Erwin Rommel and Luftwaffe Officers in Africa

General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (center, Befehlshaber Panzergruppe "Afrika") is chatting with General der Flieger Hans Geisler (Kommandierender General X. Fliegerkorps), while behind Rommel stands Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Siegfried Westphal (Ia Panzergruppe "Afrika"). The picture was taken in Derna, Libya, on 30 September 1941. Note the building walls in the background that have been carefully painted in camouflage!

From left to right: Generalmajor Stefan Fröhlich (Fliegerführer Afrika), General der Flieger Hans Geisler (Kommandierender General X. Fliegerkorps), General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Befehlshaber Panzergruppe "Afrika"), Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Siegfried Westphal (hidden, Ia Panzergruppe "Afrika"), and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Chef des Generalstabes Panzergruppe "Afrika"). The picture was taken in Derna, Libya, on 30 September 1941.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2012/03/album-foto-erwin-rommel-sebagai_1308.html

Erwin Rommel Speaking in Front of His Soldiers at Sollum

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.

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/e0492a1c-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/5f6e63b7-2bca-e23b-f631-caca837fa7ba?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=panzertruppen&rows=1&page=2
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/erwin-rommel-reviewing-the-german-and-italian-troops-news-photo/104419750

Anti-Tank Ace: Reinhard Melzer and Theodor Schwalbach

The 8.8 cm Flak gun achieved the greatest success in North Africa. The crew of this gun have over a dozen or so victory markings painted on the gun barrel. From left to right: Unteroffizier Reinhard Melzer (Geschützführer in 1.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 33 [motorisiert]) and Oberleutnant Theodor Schwabach (Chef 1.Batterie / I.Abteilung / Flak-Regiment 33 [motorisiert]). Unteroffizier Melzer has, on his own initiative, striven to fight in the foremost battle line at its most active points, and as a gun commander he has been responsible for the destruction of at least 13 enemy tanks. His Abteilung commander, Hauptmann Walter Fromm, received the Ritterkreuz on 5 July 1941. Oberleutnant Schwabach, the Batterie commander of Reinhard Melzer, was likewise decorated with the Ritterkreuz on 30 June 1941, same as Melzer. Melzer destroyed his 13 tanks during the time period 15-17 June 1941, during the battle of Sollum.

Source :
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/88-flak-18-flak-36-and-flak-37/
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/48113/Schwabach-Theodor-Theo-Flak.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/68885/Melzer-Reinhard.htm

Award Ceremony of Stuka-Geschwader 3 in North Africa

Pictures of award ceremony of Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (StG 3) which were held On 5 October 1942 at Agag el Qasaba airfield in Egypt. These pictures are made by Kriegsberichter Hans Gross from Luftwaffe K.B.K. 7. Presented the awards is Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). The recipients are:

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes:
1. Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3)
2. Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3)

Deutsches Kreuz in Gold:
3. Oberfeldwebel Karl Konsorke (Flugzeugführer in 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3)
4. Leutnant Hubert Pölz (Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3)
5. Leutnant Alexander Heim (Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3)

Arrival of Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika) on the airfield of Agag el Qasaba in Egypt. The aircraft is a Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch".

Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika) presides over the Ritterkreuz award ceremony which takes place in Agag el Qasaba in Egypt. He salutes Hauptmann Kurt Walter (wearing a white cap, Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3).

The would-be recipients is being called forward.

Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). In the background is his personal transport aircraft, a Fieseler Fi 156 "Storch".

Two new Ritterkreuzträger, from left to right: Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) and Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3). Von Bargen already received the award announcement from 19 September 1942 (awarded after flying 200 ground attack sorties), while Stry from 24 September 1942 (awarded after flying 305 ground attack sorties).

Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika) presents the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3).

Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika) presents the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3).

Newly decorated Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) and Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) in front of Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika).

Oberfeldwebel Karl Konsorke (Flugzeugführer in 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) receives the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold from Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). He already received the award announcement from 25 September 1942.

Stuka pilots of Sturzkampgeschwader 3 (StG 3) decorated by Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). From left to right: Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), Oberfeldwebel Karl Konsorke (Flugzeugführer in 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), and Leutnant Hubert Pölz (Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3).



Leutnant Hubert Pölz (left, Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) and Leutnant Alexander Heim (saluting, Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3) have just received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (German Cross in Gold) from the hand of Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). Pölz and Heim themselves have already received the award announcement from 25 September 1942.

Stuka pilots of Sturzkampgeschwader 3 (StG 3) decorated by Generalmajor Hans Seidemann (Fliegerführer Afrika). From left to right: Oberleutnant Hans von Bargen (Adjutant I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), Oberleutnant Herbert Stry (Flugzeugführer in 5.Staffel / II.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), Oberfeldwebel Karl Konsorke (Flugzeugführer in 7.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), Leutnant Hubert Pölz (Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3), and Leutnant Alexander Heim (Flugzeugführer in 9.Staffel / III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3).

Source :
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?auteur=1511206
https://www.tracesofwar.com/units/47398/Sturzkampfgeschwader-3-Luftwaffe3.htm

Erwin Rommel and Wilhelm Bach at Halfaya Pass

Together with his staff officers, on 2 July 1941 General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (left, Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) made a visit to the headquarters of I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division at Halfaya Pass in the Sollum front, which is on the border Libya-Egypt. During this visit, in particular "Der Wüstenfuchs" (The Desert Fox) congratulated the commander of the battalion, Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (walking at the forefront with Rommel), who in the battle a month earlier managed to withstand the British tank forces who were trying to break through the Halfaya Pass in order to free their comrades who were besieged in Tobruk, in a mass attack codenamed Operation Battleaxe (15-17 June 1941). For three full days Bach and his men endured wave after wave of enemy tank attacks, with only a platoon of Flak 88 cannons as their main weapon. Although Rommel himself had ordered the Bataillonskommandeur to retreat to a more adequate defensive location "if possible", Bach interpreted his commander's last words in the opposite direction: a counterattack that succeeded in repelling the British troops! For this phenomenal achievement, Bach - who is a former priest (!) - was awarded the prestigious Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on July 9, 1941, just a week after this photo was taken. The Flak 88 itself was originally an anti-aircraft gun, but it can be just as good when it comes to hitting tank targets on the ground. BTW, in April 1941 - which was only one month after Rommel arrived in North Africa - German forces managed to defeat the invading British army and driven it out of Libya, except for one stubborn ANZAC garrison which remained in the port city of Tobruk (despite being besieged by a combined force of Italian and German Afrikakorps). Over the next year, the re-capture of Tobruk became Rommel's biggest obsession, because without it all German efforts to conquer Egypt would be vulnerable. When the port city was finally occupied in June 1942, a grateful Hitler rewarded Rommel with an extraordinary promotion to Generalfeldmarschall.



General view of the German command post at the Halfaya position. The picture was taken during the inspection by General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) on 2 July 1941.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (second from right, Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (right, Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) visit the strategic hills overlooking the Halfaya.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) surrounded by a group of Afrikakorps officers near a captured British armored vehicle.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) listen to a soldier's report. In the background, a Horch-Commandeur-Cabriolet (Kfz-21) carrying the pennant of an army corps commander.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) listen to a soldier's report.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) listen to a report from an unknown officer with the rank of Leutnant. Between the two in the background is Rommel's aide, Major Hans-Joachim Schraepler. Behind the group of officers, a cameraman immortalizes the scene with a 35 mm Arriflex.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) leave the bunker of an 8.8 cm FlaK gun, surrounded by a group of Afrikakorps officers. The tall officer second from left is Major Hans-Joachim Schraepler, Rommel's aide.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) stopped in front of a trench occupied by infantrymen of I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division. The tall officer at left is Major Hans-Joachim Schraepler, Rommel's aide.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) listen to a report from a Leutnant.

From left to right: General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps), Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika), and Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (Führer I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division). The picture was taken during the inspection by General Rommel to the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya Pass, Libya, on 2 July 1941.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (right, Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) chats with Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (left, Führer I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division), while surrounded by Afrikakorps soldiers and officers.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (center, Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (hand in face, Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) surrounded by a group of Afrikakorps soldiers and officers from the first battalion of Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division, including their commander, Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (with Hitler moustache). The tall officer behind Gause is Major Hans-Joachim Schraepler, Rommel's aide.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (center, Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) listen to an Afrikakorps non-commissioned officer's explanation of the fighting while surrounded by a group of soldiers and officers from the first battalion of Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division, including their commander, Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (with Hitler moustache). Behind Rommel is Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika), while the tall officer behind Gause is Major Hans-Joachim Schraepler, Rommel's aide.

A group of Afrikakorps artillerymen surrounds Generals Erwin Rommel and Alfred Gause (not visible in the photo) during their inspection to the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941. In the foreground a trench and sandbags. Helmets, gas mask cans, crates, rifle cases, while in the background is a captured "Mammoth" armored vehicle (the AEC Dorchester command car of British origin is named "Mammoth" in the German ranks).

Graves of German soldiers topped with helmets in Halfaya Pass. They were all killed on 16 June 1941. From left to right: Leutnant Erhard Alfred Slevogt (born 29 August 1919), Unteroffizier Ernst Maiwald (born 29 September 1919), and Obergefreiter Kurt Perschmann (born 20 December 1920). The picture was taken during the inspection by General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) on 2 July 1941.

During the inspection of the German and Italian troops stationed in the Halfaya on 2 July 1941, General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) and Generalmajor Alfred Gause (Verbindungsoffizier beim Italienischen Oberkommando in Nordafrika) - both standing in the rear seat of a Horch Cabriolet commander's car - talk with Hauptmann der Reserve Wilhelm Bach (back to the camera near the driver, Führer I.Bataillon / Schützen-Regiment 104 / 15.Panzer-Division). In the background we can see Halfaya position.



A column of German Afrikakorps Kfz-15 cars on Via Balbia, a highway that is the only major road that runs along the entire east-west length of the Libyan Mediterranean coastline. The picture was taken during the inspection by General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) on 2 July 1941.

An unknown Leutnant of the Afrikakorps holds a bunch of grapes in his hand. The picture was taken during the inspection by General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel (Kommandierender General Deutsches Afrikakorps) on 2 July 1941.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek archive
https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en/search?filter_group=all&filter_region=GBR&filter_text=Erwin%20Rommel
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/catalogsearch/result/?avec_visuel=1&q=rommel+bach&p=2

Farewell Ceremony for Otto Paetsch

 

Officers of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" posed together in front of a flower-filled Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf.D on its turret. This photo itself was taken on the Eastern Front in June 1944, most likely at the time of the release of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Paetsch (Kommandeur SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking") who moved to his new assignment in 10. SS-Panzer-Division "Frundsberg" as the commander of their panzer regiment (22 June 1944). The panther in the background is a Befehlspanther (Commander's Panther) belonging to Paetsch, which can be characterized by its turret-mounted antenna and a closed machine gun mount. Paetsch himself is an officer holding a flower bouquet in the center, while on his right in shorts is SS-Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi-Leck (Chef 8.Kompanie / SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"). The final identification is SS-Obersturmführer Manfred Renz (Adjutant SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"), wearing the black Panzer uniform at right. BTW, in this photo Nicolussi-Leck is not wearing the Ritterkreuz in his neck even though he has already receive it since April 1944!

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2019/10/foto-pelepasan-dan-pindah-tugas.html

Erwin Rommel and Friedrich-Wilhelm von Mellenthin

Erwin Rommel (wearing Ritterkreuz) with his Afrikakorps. Third from right is one of his staff, Friedrich-Wilhelm von Mellenthin, the latter Generalmajor.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/FriedrichWilhelmvonMellenthin/photos/a.10156420008969546/10156420009199546