From France to Africa: The Making of a Legendary Commander

On May 27, 1940, Erwin Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division tanks rumbled across a French canal, marking another triumph in Germany’s blitzkrieg through Western Europe. This moment encapsulated Rommel’s military philosophy – speed, surprise, and relentless offensive action. Little did he know that within a year, he would be transferred to an entirely different theater of war, where his tactical brilliance would earn him the nickname that would echo through military history: the Desert Fox.

Rommel’s journey to North Africa began with Hitler’s growing frustration over Italy’s disastrous campaign against British forces. By early 1941, Mussolini’s armies had suffered humiliating defeats, losing over 130,000 prisoners to much smaller British forces. The Italian retreat towards Tripoli resembled more of a disorganized rout than a strategic withdrawal, with demoralized soldiers in tattered uniforms trudging through the desert. Hitler, recognizing the strategic importance of North Africa for controlling Mediterranean shipping lanes and threatening British-held Egypt, decided to send his most dynamic commander to salvage the situation.

The Arrival of the Afrika Korps

On February 12, 1941, a gleaming German Junkers bomber landed at Benito Fort airfield, 24 kilometers south of Tripoli. From it emerged a compact but imposing figure – Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel. His sharp blue eyes immediately assessed the chaotic scene of retreating Italian forces. Born in 1891 in Ulm to a middle-class family (unusual for a future German field marshal), Rommel had risen through merit rather than aristocratic connections. His World War I exploits were legendary – capturing hundreds of enemy soldiers with tiny forces, outflanking Italian positions in the Alps, and earning Germany’s highest military honor, the Pour le Mérite.

Now, as commander of the newly formed Afrika Korps, Rommel faced a different challenge. The desert environment presented unique difficulties: temperatures reaching 48.9°C (120°F), sandstorms reducing visibility to zero, and the complete absence of natural resources. German equipment, designed for European conditions, proved problematic – wood-burning field kitchens became useless in the treeless desert. Yet Rommel saw opportunity where others saw only hardship. The vast open spaces reminded him of naval warfare, perfect for mobile armored operations.

Deception and Early Victories

Rommel’s first task was to restore Italian morale while awaiting his main forces. With characteristic ingenuity, he ordered the construction of hundreds of dummy tanks mounted on Volkswagen chassis to deceive British reconnaissance. When the first elements of the 5th Light Division arrived on February 14, Rommel staged an elaborate parade in Tripoli, repeatedly circling real tanks through the city to create an illusion of greater strength.

Against explicit orders from Berlin to remain defensive until May, Rommel launched his first offensive on March 24, capturing Agheila with minimal resistance. British forces, weakened by transfers to Greece and underestimating German capabilities, fell back rapidly. By April 2, Rommel had taken Agedabia, achieving in days what Berlin expected to take months. When Italian commander Gariboldi protested, Rommel bluffed about having Berlin’s approval for continued advances.

The Drive Across Cyrenaica

Rommel divided his forces into four parallel columns sweeping eastward through Cyrenaica. The northernmost followed the coastal road toward Derna, while southern columns struck deep into the desert toward Mechili. This bold maneuver risked spreading his forces thin but aimed to cut off British retreat routes. Desert conditions tested men and machines alike – engines overheated, sand clogged mechanisms, and mirages deceived even experienced navigators.

Rommel maintained relentless pressure, sometimes directing operations from a reconnaissance plane. On one occasion, he nearly landed among British troops by mistake. Another time, he dropped written orders from the air when units paused: “If you don’t resume your advance immediately, I shall come down myself. Rommel.”

The gamble paid off. By April 8, German forces surrounded Mechili, capturing two British generals – Philip Neame and Richard O’Connor, the very commander who had previously crushed Italian forces. This stunning reversal demonstrated Rommel’s ability to read battlefield dynamics and exploit enemy weaknesses.

The Siege of Tobruk and the Battle for Halfaya Pass

Rommel’s next objective was Tobruk, the best port between Egypt and Tripoli and key to controlling supply lines. Initial attacks on April 13-14 failed against determined Australian defenders. A major assault on April 30 (Easter Tuesday) penetrated Tobruk’s outer defenses but stalled with heavy losses. By May 4, after suffering 1,200 casualties, Rommel was forced to halt offensive operations by Friedrich Paulus, sent from Berlin to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, British forces launched Operation Brevity on May 15, briefly recapturing Halfaya Pass before German counterattacks drove them back. Recognizing Halfaya’s strategic importance – its 152-meter cliffs controlled access between Egypt’s coastal plain and Libya’s desert plateau – Rommel ordered a decisive assault on May 26. In a combined armor-infantry attack, German forces seized the pass by May 27, exactly fifteen weeks after Rommel’s arrival in Africa.

The Legacy of the Desert Fox

Rommel’s North Africa campaign demonstrated his mastery of mobile warfare under extreme conditions. With limited resources, he reversed Axis fortunes, advancing over 1,600 km and establishing a reputation as Germany’s most formidable field commander. His tactics – rapid maneuvers, feints, and psychological warfare – became textbook examples of desert combat.

The Afrika Korps’ early successes came despite chronic supply shortages and unreliable Italian allies. Rommel’s ability to inspire troops – living in the same harsh conditions and frequently visiting frontlines – created extraordinary loyalty. As one staff officer noted: “He knew how to make the troops feel something immortal.”

Yet these victories contained the seeds of future problems. Overextended supply lines, Hitler’s focus on the upcoming Russian campaign, and British resilience at Tobruk would eventually check Rommel’s advance. The stage was set for one of World War II’s most famous confrontations – the battle for North Africa’s strategic heart. But in those first fifteen weeks, Rommel had already secured his place in military history as the legendary Desert Fox.