\documentclass[11pt,a4paper,ngerman]{article}
\usepackage{fixltx2e}%% the official fixes for LaTeX2e
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[latin1]{inputenc}
\usepackage[]{amsmath}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{colortbl}
\makeatletter
\usepackage{eso-pic,graphicx}
% `rose.eps' is in CTAN: macros/generic/boxedeps/-------------
\newcommand\BackgroundPicture[2]{%
   \setlength{\unitlength}{1pt}% default
   \put(0,\strip@pt\paperheight){%
     \parbox[t][\paperheight]{\paperwidth}{%       
       \vfill
       \centering\includegraphics[angle=#2]{#1}
       \vfill
     }}}  
\makeatother
%\AddToShipoutPicture{\BackgroundPicture{rose}{45}}
%-----------------------------------------------
%\usepackage[ps2pdf,pdfauthor={Herbert Voss},pdftitle={Backgroundimage},urlcolor=blue,linktocpage,a4paper,colorlinks=true]{hyperref}

\usepackage{babel}
\begin{document}
\AddToShipoutPicture{\BackgroundPicture{rose}{55}}
\title{A Background Image}
\author{Herbert Voß}
\maketitle
\tableofcontents{}


\section{The code}
Put in Latex preamble:
\begin{verbatim}
\makeatletter
\usepackage{eso-pic,graphicx}
% `rose.eps' is in CTAN: macros/generic/boxedeps/-------------
\newcommand\BackgroundPicture[2]{%
   \setlength{\unitlength}{1pt}% default
   \put(0,\strip@pt\paperheight){%
     \parbox[t][\paperheight]{\paperwidth}{%       
       \vfill
       \centering\includegraphics[angle=#2]{#1}
       \vfill
     }}}  
\makeatother
\end{verbatim}

and after the begin of the document:
\begin{verbatim}
\AddToShipoutPicture{\BackgroundPicture{rose}{55}}
\end{verbatim}

The classes \texttt{\small eso-pic} and \texttt{\small graphicx} are
often part of your local tex-installation , otherwise available at
CTAN.

With the command 

\medskip{}
\texttt{\small \textbackslash{}AddToShipoutPicture\{\textbackslash{}BackgroundPicture\{rose\}\{55\}\}}{\small \par}
\medskip{}

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.


\section{The arguments}

\begin{enumerate}
\item the first one is the name of the image with relative path
\item the second is the angle for the rotating of the image
\end{enumerate}

\section{Nonsense (only for test)}

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.\\


in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.

in LateX preamble or anywhere in the text an image is printed on the
actual page where this command is located and all following one. For
example: If you like a background picture beginning with the third
page, write the command just behind the \texttt{\small \textbackslash{}newpage}-command
or any other one, which is on page 3.
\end{document}