EPTHere is something which interested me and I took the time to do some research. I decided to share my thought with this wonderful community.
I was inspired to do this research by a song of Sabaton - Ghost Division
Here I am posting the lyrics of the song and also a link to it on YouTube (Whether or not you listen the song is up to you but please read the lyrics and what I wrote after them):
Ghost Division Lyrics
Fast as the wind
The Invasion has begun
Shaking the ground
With a force of 1000 guns
First in the line of fire
First into hostile land
Tanks leading the way
Leading the way
Charging the lines with a force of a furious storm
Fast as the lightning phantom's swarm
200 miles at nightfall taken within a day
Thus earning their name, earning their fame
They are the Panzer Elite
Bound to compete
Never retreat
(Ghost Division)
Living or dead
Always ahead
Fed by your dread
Always ahead as the Blitzkrieg rages on
Breaking morale with the sound of blazing guns
First in the line of fire
First into hostile land
Tanks leading the way
Leading the way
Leaving a trail of destruction through a foreign land
Massive assault to serve the Nazi plan
Communication's broken
Panzers are far away
Thus earning their name, earning their fame
[Ghost Division Lyrics On http://www.elyricsworld.com/ ]
They are the Panzer Elite
Bound to compete
Never retreat
(Ghost Division)
Living or dead
Always ahead
Fed by your dread
Pushing the frontline forth with a tremendous force
Crushing the way for Panzer Corps
First in the line of fire
First into hostile land
Tanks leading the way
Claiming the fame
They are the Panzer Elite
Bound to compete
Never retreat
(Ghost Division)
Living or dead
Always ahead
Fed by your dread
Panzer Elite
Bound to compete
Never retreat
(Ghost Division)
Living or dead
Always ahead
Fed by your dread
The Ghost Division
That was the nickname of the 7th Armored Division of the Wehrmacht during the Invasion of France back in 1940. The division was commanded by Field Marshall Erwin Rommel.
Rommel fully embraced the principles of the Blitzkrieg - the army advances with great speed on a very small front line. It is spearheaded by the Armored troops. Their goal is not to engage in frontal action but to break the enemy lines and later surround the enemy who is supposed to leave his position and retreat in disorder and is thus very easy to chase and destroy.
However Rommel did only did this, he pushed his division further than anyone would have expected. He also severed his communication with the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on purpose in order to avoid the messages being intercepted. Thus the nickname - Ghost division or in Deutsch - Gespensterdivision. And he was doing this in all the time when he commanded the 7th Panzer Division.
I've read in a book that it really was an honor to serve in the Division.
I've also read the French were absolutely terrified by the 7th Panzer division and the French army was leaving positions even before the Phantoms appeared.
And even from modern point of view - an armored division to advance 200 miles in a day would be considered an amazing success.
And it's such pushes and precise planning and execution that leave in awe when I read some history articles.
Thank you for reading!
