Erwin Rommel’s Ghost Division in World War II- The Division Fantôme
By: Karthick Nambi
Tags: War, World, Germany, History, Military

Erwin Rommel’s Ghost Division in World War II- The Division Fantôme

Rommel’s decisive offensive with his 7th panzer division reduced the invasion of France to a few weeks. Rommel’s legendary ghost army instigated fear in the French high command

The 7th panzer division.Source- warlord games

A German armored car overtook a column of a French armored division, which was traveling towards Belgium border.

The German armor car stopped in front of the column head, and a German officer came out of the vehicle. He threatened the French officer in command and asked him to surrender immediately.

The French officer obliged and surrendered 40 French armor vehicles without a shot fired. The German officer was General Erwin Rommel, and his 7th Panzer division, which punched into French defenses called Ghost division or as the French call it Division Fantôme.

Early Career:

Erwin Rommel.Source-Wikipedia

Erwin Rommel was born in Heidenheim on 15th November 1891.

Rommel rose in army command quickly and fought in World War I on the Italian front. His swift actions brought some victories to the Germans,

Rommel deployed unconventional warfare methods that surprised Italian soldiers. Thousands of Italian soldiers surrendered to a few hundred German troops.

After World War I, Rommel oversaw law and order in the city of Stuttgart. When the Nazi Party came to power, it looked for promising talents to prepare Germany for the next great war.

Hitler met with Rommel, and they both acquitted very well. Rommel held the position as the secretary for Hitler in military matters. Rommel was so close to the Fuhrer that he traveled with Adolph Hitler in Amerika (Hitler’s train) in the same car during the German invasion of Poland. In that role, Rommel earned Hitler’s admiration.

Rommel with Hitler in Poland.Source-Wikipedia

His good name came in handy at the right time. When the time came for the invasion of low lying countries and France, Rommel got promoted to commander of the 7th Panzer division consisting of 200 tanks, 2,000 motorcycles/light cavalry, and 20,000 men.

Rommel was a strong supporter of Blitzkrieg and wanted a quick and decisive victory in France’s invasion. As the attack commenced, the German army was able to cross into Belgium and headed towards France. French, British, and Belgium forces tried to stop the advancing Axis army.

The panzer divisions order was to race up to the river Meuse and halt for the other units to catch up.

Rommel’s Blitzkrieg:

Rommel inspecting the river crossing.Source-Wikipedia

Rommel’s Blitzkrieg methodology had the light cavalry advance for clearing the route for the Panzers. Rommel’s 7th Division was the first to reach river Musse.

Rommel didn’t want to miss the opportunity of momentum in his advance. Rommel didn’t wait for the other army group to reach the river. At the fall of dawn, Rommel’s 7th Division under heavy French fire crossed the Meuse river and headed to the extended Maginot Line. As Rommel said:

“Swift offensive is the sword and a shield.”

The Maginot Line is a series of fortifications and barracks along the French-German border. The Barracks were manned by machine guns and backed by Artillery pieces from the rear.

The German high command gave a halt order to all units at the extended Maginot line. After three days gave a cautious order to ponder the Maginot line with infantry before attempting a breakthrough using panzers.

It was too late for Rommel. Rommel attacked the Maginot Line midnight when the French defenses least expected it on 16th May 1940.

Though his panzers took a direct hit from anti-tank fire from the bunkers, they could punch through the bunkers and headed towards the artillery. The engineers of the 7th Division dynamited the bunkers and neutralized them.

The Ghost Dvision:

Rommel with his officers in Battle of France. Source-Wikipedia

The speeding panzer division took control of the artillery. They saw open space with no french army to oppose them.

Rommel quoted that 20 years back, Germany took four years to cross the line but still was defeated, but this time it took just four days to cross the line. Rommel quickly capitalized on the situation and ordered his panzer division to move forward.

They encountered the French 5th Armored Division who conveniently parked their vehicles on the roadside. The Panzers feasted on the French vehicles, and everything that stood was on fire.

Rommel and his panzers made it to Avesnes-sur-Helpe at 4 AM. At 6 AM, they were at the bank of the River Sambre. Rommel secured a crucial bridge across the Sambre river. In less than 12 hours, Rommel was 50 kilometres inside French territory.

Rommel realized that the panzers ran out of fuel and ammunition. His remaining men and supply were still behind the Maginot Line well within Belgium border.

As Rommel was out of radio range, he traveled with a panzer tank and an armored vehicle inside enemy territory in broad daylight to connect with his remaining troops. The panzer developed a technical slag, and Rommel continued the rest of the journey in his armored car.

The French troops were in complete chaos. They heard rumors of an all-out German breakthrough on the Maginot Line and a 7th German division well inside France.

Even the Germans didn’t know where the position of the 7th Division. As Rommel radio contact was lost, the central German command was also in the dark about Rommel’s 7th Division’s exact location.

While returning to the Maginot Line to catch up with his supply line, Rommel came across a convoy of 40 French vehicles. Rommel’s armored car overtook the convoy and stooped in front of the lead vehicle. Rommel got out of his armored car and ordered the French commanding officer to step down and surrender. The ensuing chaos let to the surrender of the French troops with not even a single shot fired.

Aftermath:

Rommel’s Funeral procession.Source-Wikipedia

Rommel reached the Maginot line and continued his panzer offensive until France capitulated.

Rommel might have faced court-martialled if not for his swift victories in the invasion of France. Rommel’s technique of the rapid Panzer movement reduced the French invasion by weeks.

Also, Rommel’s closeness with Hitler saved his skin. Rommel was then sent to North Africa to save the Italian forces who were on the run from the British.

Rommel’s decisive action in North Africa earned him the nickname the Desert Fox. After the defeat of Axis forces in Africa, Rommel got reassigned to take over the North Atlantic Wall’s command.

After the D-Day landing Rommel was shot by an Allied aircraft and was hospitalized and returned to Germany. Rommel’s name came up in the investigation of an alleged plot to kill Hitler.

Rommel had no choice but to end his life with poison that the Nazi government provided to save his family. Nazi government gave Rommel a state funeral and declared his death due to illness due to the accident in France.