Erwin Rommel

**Erwin Rommel**, also known as the **Grey Fox**, is one of the highest-ranking officers of the German military, with the rank of Field Marshal. He served as field marshal in the Wehrmacht (Defense Force) of the German Empire.

He is also well known for specializing in Blitzkrieg tactics against the Nazis, which were highly effective during the German Civil War, earning his nickname **Grey Fox**,for being the one who leads the grey-uniformed Wehrmacht against the Nazis. Rommel was a highly decorated officer after the war and was awarded the Order of the Black Eagle in 1938 by Kaiser Wilhelm II himself.

After the war, he distinguished himself as the commander of multiple Panzer divisions around the Rhineland, solidifying his reputation as one of the ablest field marshals of the German Empire, rivaling Erich von Manstein and Heinz Guderian. He was later put in charge of the Tor Korps to go beyond the Gate of Two Worlds.

## History

### Background

Rommel was born in Heidenheim, the second of three sons of a Protestant headmaster of the secondary school at Aalen, Erwin Rommel the elder, and Helene von Luz, a daughter of a prominent local dignitary. The couple also had three more children, two sons, Karl and Gerhard, and a daughter, Helene. While at Cadet School, early in 1911, Erwin Rommel met his future wife, 17-year-old Lucia Maria Mollin. They married in 1916, and in 1928 had a son, Manfred.

### German Civil War

During the dawn of 1931, he was initially supportive of Hitler's rise to power. Hearing of Rommel's reputation as an outstanding military instructor, Hitler assigned Rommel as a tank commander of the 7th Panzer Division stationed near Hamburg in 1935. As years went on, he quickly became disillusioned with Hitler's power after bearing witness to the persecution of many races in Germany not being of "Aryan" descent and his speeches of bringing Germany to a world war, realizing that Hitler would be unstoppable if he was successful, and instead started to collaborate with other Wehrmacht generals an assassination of Hitler. The assassination never happened, but they did manage to turn other generals of the Wehrmacht against the Nazi leadership west of Germany.

During the German Civil War, Rommel turned his tank division on the Nazis, which was said to have infuriated Hitler, and quickly led a Blitzkrieg on Nazi positions, striking hard into the heart of Germany. While serving with that unit, he gained a reputation for making quick tactical decisions and taking advantage of enemy confusion. During the war, he met a young soldier named Werner Goldberg, who became a local hero for turning an entire garrison of Wehrmacht against the Nazis, and quickly took him under his arm as an officer. In 1937, Rommel along with Heinz Guderian's army led the final battle in Berlin.

After the war, he swore loyalty to Kaiser Wilhelm II and received the Order of the Black Eagle for the part he played in the conflict, becoming a Field Marshal later.

## Personality

Many who served under him described Rommel as having a reputation of being a chivalrous, humane, and professional officer fiercely loyal to the German Empire, who his mind shifted to when seeing the cruelty of the Nazis. After the man Civil War, Rommel was dedicated to building up the honor in the German Army that was lost after the Great War and the Nazi reign over Germany.

Despite commanding great respect, it can be agreed that he was oblivious to people within his own ranks. Despite many warnings from Lieutenant Colonel Werner, his loyalty to the German Empire allowed Colonel Helga to remain in the Tor Korps after she was assigned to him, following orders without question. After stopping Werner from shooting Helga in the back, he cited that the Waffen-SS within Helga's ranks would destroy both his and Werner's army, indicating fear. This fear likely stemmed from the fact he fought against the SS and witnessed their capacity for cruelty, which was referenced to involve mass killings.