Early Life and Career
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, famously known as the Desert Fox, was born on November 15, 1891, in Heidenheim, Germany. He emerged as a prominent figure during World War II and gained widespread admiration both in his home country and among his enemies for his remarkable achievements as the commander of the Afrika Korps.
Rommel's family had no military background, but the allure of an army career attracted him. In 1910, he joined the 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet. Throughout World War I, Rommel showcased exceptional leadership skills, displaying a deep understanding of his men and extraordinary courage. Although advancing through the general staff was the conventional path for career advancement in the Prussian-German army, Rommel chose to remain in the infantry as a frontline officer. His dedication to teaching and his talent for military instruction led him to hold various positions at military academies.
In 1938, after Germany's annexation of Austria, Colonel Rommel assumed the role of commandant at the officers' school in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. It was at the beginning of World War II that he had the opportunity to prove his mettle as a commander when he took charge of the 7th Panzer Division in February 1940. Despite having no prior experience commanding armored units, Rommel quickly grasped the potential of mechanized and armored troops in offensive operations. His audacious raid on the French Channel coast in May 1940 showcased his boldness and strategic initiative.
Commander of the Afrika Korps
Less than a year later, in February 1941, Rommel was appointed as the commander of the German forces sent to aid the nearly defeated Italian army in Libya. The deserts of North Africa witnessed both Rommel's greatest triumphs and his ultimate defeat against a significantly superior enemy. Recognized by friends and foes alike as the Desert Fox due to his daring surprise attacks, Rommel established an impressive reputation in the North African theater of war. Acknowledging his extraordinary achievements, Hitler promoted Rommel to the rank of field marshal.
However, Rommel encountered challenges in sustaining his success. Hitler regarded North Africa as a mere sideshow, and despite Rommel's requests to withdraw his exhausted troops, he ordered an attack on Cairo and the Suez Canal in the summer of 1942. The British forces halted Rommel's German-Italian army at El-Alamein, just 60 miles (100 km) from Alexandria. During this time, Rommel gained immense popularity in the Arab world, where he was hailed as a "liberator" from British rule.
Meanwhile, the German propaganda machinery portrayed him as the invincible "people's marshal" (Volksmarschall). Nevertheless, the offensive against Egypt strained Rommel's resources, and by the end of October 1942, he suffered a decisive defeat in the Second Battle of El-Alamein, compelling him to retreat to the German bridgehead in Tunis. In March 1943, Hitler ordered his return to Germany.
Normandy and Conspiracy
In 1944, Rommel assumed responsibility for defending France's Channel coast against a potential Allied invasion. The master of mobile warfare, Rommel displayed his inventive spirit by constructing unique coastal defense works. Drawing from his experiences with Allied air interdiction in North Africa, Rommel believed that preventing the enemy from establishing a bridgehead was crucial to the successful defense of the beaches. He advocated for the placement of reserve forces immediately behind coastal defenses for effective counterattacks.
However, his superiors, particularly Gerd von Rundstedt, disagreed and favored a more traditional strategy of positioning reserves farther behind the front lines to maximize their potential range of movement once the invasion's location was known. This disagreement weakened the German defense and its organizations when the Normandy invasion finally took place.\
At some point in 1944, Rommel's confidence in Germany's prospects in the war wavered, as did his faith in Hitler's ability to face reality and seek peace with the Western powers. In the spring of 1944, Rommel's acquaintances who were involved in the underground resistance against Hitler approached him, suggesting that he should assume leadership after the overthrow of Hitler. Rommel did not reject the idea, but the conspirators never disclosed their plan to assassinate Hitler, knowing Rommel's opposition to political murder. Rommel consistently defied execution orders issued by Hitler. As the invasion unfolded, Rommel made several attempts to convince Hitler of the impending defeat and urged him to negotiate with the Western powers.
On July 17, 1944, during the intense battle of the invasion, British fighter-bombers attacked Rommel's car, forcing it off the road and causing him severe head injuries. By August, Rommel had sufficiently recovered to return home and recuperate. However, his association with the conspirators became known following the failed attempt on Hitler's life on July 20, 1944 (known as the July Plot).
Fearing the "people's marshal" appearing as an enemy in court and potentially being executed, Hitler dispatched two generals to Rommel. They offered him poison, assuring him that his name and the reputation of his family would remain untarnished if he avoided trial. On October 14, Rommel chose to end his life by taking the poison. He was later buried with full military honors.
Erwin Rommel's military career, marked by his strategic brilliance and daring tactics, left an indelible legacy. As the Desert Fox, he will always be remembered as one of the most remarkable commanders of World War II.
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