Editing Erwin Rommel (section)

=== Poland 1939 ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-013-0064-35, Polen, Bormann, Hitler, Rommel, v. Reichenau.jpg|thumb|Hitler in Poland (September 1939). Rommel is on his left and [[Martin Bormann]] on his right.]]

Rommel was promoted to ''[[Generalmajor]]'' on 23 August 1939 and assigned as commander of the ''[[Führerbegleitbrigade|Führerbegleitbatallion]]'', tasked with guarding Hitler and his field headquarters during the [[invasion of Poland]], which began on 1 September.{{sfn|Butler|2015|p=144}} According to Remy, Rommel's private letters at this time show that he did not understand Hitler's true nature and intentions, as he quickly went from predicting a swift peaceful settlement of tensions to approving Hitler's reaction ("bombs will be retaliated with bombs") to the [[Gleiwitz incident]] (a false flag operation staged by Hitler and used as a pretext for the invasion).{{sfn|Remy|2002|pp=42–44}} Hitler took a personal interest in the campaign, often moving close to the front in the ''[[Führersonderzug]]'' (headquarters train).{{sfn|Butler|2015|p=146}} Rommel attended Hitler's daily war briefings and accompanied him everywhere, making use of the opportunity to observe first-hand the use of tanks and other motorised units.{{sfn|Fraser|1993|p=141}} On 26 September Rommel returned to Berlin to set up a new headquarters for his unit in the [[Reich Chancellery]].{{sfn|Fraser|1993|pp=146, 149}} Rommel briefly returned to occupied Warsaw on 5 October in order to prepare for the German victory parade.{{sfn|Messenger|2009|p=34}} In a letter to his wife he claimed that the occupation by Nazi Germany was "probably welcomed with relief" by the inhabitants of the ruined city and that they were "rescued".{{sfn|Searle|2014|p=24}}{{sfn|Maier|2013|p=49}}