Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel Jr. was born on November 15, 1891 in a small WÑŒrtemburg town of Heidenheim. His father Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel was a local schoolmaster and former artillery officer. His mother Helena von Luz was the daughter of the local Regierungs-Prasident. Rommel was one of five children, though his brother Manfred had died at an early age. As a child, he was reasonable and very gifted academically and athletically. He was educated at TÑŒbingen, a military school in Stuttgart. Rommel planned to apply to the Zeppelin works at Friederichshafen; his father did not approve, and advised him to enter the army.

In July 1910, Rommel became a cadet in the 124th WÑŒrtemburg Infantry Regiment in the 26th Infantry Division of the German Imperial Infantry. He served as a cadet until March 1911, then began attending the prestigious military academy Konigliche Kriegsschule in Danzig. His eight-month course ended in November 1911, in which time he rose to Lieutenant: Corporal in October and Sergeant at the end of the year. While at the academy he met his future wife Lucie Mollin whom he wrote to everyday during both World Wars, and married in 1916.

In January 1912 Rommel rejoined the 124th WÑŒrtemburg Infantry. In summer 1914, he served as artillery attachment in drilling practices near Ulm. On July 28, 1914 Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria, was assassinated. The assassination was a major cause of World War I, Rommel's first true combat tests.

Rommel's first battle was at Longwy after twenty-four hours of marching and riding. He believed that the only successful way to deploy his troops was to be at the front of them. On August 22, 1914, Rommel spotted a group of fifteen to twenty French soldiers. Rommel and his three-man reconnaissance team opened fire in the town of Bleid. Shortly after, eight hundred yards northeast of Bleid at freshly dug trenches, he charged the French with parts of his regiment. Then assisted by two other men Rommel drove off a whole French column, after all the action Rommel passed out from lack of sleep. The battle of Longwy caused a loss of 15% of Rommel's men and 25% of his officers. Medical doctors informed Rommel after the battle, that he was suffering from food poisoning, but Rommel would not leave the field.

On September 22, 1914 Rommel earned the Second Class medal for capturing fifty Frenchman, seven machine guns, ten ammunition limbers, and a full