In 1937, Rommel was given the duties of liaison officer with
the Hitler Jugend, under the charming but arrogant Baldur von Schirach. The two
men did not like each other. Schirach, who was American-educated, disliked the
ramrod-stiff Rommel whom he saw as a caricature of the Prussian officer. He was
surprised when Rommel opened his mouth and spoke with a broad Swabian accent,
and proved far less stiff than he had expected.- Christer Jorgensen, "Rommel's
Panzers," page 20
#
In 1937, Rommel conducted a tour of Hitler Youth (HJ)
meetings and encampments, and delivered lectures on German soldiering while
inspecting facilities and exercises. Simultaneously, he was pressuring Hitler
Youth leader Baldur von Schirach, to accept an agreement expanding the army's
involvement in Hitler Youth training. Schirach interpreted this as a bid to
turn the Hitler Jugend into an army auxiliary, a "junior army" in his
words. He refused, and Rommel, whom he had come to dislike personally, was
denied access to the Hitler Jugend. An
agreement between the Army and the Hitler Youth was concluded, but on a far
more limited scope than Rommel had sought. Cooperation was restricted to the
army providing personnel to the Rifle School, much to the army's chagrin. By
1939, the Hitler Jugend had 20,000 rifle instructors. Rommel retained his place
at Potsdam and was awarded the highest war ribbons for excellent performance.
#
Rommel first came to Hitler's attention in 1934 during his
visit to review the troops at Goslar. In 1935 he was posted as the War
Ministry's special liaison officer to Baldur von Schirach's Hitler Youth
Organization. He soon realized that he had no use for the young von Schirach's
methods and Rommel's heavy Swabian accent did not sit well with the Hitler
Youth leader's expectations. They soon parted ways, but while in Potsdam Rommel
had managed to complete his brilliant book on infantry tactics "Infantry
Attacks" and get it published. This book obviously came to Hitler's
attention and apparently he was impressed by it. In 1938 when Hitler decided to
visit his newly acquired Sudetenland he chose Rommel as the commandant for his
Escort Battalion. This single appointment immediately propelled Rommel into the
spotlight, where he would remain for many years to come. In November of that
same year he was posted as Commandant of the officer cadet school at
Wiener-Nuestadt, near Vienna. These would be some of their happiest years, and
his family would live in comfortable surroundings. Again in March 1939 Hitler
chose Rommel to command his mobile HQ during the occupation of Prague. With the
invasion plans for Poland well under way, Rommel learned that he was promoted
to Major General, and was subsequently made responsible for Hitler's safety
during his numerous visits to the front.
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