aw . ▁Once ▁the ▁Polish ▁Camp aign ▁was ▁over , ▁and ▁after ▁a ▁spell ▁in ▁Germany , ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁he ▁was ▁given ▁command ▁of ▁II . ▁Battalion , ▁ 7 8 th ▁Motor ised ▁Art illery ▁Regiment . ▁It ▁was ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division , ▁commanded ▁by ▁General major ▁( major ▁general ) ▁Er win ▁R omm el , ▁and ▁performed ▁well ▁during ▁the ▁campaign ▁in ▁France . ▁Prom oted ▁to ▁Ober st le ut nant ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁he ▁was ▁on ▁occupation ▁duty ▁in ▁France ▁when ▁R omm el , ▁having ▁taken ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁A frika ▁Kor ps ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁arranged ▁his ▁transfer ▁to ▁North ▁Africa . ▁Here ▁C ras emann ▁was ▁appointed ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Motor ised ▁Art illery ▁Regiment . ▁ ▁C ras emann ' s ▁new ▁command ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁ 1 5 th ▁Pan zer ▁Division ▁and ▁with ▁it , ▁he ▁participated ▁in ▁the ▁significant ▁engag ements ▁in ▁North ▁Africa , ▁including ▁Operation ▁Cr us ader ▁and ▁the ▁batt les ▁around ▁Tob ru k . ▁Award ed ▁the ▁Knight ' s ▁Cross ▁of ▁the ▁Iron ▁Cross ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁for ▁his ▁leadership ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Motor ised ▁Art illery ▁Regiment , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁ober st ▁( col onel ) ▁early ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁When ▁the ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁