Erwin Rommel

The most significant and indisputable characteristic of Erwin Rommel was his leadership from the front lines. Rommel would scurry from position to position evaluating the battle and issuing orders, including directing the fire of individual guns.

Born in Heidenheim on November 15, 1891

Military record:

• July 19, 1910 to October 3, 1915 - Infantry Regiment 124
• October 15, 1935 to November 9, 1938 - Kriegsschule at Potsdam
• February 15, 1940 to February 14, 1941 - 7th Panzer Division
• February 15, 1941 to May 13, 1943 - Commander of the "Afrika Korps"

Afrika Korps Supply usage

For routine delivery of supplies and other activities, Rommel's Afrika Korps used 300 tons of gasoline per day. While in combat it needed 600 tons of gasoline per day.

In October of 1942, at El Alamein, Rommel's forces were constrained by severe fuel shortages. On October 24 they fuel for only three days of battle. The Panuco, which was carrying 1,650 tons of gasoline, had just been sunk. To resupply Rommel's forces the Proserpina was to sail on October 21st to arrive in Tobruk on October 26th, the Luisiana was ready to sail on the 25th with another 1,500 tons of gasoline along with the Portofino (with another 2,200 tons of gasoline) on October 27th from Taranto to arrive on the 31st. Tipped off by Allied codebreaking the Allies sank all of these ships. Thus 5,350 tons of gasoline was sunk at a critical time largely due to intelligence (Enigma) codebreaking efforts. With another ten days of combat fuel supply it's conceivable that Rommel would have taken Alexandria and perhaps Cairo.