Herrlingen

**Herrlingen** is a scenario in *Panzer Corps 2*.

## Briefings

As you stand before the distinctive looking home characterized by a very steep angled roof, you reflect on the circumstances that brought you to this place.

In the weeks following the attempted assassination of German High Command, a whirlwind of investigations across all branches of the German military were launched.

Field Marshal von Manstein, recently removed from Command of Army Group South, was considered a prime suspect, due to the very recent timing of his dismissal.

But an exhaustive investigation revealed he took no part in the planning or execution of the June Plot.

His righteous indignation with the whole affair made headlines in all the German newspapers: "Prussian Field Marshals do not mutiny!"

Practically all Eastern Front Commands, including your own, were absolved of involvement with the June Plot.

But the same could not be said for a multitude of Western Front Commands. The questioning and investigation of many of these German officers revealed a deep conspiracy; one that reached very high up the Chain of Command. All the way to Field Marshal Rommel.

Oberst Wagner clears his throat loudly, to get your attention.

I sense your hesitation, mein General. If it will ease your mind, I will do most of the talking with Rommel.

There is also something I have not told you. I apologize that I could not explain to you earlier what is about to happen, but you must believe me, it was for your own protection.

But before all is revealed, I must ask the Field Marshal...

Oberst Wagner politely knocks on the door. It is quickly opened by a young boy, Manfred Rommel, who lets you both inside of the Rommel household.

Rommel's son leads you to the room where his father is waiting. You find the Desert Fox pacing anxiously by a table, fidgeting with his Field Marshal's baton. There is a look of shock on his face, but he says nothing as he waits for his son to leave the room.

What is this? I was told to expect Generals Burgdorf and Maisel! I know your face Oberst, but I cannot recall your name. Why are you here?

I am Oberst Stefan Wagner accompanying General %playername%, we have...

I remember now, we served together. In France. In 1940.

Yes, sir. I'm sorry that our reunion is under these circumstances.

Rommel nervously grips his Field Marshal's baton.

What circumstances are those exactly?

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, after an investigation by the Court of Military Honor, you have been found guilty of conspiring to assassinate German High Command.

Rommel winces visibly, but Oberst Wagner gives him no time to speak.

As you know by now, many of your fellow conspirators have already been publicly shamed and put to death. General Burgdorf was originally being sent here as a courtesy to you, sir.

Rommel scoffs.

A courtesy? What could that possibly be?

Given your illustrious career, and popularity among all German people, there is an offer to spare you the fate of your co-conspirators.

And what exactly is this offer so graciously given to me?

I have with me some cyanide capsules. If you were to take them, you would be remembered as a hero who died of his injuries on the field of hon...

You are a fool, little Oberst. You offer to spare me from execution, by offering suicide? Death is death, how can you, of all people, not know the difference?

If you do not accept the cyanide, your family will never see your payment pensions. They will be arrested and charged with harboring treasonous individuals. Your staff officers will also be arrested, followed by swift execution. Your legacy will be one of disgrace, and all of Germany will be harmed by your revealed betrayal.

How dare you... you come into my home and threaten my family like this, why...

Wagner quickly interrupts Rommel.Why? You ask why?

Yes, I...

YOU ARE A TRAITOR!

You are a traitor, sir.

Rommel hangs his head and exhales deeply.

You are wrong, Herr Oberst. I am no traitor.

Then tell us. You, who once commanded the personal bodyguard to High Command. How is your support of those who would assassinate High Command not treasonous?

Rommel pauses, collecting his thoughts.

He then fixes a steely gaze upon Oberst Wagner.

I would never betray Germany. I would lay my life down for Germany, and if my quiet suicide will spare my family and the German people from the shame of my trial and execution... then I accept it.

But I tell you now, High Command is not Germany. And the decisions of High Command have cost the lives of too many Germans. We have righted the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles as early as 1940! Many times, we could have made deals for peace. Many times, our war has only grown and consumed more lives.

The conspirators believed we could have made peace with the Western Allies. Surely they would allow us to hold our Eastern Front, if we agreed to relinquish control of occupied areas in the North, West, and South?

Why should we have evacuated our occupations? We have defeated the Allied invasion at Normandy the very same month you launched your attempted coup!

We had no idea exactly when an Allied invasion would come, only that it was coming. We were hoping to preempt such an event, to make peace before such an invasion was launched! That we were able to repel such an invasion seemed utterly unlikely, and I can just imagine how differently things would be right now if the British and the Americans were sweeping across France.

And now that we have this victory, we could easily broker peace from a position of ultimate strength! But High Command refuses all ideas of peace, he only demands more V weapons be launched at the Western Allies as they lick their wounds on the other side of the English Channel.

So you are wrong, little Oberst. You are wrong. I am no traitor to Germany. I have fought two wars and dozens of battles for Germany, and not once against. I am only a traitor to High Command. I accept my guilt, and the consequences of it.

I understand.

Well, where is your poison?

I have something to say, before that. To you and to General %playername%. You are aware of the trucks that are guarding the town exits?

I know they are non-Wehrmacht troops, probably there in case I was foolish enough to try and run. As if I had somewhere to run, or would abandon my family to save myself.

In one of those trucks, I have a body.

Is it General Burgdorf? Is that why he isn't here? But then why would you still tell me to kill myself?

Generals Burgdorf and Maisel are both alive, if currently unwell. I just arranged for them to have... terrible stomach aches. Courtesy of some expired Soviet rations mixed into their breakfasts.

General %playername%, what is going on?

General %playername% has no knowledge of this, I have acted on my own volition. The body in that truck is Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

I do not understand, and I am not amused.

A body double.

He looks remarkably like you. Everyone told him that, that he was our own 'Desert Fox' on the Eastern Front.

But then he died, fighting in the Caucasus.

Rommel says nothing, for once at a loss for words.

There are those that agree with you, Herr Field Marshal. But we do not agree with your methods. Had your plan succeeded, it would only have brought civil war to Germany, as High Command's fanatics would venerate him as a martyr struck down by the same sort of traitorous elements that sabotaged Germany's homefront in 1918.

After all the losses we have suffered, and then the dismissal of some of our best leaders...

We are not winning the War in the East.

Our victory in the Caucasus has only allowed us to continue the fight, but we are no closer to actually winning.

You have tried your methods... and you have failed. So, I offer this chance to you: come help us try our methods to win this war. We need your military genius on the Eastern Front.

I cannot be dead and leading troops on the Eastern Front at the same time, Herr Oberst.

Erwin Rommel will be dead, his body delivered to General Burgdorf as soon as we leave today. Your new identity will allow you to serve with us, for as long as is needed to finish this fight. After that is over... well, we'll deal with that eventuality if we live to see it.

Rommel pauses for a long while, thinking about everything he has just been told.

And my family? They will think I am dead?

Anyone who doesn't need to know this secret cannot know this secret.

What choices I have today! Death by shameful trial, death that is a lie, or to continue to live and serve Germany.

The answer is obvious, I will continue to serve. Just... give me a moment with my family, before we go.

Of course, Herr Field Marshal.

And Oberst?

Yes, Herr Field Marshal?

You are a real son of a bitch... thank you.

### Debriefing

I apologize for not telling you of my plan in advance, mein General.

Given the general atmosphere lately with all of the investigations going on, I thought it best for you not to know, for your own protection.

Truthfully, I was not sure I was even going to reveal my plan at all today. I may have just disposed of the body I prepared as a double.

After the years of fighting we have been through, it is unfathomable to me that one of our own could betray Germany. We cannot win by destroying ourselves; that is the goal of our enemies!

I needed to hear from Rommel himself what his rationale truly was. And what better time to ask him than now? If there ever is a time to clear one's conscience, it is when staring death in the face.

When he explained why he supported the conspirators and then accepted his death to prevent the damage a public trial would have inflicted, I knew I was right to prepare the body double.

And now that you know, it will be both of our heads if the wrong people learn what has transpired today. For that, I am truly sorry. As I said, I kept you in the dark as long as possible for your own protection.

I've made all the arrangements for Rommel to be attached to our command. Also, we should probably never say that name again. From now on, he is Oberstleutnant Frederick Fuchs. Perhaps not the most original name I could have come up with for the Desert Fox... but I have always been a fan of hiding things in plain sight to ward off unwanted attention.

I'll handle the transfer of the body to General Burgdorf once he is done soiling his pants. I assure you that certification of the body will pass all but the most invasive inspection, and I'm certain they don't dare do that to what they think is Rommel's body, especially since they have planned an elaborate ceremony to honor him as a fallen soldier of the Reich.

I will never say I ever relish returning to the Eastern Front, but I think this cloak and dagger business is as close as I will ever come to that sentiment.

**Historically, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel would accept the offer to commit suicide. He made this decision to protect his family from reprisal and also to spare Germany from the scandal of seeing one its most popular Generals go on trial for treason.**

**He willingly sacrificed his own life, for the good of his family and the Germany he cared so much for.**

**But in this alternate history, Erwin Rommel would live on under the assumed identity of Frederick Fuchs. He makes this decision not to escape from his death, but instead so that he can continue to serve his homeland with his life.**

## Walkthrough

*This article is a stub. You can help Panzer Corps Wiki by expanding it.*

## Locations

* Blau River

* Herrlingen

* Herrlingen Rail Station

* Blau River

* Herrlingen

* Herrlingen Rail Station