Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel

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Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-013-0064-35, Polen, Bormann, Hitler, Rommel, v. Reichenau

Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-124-0242-24, Mosel, Julius v. Bernuth, Erwin Rommel

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Erwin Rommel (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German general and military theorist. Popularly known as the Desert Fox, he served as field marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his actions on the Italian Front. In World War II, he distinguished himself as the commander of the 7th Panzer Division during the 1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African Campaign established his reputation as one of the most able tank commanders of the war, and earned him the respect of both his own troops and his enemies.

Early Life and Career

Erwin Rommel was born in Heidenheim, Germany, to a family with no military background. He joined the German Army in 1910 and served in World War I in various capacities, including as a lieutenant in the Alpenkorps on the Italian Front, where he earned the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military decoration at the time.

World War II

During World War II, Rommel achieved his greatest fame as the commander of the Afrika Korps, a German expeditionary force sent to aid the Italian forces in North Africa. His series of victories against the British in 1941–1942 earned him the nickname "Desert Fox." However, his fortunes reversed with the arrival of British General Bernard Montgomery and the defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein in late 1942, leading to the eventual retreat of Axis forces to Tunisia.

Rommel was then assigned to oversee the defenses of the Atlantic Wall, a series of coastal fortifications along the western coast of Europe intended to repel an anticipated Allied invasion. Despite his efforts, the Allies successfully landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944, in what is known as D-Day.

Involvement in the 20 July Plot

Rommel's involvement in the 20 July plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler remains a subject of debate among historians. While some evidence suggests that Rommel was sympathetic to the plotters, there is no conclusive proof that he actively participated in the plot. Following the plot's failure, Rommel was forced to commit suicide by taking a cyanide pill, a fate that Hitler reserved for those he considered traitors but wished to eliminate quietly.

Legacy

Rommel is remembered for his tactical genius, his chivalry towards enemy soldiers, and his role in the North African Campaign. His reputation for conducting a clean war and his involvement in the 20 July plot helped rehabilitate his image posthumously, making him a complex figure in the history of World War II.