ERWIN J. ROMMEL
(1891 - 1944) German field marshal whose Afrika Corps threw back repeated British and American assaults in North Africa, later he defended Normandy and ultimately was forced to commit suicide due to his implication in the Hitler bomb plot. Interesting pre-war D.S. "Rommel", 2pp. large 4to., "Kriegschule Potsdam", Potsdam, July 2, 1938. Rommel submits ten grades on a student's performance at the War School in Potsdam for courses running from Oct. 17, 1937 to July, 1938. Student and future Luftwaffe Knights Cross recipient Benno Herrmann appears to have been less than the perfect student, as his grades are rather lackluster. On the verso, Rommel adds five paragraphs of typed comments: "…small, frail appearance, little soldierly attitude…Very simple character still in development… he is gifted mentally…command language suffices…In combat service lacking liveliness and imaginative…Cannot ride with hunts…pleasant companion; correct and tactful in behavior toward superiors…Suitable for promotion to officer". File holes and dockets, else very good. BENNO HERMANN (1918-1999) would later find his niche in the Luftwaffe, flying in Russian with 4./KG 76 and receiving his Knights Cross on June 19, 1942.