"The Treaty of Versailles and the agreements made by the Weimar government meant that Germany's army would be greatly reduced. Allowed to maintain an army of only 100,000, Germany would now need far fewer officers--only 4,000 would have a status in the "troop office." Rommel, without social connections or an aristocratic background, was chosen for his distinction of service, and for having earned the Pour le Merite. Still, Searle says, Rommel "squeeze[ed] through the selection process."