World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel is a story that has been frequently told in the context of World War Two where he was commonly known as the Desert Fox. However, many years before North Africa and the armored warfare, the early years of the World War One prepared Erwin Rommel to be the soldier, strategist and leader he was to become later. His battlefield philosophy, leadership style and his reputation of boldness had been shaped by his experiences of the period between 1914 and 1918.
The World War One service of Rommel was not just a stepping stone towards the greater things ahead, but a book all on its own. Having been born as a junior officer in Germany, Rommel proved himself to be remarkably courageous and tactically inventive at a very young age to become one of the most decorated German soldiers. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
This paper discusses the initial military service of Erwin Rommel in the first world war and how these years early in life shaped the future of one of the most researched military leaders in modern time.
Early Life Before the War
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel was born on November 15, 1891 in the town of Heidenheim, Wurttemberg, the German Empire. Rommel was not born into an aristocratic military family, as many other officers in the Imperial Germany. His dad was a schoolteacher and he was brought up in a discipline, education and independence fashion. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Being a young man, Rommel demonstrated great interests in mathematics, mechanics, and engineering. All these analytical abilities later became a good sense of ground, move and solving of problems and tactics on the battlefield.
Rommel entered the Wurttemberg Army as an officer cadet in 1910. In 1912 he became a lieutenant; the very next year Europe plunged into the war. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
The Outbreak of World War One
At the start of World war one, in August 1914, Rommel was with the 124 th Wurrberger Infantry Regiment. As most young officers, he went to the war with a lot of enthusiasm and initially he thought that the war was going to be a short decisive war.
The reality soon was able to show otherwise. The initial months of the war were characterized by disorder, carnage and colossal losses. These conditions were however a chance to showcase great leadership to Rommel. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Even the early years Erwin Rommel spent in the World War One showed the main features of his character: daring, initiative, and readiness to do whatever the situation required him to do.
Occidental Baptism of Fire in the West.
The initial battle that Rommel was involved in was on the Western Front in France and Belgium. It was fierce and disorderly, with brief charges and retreats being succeeded by fecal close-quarters battle. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Rommel stood out by his ability to command in front. He also led reconnaissance campaigns amidst fire, and he determined the position and the strengths of the enemy. The composure of his character, as well as his personal courage, gave his men confidence.
Rommel won the Iron Cross Second Class, and later the Iron Cross First Class, during these early battles and this was a definite indication that he had been recognized as courageous and, as an efficient junior officer.
Knowing the Truth about Modern Warfare.
World War One brought about the introduction of warfare that had never been witnessed before: machine guns, artillery fire, trenches, and dead bodies. The majority of the officers had a hard time adjusting, yet Rommel learned modern warfare in a short period of time. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
He was taught that the strict following orders can be disastrous and flexibility and initiative were usually the secrets of survival and success. Rommel was starting to depend on speed, surprise and maneuver as opposed to direct attacks.
These were his initial lessons that would be the focus of his strategy.
Move to Mountain Warfare Units.
One of the most contributing instances in the World War one early years of Erwin Rommel was the time when he was posted to the exceptional mountain infantry units. The physical stamina, autonomy and flexibility required in mountain warfare were extremely high. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Rommel succeeded in working in the rough land with strong positions. He perfected how to lead small and mobile forces through challenging topography, frequently hitting at the unlikely angles.
This atmosphere encouraged initiative and discouraged indecision–just the right atmosphere, as far as the kind of leadership that Rommel exhibited was concerned. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Campaigns Against Italy
Italy joined the war against the Central Powers in 1915. Rommel was stationed in the mountainous Italian Front where some of the most challenging fighting during the war took place.
In this case, Rommel was able to use terrain and surprise time and again. He commanded bold patrols, seized the positions of the enemy with few casualties and often scored victory over a more numerically superior army. World War One Early Years of Erwin Rommel
His behavior made him gain increasing respect among the seniors and respect of his subordinates whom he led.
Tactical Innovation and Command.
The characteristic feature of World War One that Rommel demonstrated was his readiness to act on his own. When most of the officers waited to have the finer details of a situation, Rommel went on the ground and made a quick judgment.
He was a master of the infiltration techniques – going round deep enemy lines to attack the weak rear. This strategy disorganized the command of the enemy and created confusion way outside the battlefield.
They were unusual approaches in those days but it was hard to deny their effectiveness.
The Battle of Caporetto
The greatest success of World War One that Rommel had was in the Battle of Caporetto that took place in October 1917. Rommel as a company commander led a small outfit through mountainous terrain to infiltrate deep into Italian lines.
By the dashing stroke of manoeuvre, the suddenness of attack, and the continuous impulse, the unit of Rommel broke thousands of the enemy, captured guns, and drove thousands of them in full retreat, with only slight losses.
His success was so massive that it surprised the German high command. One of the most dramatic individual performance of the war was it.
The greatest Military Award in Germany.
Due to his deeds of Caporetto Rommel was granted the Pour le Mérite which is the greatest military decoration of Germany. Rommel was the first such junior officer who was rarely awarded.
Rommel was a member of an elite circle of the most distinguished soldiers in Germany at the age of only 26 years. This was the climax of the early years of Erwin Rommel during the World War One, and affirmed his position as an upcoming military star.
The Character of Rommel and the World War One.
Rommel was influenced by his war experiences which also led to his thinking in terms of tactics as well as his leadership philosophy. He believed strongly in:
Leading from the front
Maintaining momentum
In capitalizing on foe indecisiveness.
Reliquing the initiative of junior officers.
These ideologies would subsequently outline his campaigns during World War two and make him a legend.
Writing Infantry Attacks
In the book Infantry Attacks, Rommel wrote about his experiences after the war. The book greatly relied on his experience in the World War one, and examined methods of decision-making in battles, leadership, and strategies.
The work gained some impact in the military world and contributed to German interwar policy. It further attracted the attention of the then Adolf Hitler, which also led to the subsequent rise of Rommel indirectly.
History of the World War One Service of Rommel.
The importance of the Erwin Rommel early years during the world war one cannot be underscored. The years helped him to develop the skills, confidence and reputation which subsequently came to characterize his career.
The experience that Rommel had in World War One revealed how a single leadership could affect the result of the battle- even in the overwhelming, depersonalised forces of industrial warfare.
His experiences would serve as an example of how to be flexible, courageous, and initiate action even in the most severe conditions.
The Early Years of Rommel Why They Still Matter.
Rommel and his campaigns in the world war one are still studied in the military academies in different parts of the world. His skill to work with fewer resources, challenging topography, and decentralized command is very topical.
The story of Rommel is not only something to learn in the history of the military, but it also has other general lessons regarding leadership, decision-making, and experience.
Conclusion
Erwin Rommel was molded in World War One. As Rommel was battling on the Western Front to his first battles, to his legendary triumph at Caporetto, the first years of his life would demonstrate a man of great talent and resolve.
Rommel demonstrated long before he became the Desert Fox that extreme adversity could be overcome by courageous action and a solid grasp of tactics. The book Understanding the World War One early years of Erwin Rommel is an invaluable piece of information on one of the most interesting military personalities of the twentieth century.
