SdKfz 2505 GRIEF and Rommel

~Erwin Rommel is probably one Germany’s most famous Generals, and one of the most recognisable names of WWII. Born in 1891 into a middle-class Swabian family, Erwin Rommel joined the German Army in 1910. When the First World War began in 1914, Rommel served on the Western and Romanian fronts, earning a reputation as a fearless and brilliant infantry commander.

In 1917, when on the Italian front, his alpine battalion of less than 500 men launched a daring attack, taking more than 9,000 prisoners and capturing 81 guns while breaking right through the Italian front line. For this he was awarded Germany’s highest honour for gallantry, the Pour le Merite.

Rommel stayed with the army after the war. During this time he wrote Infanterie Greift An (Infantry Attacks!), a book on infantry tactics that became an instant bestseller.