Major General Erwin Rommel, commander of the 7th Panzer Division during the German invasion of the Low Counties and France in 1940. The 7th Panzer Division was part of the 15th Panzer Corps, which was positioned in the central sector for the German invasion of Western Europe, which commenced on 10 May 1940. The 7th Panzer Division reached the River Meuse on 13 May and after heavy fighting crossed the river using a weir that had not been destroyed by the retreating forces. Rommel’s Panzers rapidly advanced unopposed until near Arras when they were counter-attacked by two British Tank Regiments, which inflicted heavy losses on the German infantry and anti-tank crews. The British attack was stopped by a few Flak 88’s, the first time the German 88mm anti-aircraft gun had been used to engage ground targets.

7th Panzer Division on the move

For the attack into central France the 7th Panzer Division was positioned near Abbeville on 5 June 1940. On 8 June, Rommel reached Rouen, on the 10 June the English Channel and on 17 June the 7th Panzer Division reached Cherbourg, which the garrison surrendered to Rommel on the 19 June 1940. Due to Rommel’s tactics of rapid advance the 7th Panzer Division was known as the Ghost Division, as the German High Command frequently had no idea where Rommel or his Panzers were. This photograph of General Rommel, standing on a cliff or high point on the French coast overlooking a German submarine passing through the harbour entrance, was probably taken in the second half of 1940 and probably near Cherbourg.