Erwin Rommel (15 Nov. 1891 - 14 Oct. 1944)
Rommel served briefly in the Poland invasion as commander of the Führer’s escort headquarters. He later became commander of the 7th Panzer Division, leading during the invasion of France and the Low Countries. Because of its speed and swift assaults that caused the division to be out of range for communication, it became known as the “Ghost Division”. His military theory was to charge full on against enemy attack and shock the enemy to worsen their morale. It is believed this tactic prevented lengthy battles, thereby saving lives.
Rommel remained in Paris awaiting the commencement of Operation Sealion: the invasion of Britain. However, this never happened, and Rommel was promoted and sent to Libya as commander of the 5th Light Division (or Afrika Korps).
In March 1941, Rommel attacked British forces in what was meant to be a light offensive. However, due to British miscalculation and apprehensions, coupled with Rommel’s bravery and theory, the Germans quickly captured most of Cyrenaica and, by April 15th, capturing the whole of Libya. This upset the Italian commanders, as Rommel was supposed to follow their instructions, but could not communicate to Rommel to stop him.
He began a siege on Tobruk, the last outpost of British troops in Libya, in April, and it would last 240 days. Rommel requested reinforcements but was refused due to German preparation for Operation Barbarossa. His command was further weakened by the arrival of Friedrich Paulus. He would then set about establishing defences in light of no further assaults on Tobruk.
The British would counterattack in November 1941, forcing the German and Italians troops backward and relieving Tobruk, despite the best counterattacks of Rommel. By January Gazala was recaptured, and in April, with German supply routes fixed, Rommel launched another assault and in the Battle of Gazala Rommel captured over thirty thousand British troops. For this success, Rommel became a Field Marshal.
1942 would see Rommel push forces into Egypt, reaching El Alamein though with heavy losses and without enough force to push further forward. With British forces regaining control over the Mediterranean and destroying the supply lines to Rommel’s front line forces, he was unsuccessful at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and Rommel withdrew in November. The Allies forced him back to Tunisia and, with the involvement of the US in the war, Rommel assaulted the Americans at the Kasserine Pass to ensure his supply routes were not destroyed. Rommel would continue offensives until March, when on the 9th he left Africa for health reasons.
For his efforts in North Africa he would gain the nickname “Desert Fox”, and would become highly respected by his foes. Until July 1943 he was unemployed, but became commander of Army Group E defending the Greek coast against the British (which was a ploy by the Allies to divert attention). From here Rommel would move to Italy in August as commander of Army Group B defending northern Italy, until Kesselring became commander and Rommel was again moved, this time to Normandy to command Army Group B.
Arriving in Normandy he found that defensive fortifications were deplorable and began strengthening them, frequently touring in 1944. When D-Day began, Rommel was absent, leading to huge confusion in the German military. A counterattack began on 6th June, but the Allies had established a stable beachhead by that time, and despite the attempts of Rommel’s forces quickly extended it. He was injured in mid-July by an Allied fighter attack, and hospitalised.
Rommel’s last months would be down to his involvement in the July 20 plot to kill Hitler. Though Rommel did not agree with assassinating Hitler, he did believe the dictator should be removed from office. With the plot’s failure, and Rommel’s name being extracted from conspirators as a fellow conspirator. He was to be expelled from the army and prosecuted by a pseudo-court that would agree with the prosecution.
Hitler offered Rommel the chance to commit suicide, thereby allowing his family to be looked after by the state, and be given a state funeral. Or, he could be prosecuted, branded a traitor, summarily executed and have his family suffer meanwhile. He committed suicide via cyanide on 14 October 1944.
For more information on Erwin Rommel:
Fraser, David. Knight’s Cross: A Life of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (New York: HarperCollins), 1994.
Lewin, Ronald. Rommel as Military Commander (New York: Da Capo Pres), 1982.
Young, Desmond. Rommel the Desert Fox (New York: Harper &Row), 1950.
Rommel remained in Paris awaiting the commencement of Operation Sealion: the invasion of Britain. However, this never happened, and Rommel was promoted and sent to Libya as commander of the 5th Light Division (or Afrika Korps).
In March 1941, Rommel attacked British forces in what was meant to be a light offensive. However, due to British miscalculation and apprehensions, coupled with Rommel’s bravery and theory, the Germans quickly captured most of Cyrenaica and, by April 15th, capturing the whole of Libya. This upset the Italian commanders, as Rommel was supposed to follow their instructions, but could not communicate to Rommel to stop him.
He began a siege on Tobruk, the last outpost of British troops in Libya, in April, and it would last 240 days. Rommel requested reinforcements but was refused due to German preparation for Operation Barbarossa. His command was further weakened by the arrival of Friedrich Paulus. He would then set about establishing defences in light of no further assaults on Tobruk.
The British would counterattack in November 1941, forcing the German and Italians troops backward and relieving Tobruk, despite the best counterattacks of Rommel. By January Gazala was recaptured, and in April, with German supply routes fixed, Rommel launched another assault and in the Battle of Gazala Rommel captured over thirty thousand British troops. For this success, Rommel became a Field Marshal.
1942 would see Rommel push forces into Egypt, reaching El Alamein though with heavy losses and without enough force to push further forward. With British forces regaining control over the Mediterranean and destroying the supply lines to Rommel’s front line forces, he was unsuccessful at the Second Battle of El Alamein, and Rommel withdrew in November. The Allies forced him back to Tunisia and, with the involvement of the US in the war, Rommel assaulted the Americans at the Kasserine Pass to ensure his supply routes were not destroyed. Rommel would continue offensives until March, when on the 9th he left Africa for health reasons.
For his efforts in North Africa he would gain the nickname “Desert Fox”, and would become highly respected by his foes. Until July 1943 he was unemployed, but became commander of Army Group E defending the Greek coast against the British (which was a ploy by the Allies to divert attention). From here Rommel would move to Italy in August as commander of Army Group B defending northern Italy, until Kesselring became commander and Rommel was again moved, this time to Normandy to command Army Group B.
Arriving in Normandy he found that defensive fortifications were deplorable and began strengthening them, frequently touring in 1944. When D-Day began, Rommel was absent, leading to huge confusion in the German military. A counterattack began on 6th June, but the Allies had established a stable beachhead by that time, and despite the attempts of Rommel’s forces quickly extended it. He was injured in mid-July by an Allied fighter attack, and hospitalised.
Rommel’s last months would be down to his involvement in the July 20 plot to kill Hitler. Though Rommel did not agree with assassinating Hitler, he did believe the dictator should be removed from office. With the plot’s failure, and Rommel’s name being extracted from conspirators as a fellow conspirator. He was to be expelled from the army and prosecuted by a pseudo-court that would agree with the prosecution.
Hitler offered Rommel the chance to commit suicide, thereby allowing his family to be looked after by the state, and be given a state funeral. Or, he could be prosecuted, branded a traitor, summarily executed and have his family suffer meanwhile. He committed suicide via cyanide on 14 October 1944.
For more information on Erwin Rommel:
Fraser, David. Knight’s Cross: A Life of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (New York: HarperCollins), 1994.
Lewin, Ronald. Rommel as Military Commander (New York: Da Capo Pres), 1982.
Young, Desmond. Rommel the Desert Fox (New York: Harper &Row), 1950.