Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel was a highly skilled German military officer and one of the most renowned commanders of World War II. He gained fame for his tactical brilliance and leadership skills. Rommel is best known for his successful campaigns in North Africa, where he earned the nickname "Desert Fox." Despite his loyalty to Adolf Hitler, he was involved in the plot to assassinate the dictator and was forced to commit suicide to avoid trial and protect his family. Rommel's legacy as a military strategist and his contributions to the German military are widely recognized. Erwin Rommel was a German general and field marshal who rose to fame during World War II for his brilliant and daring operations in North Africa and France. He was widely respected by his enemies and admired by the German public for his military achievements and his personal charisma. He was also involved in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944, which led to his forced suicide by the Nazi regime. Rommel was born on November 15, 1891, in Heidenheim an der Brenz, a small town in southern Germany. His father was a teacher and a former artillery officer, and his mother was the daughter of a local official. Rommel showed an early interest in engineering and mathematics, but he also enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing. He joined the local cadet corps at the age of 14 and decided to pursue a military career. In 1910, Rommel entered the Officer Cadet School in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland) and graduated two years later as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as a platoon leader. He fought in World War I on various fronts, including France, Romania, and Italy. He distinguished himself for his courage, initiative, and leadership, earning several decorations, including the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor. He also wrote a book on infantry tactics based on his experiences, titled Infantry Attacks, which was published in 1937 and became a classic of military literature. After the war, Rommel remained in the army and held various staff and teaching positions. He also married Lucie Maria Mollin in 1916 and had a son, Manfred, in 1928. He became an instructor at the Infantry School in Dresden in 1929 and later at the War Academy in Berlin in 1935. He impressed Adolf Hitler with his lectures on tank warfare and was appointed as the commander of Hitler’s personal escort battalion in 1938. He accompanied Hitler during the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Poland in 1939. In 1940, Rommel was given command of the 7th Panzer Division for the invasion of France. He led his division with speed and aggression, breaking through enemy lines and advancing deep into French territory. He earned the nickname “the Ghost Division” for his unpredictable movements and the nickname “the Desert Fox” for his cunning and skill. He was promoted to lieutenant general and awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for his role in the campaign. In February 1941, Rommel was sent to North Africa to lead the German Afrika Korps, which was sent to aid the Italian forces fighting against the British. He soon established himself as a formidable opponent for the British commanders, such as Archibald Wavell, Claude Auchinleck, and Bernard Montgomery. He won several battles, such as Gazala, Tobruk, and El Alamein, but he also faced supply shortages, logistical problems, and superior enemy air power. He was promoted to field marshal in June 1942 and awarded the Oak Leaves with Swords to his Knight’s Cross.