Generalfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel (Oberbefehlshaber Panzerarmee "Africa") in a picture taken
on 1 October 1942 by Walter Frentz during award ceremony with Hitler at
Reichskanzlei in Berlin, Germany. In this event, Rommel was awarded his
Marschallstab (Marshal Baton) and interimstab. He was also received the
"Große Urkunde" for his Schwerter (on the same time). On that day a
formal ceremony took place in the Reichskanzlei at which Rommel was
presented by Adolf Hitler with his Marschallstab, the ornate ceremonial
field marshal’s baton that accompanied his promotion to that rank which
had been conferred on 22 June 1942 following the capture of Tobruk. In
accordance with Wehrmacht custom Rommel also received the simpler
Interimstab intended for everyday use, while the richly decorated
Marschallstab itself, covered in red velvet and ornamented with the
Wehrmachtsadler and Eisernes Kreuz, was reserved for formal occasions.
At the same audience Hitler handed over the Große Urkunde, the large
official certificate documenting the earlier award of the Schwerter zum
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub that Rommel had received
on 20 January 1942 as General der Panzertruppen and Befehlshaber der
Panzer-Gruppe Afrika. The presentation occurred during Rommel’s brief
leave in Germany after the summer fighting in North Africa, with senior
officers of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, including
Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel, present in the study of the
Reichskanzlei. Contemporary accounts describe Rommel entering the room,
receiving the black leather case containing the glittering baton, and
acknowledging the honour in the presence of Hitler’s adjutants and his
own aide. Later that day and in the following days Rommel appeared as
guest of honour at public events in Berlin, including a rally at the
Sportpalast, where he displayed the newly conferred symbols of his rank
while the German press and radio celebrated the Desert Fox at the height
of his wartime prestige.
Source :
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2021354&hilit=rommel#p2021354
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/201/Rommel-Erwin-Johannes-Eugen.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-n-r/
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