse
00.00.19__ 1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernen Kreuze I.Klasse
00.00.19__ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
05.08.1940 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99 / 1.Gebirgs-Division
19.09.1941 Ordinul Corona Romaneii Commander (Rumania)
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold
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* Oberstleutnant Seitz was heading the German liaison and mentoring team within the Romanian mountain corps (Corpul Munte, Gebirgskorps), the Deutsches Verbindungskommando 8 (DVK 8), in late June-early July 1941.
.jpg)
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 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.
