Suez Canal
Arrives in North Africa to support Italian forces and begins operations that eventually threaten Egypt and the Suez Canal.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1943
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel through 223 dated historical records for Germany.
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
223Distinct records
3 of 6Page
1941–1941Years on this page
1941
Sunflower
Sends 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion to find how close Wavells army is to Tripoli
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1944
Afrika Korps
Rommel lands on African soil in Libya & takes over control of the Afrika Korps
Role range: 1939-1945
Invasion of Libya
Rommel lands on African soil in Libya & takes over control of the Afrika Korps
Role range: 1939-1945
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief in Libya
Commander of Afrika Korps
Appointed Commander of the Afrika Korps
Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief in Libya
Role range: 1939-1945
Commander of Afrika Korps
Appointed Commander of the Afrika Korps
Role range: 1939-1945
Lieutenant General
Appointed Lieutenant General
Role range: 1939-1945
Capture of Benghazi
Recaptures Benghazi from the Allies
Role range: 1939-1945
Capture of Derna
Rommel occupies Derna
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Mechili
Wins the battle but fails to capture the deep sea port of Tobruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Bardia
Begins to fight for Bardia, 60 miles east of Torbruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Tobruk
Rommel begins to attack Tobruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Bardia
Rommel captures Bardia
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Tobruk
Ordered to consolidate on the Egyptian border & concentrate on capturing Tobruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Halfaya Pass
The British are driven out of Halfaya Pass
Role range: 1939-1945
Siege of Tobruk
Besieges Tobruk, seeking to open the route east toward Egypt and the Suez Canal.
Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1943
Capture of Halfaya Pass
Reinforced by the 1fifth panzer division recaptures Halfaya Pass
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Halfaya Pass
The Eighth Panzer Regiment destroys 60 British tanks
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Halfaya Pass
Failed Btitish attempt on the German held pass south the Libya-Cyrenaica border
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Halfaya Pass
The Western Desert Force loses 200 tanks. Orders a general assault to destroy the British around Halfaya
Role range: 1939-1945
Afrika Korps
Panzer Group Africa is activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrika Korps SS turned over to Ludwig Cruwell
Panzer Group Africa
Panzer Group Africa is activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrika Korps SS turned over to Ludwig Cruwell
Afrika Korps
Panzer Group Africa is activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrika Korps SS turned over to Ludwig Cruwell
Role range: 1939-1945
Panzer Group Africa
Panzer Group Africa is activated with Rommel in command, and command of the Afrika Korps SS turned over to Ludwig Cruwell
Role range: 1939-1945
Panzer Group Africa
The Panzer Group controls the Afrikakorps plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units
Battle of Wadi Rezegh
Partially defeats the British 7th Armoured Division in an attempt to recapture Tobruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Afrika Korps
The Panzer Group controls the Afrikakorps plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units. During the summer of 1941 OKW and OKH enlarge the command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzer Group Africa)
Role range: 1939-1945
Panzer Group Africa
The Panzer Group controls the Afrikakorps plus some additional German units that were sent to Africa, as well as two corps of Italian units. During the summer of 1941 OKW and OKH enlarge the command structure in Africa by creating a new headquarters called Panzer Group Africa (Panzer Group Africa)
Role range: 1939-1945
Dash to the Wire
Reaches the frontier causing great confusion among the Allied Eighth Army. Breaks out from Tobruk to the Egyptiann border
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Bir el Gobi
1st day of the battle to cover the tracks of the Eighth Armys withdrawal from Tobruk
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Bir el Gobi
The attack on the British fails. Evacuates the eastern Tobruk perimeter to attack the British at Bir el Gobi
Role range: 1939-1945
Battle of Bir el Gobi
Withdraws to Gazala & Tobruk is relieved by the Allies
Role range: 1939-1945
Commander of Afrika Korps
Appointed Commander of the Afika Korps
Capture of Agedabia
Captures the Agedabia Wells opening the way for an advance into Cyrenaice
Role range: 1939-1945
Capture of Bardia
Captures Bardia
Role range: 1939-1945
Capture of Halfaya Pass
Captures Halfaya & uses it as a springboard into Egypt
Role range: 1939-1945
Capture of Mechili
Rommel occupies Mechili
Role range: 1939-1945
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.