7th Panzer Division ( Wehrmacht ) The 7th Panzer Division was a German elite armored formation which participated in the Battle of France where it was involved in numerous atrocities . General Erwin Rommel commanded the division , which 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 . The 7th Panzer Division in France . After the successful completion of the invasion of Poland , the panzer corps was expanded and four of the light divisions were expanded to full panzer divisions . 7th Panzer was formed from the 2nd Light Division . Hitler asked Erwin Rommel , an infantry officer who had been chosen by Hitler to lead his personal guard unit , what command he would want in the upcoming battle for France . Although Rommel had no practical experience in tank warfare , he asked for a panzer division and on 15 February 1940 he received command of the 7th Panzer Division . In preparation for the invasion of the low countries , the 7th Panzer Division became part of the 15th Panzer Corps under the command of General Hoth . " Ghost Division " . The 7th Panzer Division moved with great speed through France and covered vast distances . During the Battle of France , the 7th Panzer Division earned the name of the " Ghost Division " ( German : " Gespensterdivision " ) because its rapid movements led to few knowing exactly where the division was , including the German High Command . Rommel had a " lead from the front " attitude and often commanded from the turret of a tank , thus driving the unit at a pace faster than what a commander issuing orders from his headquarters could achieve . He believed the best place for a commander was near the point of action . In addition , he would sometimes deliberately ' lose ' communications with the High Command if he felt it necessary . His fearless command of the 7th Panzer Division showed his confidence and understanding of blitzkrieg concepts . The success they experienced and his favor with Hitler prevented any repercussions from the High Command , some of whom criticized Rommel for being difficult to contact and locate . Rommel described the French Campaign in his letters to his wife as " a lightning Tour de France " . During the fight in France the division alongside troops from 5th Panzer division committed numerous atrocities against colonial French troops including mass murder of 50 surrendering Non - commissioned officers and men at Quesnoy and Airaines The division is considered by Raffael Scheck to be also responsible for execution of PoW ' s in Hangest - sur - Somme while too far to be involved in massacre at Aiains 7th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front - Feb 1941 to May 1942 . During Operation Barbarossa , units of 7th Panzer Division crossed the Moscow - Volga Canal to the north of Moscow , and held a bridgehead across the canal for about a month , before having to withdraw with the onset of winter . Popular culture . Swedish Heavy Metal group Sabaton have a song on their 2008 album The Art of War titled " Ghost Division " , which is about the 7th Panzer Division ' s advance into France in 1940 .