The 7th Panzer Division, which participated in the Battle of France, was nicknamed the "Ghost Division" because nobody knew where they were attacking from, not even the German High Command. Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-a. ... Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-a. ... Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-b. ... Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-b. ... Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-c. ... Image File history File links Ww2_GermanDivision_Panzer_7-c. ... PzKpfw V-D, a Panther tank   Panzer? is German for armour. ... Combatants France United Kingdom Canada Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Nazi Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R.H. Umberto di...

The 7th Panzer Division Under Rommel

After the successful completion of the Polish Campaign, Hitler allowed Erwin Rommel to choose whatever unit he would like to command. Although Rommel had no practical experience in tank warfare, he asked for a Panzer division and on 15 February 1940 he received command of the 7th Panzer division. In preparation of the invasion of the low countries, the 7th Panzer Division then became a part of the 15th Panzer Corps under the command of General Hoth. Hitler redirects here. ... Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was one of the most distinguished German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs,  ) for the skillful military campaigns he... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... General Hermann Hoth Hermann Papa Hoth (12 April 1885 - 26 January 1971) was a general of the Third Reich during World War II, notable for victories in France and on the Eastern Front, and later, after serving six years in prison for war crimes, as a writer on military history. ...

Timeline - 7th Panzer Division in Belgium and France

• 12 May 1940 - 7th Panzer Division reaches Dinant
• 13 May 1940 - Crosses River Meuse after heavy fighting
• 15 May 1940 - Reaches Philippeville and continues Westward passing Avesnes and Le Cateau.
• 21 May 1940 - Reaches Arras where counter attacked by 2 British Tank Regiments. British tank advance stopped by feared Flak 88 "Tank Killers".
• 5 June 1940 - 7th Panzer Division positioned near Abbeville.
• 8 June 1940 - Reaches outskirts of Rouen.
• 10 June 1940 - 7th Panzer reaches English Channel West of Dieppe.
• 17 June 1940 - Rommel reaches Southern outskirts of Cherbourg.
• 19 June 1940 - Garrison of Cherbourg surrenders to Rommel.
• 25 June 1940 - Fighting ends for 7th Panzer Division in France.

May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The tower of Notre-Dame, seen from the citadel Dinant is a municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Wallonia. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The Meuse(Maas) at Maastricht Length 925 km Elevation of the source 409 m Average discharge 230 m³/s Area watershed 36 000 km² Origin France Mouth Hollands Diep Basin countries France - Belgium - Netherlands The Meuse (Dutch Maas) is a large European river rising in France, flowing through Belgium and... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Philippeville is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Namur. ... Avesnes-sur-Helpe is a French sous-prefecture, département(59). ... Le Cateau-Cambrésis is a commune in northern France, in the Nord département. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Arras (Dutch: ) is a town and commune in northern France, préfecture (capital) of the Pas-de-Calais département. ... The German eighty-eight is probably the best known, even famous, artillery piece of World War II. It was not one gun, but a series of anti-aircraft guns officially called the 8. ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Collégiale St Vulfran Beffroi Abbeville is a city in the Picardie région, in the north of France. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Rouen Cathedral The entrance to Rouen Cathedral Abbey church of Saint-Ouen, (chevet) in Rouen Rouen, medieval house Rouen (pronounced in French, sometimes also ) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and presently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Map of the English Channel Satellite view of the English Channel The English Channel (French: La Manche (IPA: ), the sleeve) is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. ... Dieppe is the name of several places and events: Dieppe, France (pop. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

"Ghost/Phantom Division"

The 7th Panzer Division moved with great speed through France and covered vast distance. During the Battle of France, the 7th Panzer Division earned the name of the "Ghost/Phantom Division" because of this speed and because nobody seemed to know where it was, not even the German High Command. Rommel valued the importance of being with his men and commanded from the front line and would sometimes cut communications with High Command if not wishing to be disturbed, feeling it would be better to act first and explain everything later. Rommel was criticised by staff for being unable to contact and locate. Rommel described the French Campaign in his letters to his wife as "a lightning tour of France". Combatants France United Kingdom Canada Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Nazi Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R.H. Umberto di...

Sources

• http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen1.htm (Achtung Panzer)
• http://members.aol.com/kmitch87/rommel.htm