“The Desert Fox” commits suicide - Oct 14, 1944 - HISTORY.com “The Desert Fox” commits suicide Share this: “The Desert Fox” commits suicide Author “The Desert Fox” commits suicide URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1944, German Gen. Erwin Rommel, nicknamed “the Desert Fox,” is given the option of facing a public trial for treason, as a co-conspirator in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, or taking cyanide. He chooses the latter. Rommel was born in 1891 in Wurttenberg, Germany, the son of a teacher. Although not descended from military men, the newly unified German empire made it fashionable to choose a military career, which young Rommel did, becoming an officer cadet. During World War I, he showed himself to be a natural leader with unnatural courage, fighting in France, Romania, and Italy. Following the war, he pursued a teaching career in German military academies, writing a textbook, Infantry Attacks, that was well regarded.

At the outbreak of World War II, Rommel was given command of the troops that guarded Hitler’s headquarters, a disappointment for a man used to fighting on the front lines with the infantry. But in early 1940, he was given his chance to put to use his gifts, when he was given command of the 7th Panzer Division. Although a novice as far as mechanized forces were concerned, he soon mastered the advantages and proved his leadership abilities again in the German offensive against the French channel coast in May. In early 1941, Rommel was given control of the troops sent to North Africa to aid Germany’s ailing ally, Italy, in maintaining its position in Libya. It is here, in the deserts of North Africa, that Rommel earned his vaunted reputation, as well as his nickname (he became known for his “fox-like” sneak attacks). Winning significant victories against the British, whom he begrudgingly admired, Rommel nevertheless became weary of this theater of operations; he wanted to go back to Europe. It wasn’t until a second battle to take el-Alamein in Egypt went against him that the “invincible” general was finally called home back to Europe.

Hitler put Rommel back in northern France, to guard against an Allied invasion. Rommel’s suggestions for the precautions necessary to repel an enemy invasion were not heeded, and he began to lose confidence in Hitler and Germany’s ability to win the war. When Rommel was approached by friends to agree to head the German government in the event of Hitler’s overthrow, he agreed-although there was no explicit talk of assassination, which he found abhorrent. D-Day was launched, and Rommel’s prediction of disaster for Germany’s position played itself out. Still, Hitler would not consider negotiations with the Allies. Rommel ended up in the hospital after his car was attacked by British bombers and he was forced off the road. Meanwhile, details of the failed assassination plot had come to Hitler’s attention, including Rommel’s contact with the conspirators. As Rommel was convalescing in his home at Herrlingen, two generals visited and offered him his choice-trial or suicide. Rommel told his wife and son what had transpired, and that he had chosen to take the cyanide capsules the generals had provided. The German government gave Rommel a state funeral. His death was attributed to war wounds.

Related Videos Erwin Rommel - History Learning Site Erwin Rommel Citation: C N Trueman "Erwin Rommel" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 20 Apr 2015. 16 Aug 2016. Erwin Rommel was one of Germany’s most respected military leaders in World War Two. Rommel played a part in two very significant battles during the war – at El Alamein in North Africa and at D-Day. Rommel’s nickname was the ‘Desert Fox’ – a title given to him by the British. Rommel studying maps during the battle at El Alamein Rommel was born in 1891 in Heidenheim. During World War One, he distinguished himself in the German Third Army and he was decorated for his bravery and leadership. After the war, Rommel remained as an infantry officer and instructor. His chance for real military power came when Hitler, appointed chancellor in 1933, recognised his ability. By 1938, Rommel was a senior military figure in the Wehrmacht.

His success in the campaigns of 1939 and especially the successful attack on Western Europe in 1940, lead to Hitler appointing him commander of the Afrika Corps in 1941. It was in the deserts of North Africa that Rommel found real success. The nickname ‘Desert Fox’ was well deserved. Rommel was highly respected even by the British. Auchinleck, Rommel’s opposite until his sacking by Churchill, sent a memo to his senior commanders in North Africa, to state that it was their responsibility to ensure that their men thought less of Rommel as a ‘super military leader’ and more of him as a normal German commander. “…(you must) dispel by all possible means the idea that Rommel represents anything other than the ordinary German general……….PS, I’m not jealous of Rommel.” Auchinleck Rommel’s fame in the desert rests on his success as a leader and also his uncompromising belief that all prisoners of war should be well looked after and not abused. One story told at the time was that Italian troops took from British POWs’ their watches and other valuables.

When Rommel found out, he ordered that they be returned to their owners immediately. To many British ‘Desert Rats’, Rommel epitomised a gentleman’s approach to a deadly issue – war. Rommel knew that his options at the vital battles at El Alamein were limited. Montgomery, who succeeded the dismissed Auchinleck, had the advantage of Bletchley Park feeding him the battle plan Rommel was going to use. Rommel was also seriously starved of the fuel he needed for his attack on Montgomery’s ‘Desert Rats’. The second battle at El Alamein was a very fluid battle but the sheer weight of supplies that Montgomery had access to (amongst other equipment were 300 new Sherman tanks) meant defeat for Rommel. The defeat of the Afrika Corps was the first major setback for Hitler and the Wehrmacht. Hitler ordered Rommel to fight to the last man and the last bullet. Rommel had far too much respect for his men to obey this command and retreated. The Germans left North Africa in May 1943. Despite this refusal to obey Hitler’s command, Rommel did not lose favour with Hitler.

In February 1944, Rommel was appointed by Hitler to be commander of the defences of the Atlantic Wall. Rommel’s brief was to ensure that Western Europe was impregnable. He took full responsibility for the Northern French coastline. The beaches at Normandy were littered with his anti-tank traps which were invisible at full-tide. As it was, the planning at D-Day meant that Rommel’s defences were of little problem to the vast Allied attack. At the time of D-Day, Rommel commanded the important Army Group B. On July 17th 1944, Rommel was wounded in an attack on his car by Allied fighter planes. The attack took place near St. Lo. Rommel was implicated in the July 1944 Bomb Plot against Hitler and the Gestapo was keen to interview this famous military commander. Hitler was keen to avoid the public show trial of his most famous general and it seems that a ‘deal’ was done. Rommel died ‘of his wounds’ on October 14th 1944. He was given a state funeral.

But it seems that he committed suicide to a) save himself from a humiliating show trial and b) it seems that Hitler promised that his family would not be punished for Rommel’s indiscretions if he died ‘of his wounds’. What impact Rommel would have had on the Allies drive to Germany after D-Day is difficult to speculate. However, the sheer odds against the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe post-June 1944 were such that this famous commander would have been unable to hinder the Allies progress. “He was a daring and much-admired general, his personality and his fate creating an enduring legend denied to many orthodox, and ultimately more successful, commanders.” Alan Palmer Rommel family fury at film that portrays 'Desert Fox' as a war criminal, upstart and Hitler's pet | Daily Mail Online Rommel family fury at film that portrays 'Desert Fox' as a war criminal, upstart and Hitler's pet comments A new TV film that tarnishes the 'Good Nazi' image of wartime general Erwin Rommel has drawn withering criticism from members of his family... before a scene has even been broadcast.

In a letter written to the producers of Rommel, 82-year-old Dr Manfred Rommel - son of the field marshal - has branded the film 'lies'. The family is particularly offended by suggestions in the film that Rommel was not the decent military commander that many historians have held him to be since the end of World War Two. Desert Fox: An undated photo shows Erwin Rommel in the African desert. His tactics led to admiration on both sides of the conflict, but a new film now questions his reputation Instead, Dr Rommel's letter accuses a teaser campaign for the film of portraying his father as a teacher's pet of Hitler, 'an upstart and a Nazi war criminal'. But the producers, ARD-Films, replied to the published letter by saying: 'The screenplay is based on months of research, with the support of leading historians. We have gathered all the recent significant research findings on Rommel.' The director, Niki Stein, told German magazine Der Spiegel that - quite apart from turning him into a monster - the film attempted to portray Rommel as the same as a generation of wartime Germans, 'who realise only gradually and too late that the person they have served with such passion is a criminal'.

Rommel would be played by German actor Ulrich Tukur in the film. Deeply offended: Dr Manfred Rommel, pictured above left in 2002, has voiced his fury at a film about his father, starring Ulrich Tukur as the Desert Fox The charismatic and tactically brilliant commander of Germany's Afrika Korps in World War II, Rommel became a household name in Germany for his initial victories against the British in North Africa. Indeed, Rommel was a favourite of Hitler, but 'The Desert Fox' - as he was nicknamed by the Allies - also earned the admiration of Winston Churchill, who called him a 'great general'. He was also begrudgingly respected by his opposite number in the desert, General Bernard Montgomery, who eventually managed to defeat the Afrika Korps at El-Alamein in 1942. Top 10 famous Generals of World War 2 – TopYaps Share On Facbook Share on Twitter During the historical timeline of World War 2, we witnessed Generals either leading their boys to a top-notch position or sending them to a straightforward downfall.

TopYaps lists top 10 famous Generals of World War 2 who earned more and more notability with each victory. These historical icons will be always remembered for playing an instrumental role in warfare as well as for demonstrating extreme level of fearlessness. 10. Isoroku Yamamoto: Best known for being the mastermind behind the Pearl Harbor attack, Isoroku Yamamoto was an eminent Naval Marshal General of Japan who introduced some radical changes in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Born on April 4, 1884, in Niigata, Japan, Isoroku Yamamoto completed his graduation from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904 and was also enrolled in Harvard University where he studied from 1919 to 1921. He died on April 18, 1943, when his aircraft crashed in an ambush by American fighter planes . 9.

Erich von Manstein: Considered as one of the best military strategists in history of Germany, Erich von Manstein attained the rank of Field Marshal during the World War 2 where in his successful leadership, German armed forces achieved victory in the battles of Sevastopol, Kerch, Perekop Isthmus and Kharkov. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, he was arrested by British troops on August 23, 1945. After finishing his imprisonment in 1953, he joined the West German Government as a military advisor. As a historical investigator, he wrote a book – Verlorene Siege (Lost Victories), depicting his own experiences and ideas as they appeared during the 1930s and 1940s. 8. Omar Bradley: Widely known for his polite and courteous nature, Omar Bradely was a notable American General of World War 2 who significantly contributed in Normandy Landing as well as in the Battle of Bulge. From childhood, he had a great passion in baseball, books and shooting. In mainstream American media, Omar Bradely has been characterized as a gentleman General who never demonstrated his power and authoritative abilities on officers and soldiers working under his leadership.

He departed our dimension on April 8, 1991, in New York City. 7. Henry Arnold: Born to a prominent family of Pennsylvania, Henry H. Arnold is widely known for holding the ranks of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force . One of the first military pilots worldwide, Arnold, till the date, is the only Air Force General to hold five-star rank on uniform. In his outstanding leadership, United States Air Force achieved some remarkable victories against the axis forces. 6. Georgy Zhukov: One of the most celebrated General in the history of Russian Empire , Soviet Union and the Russian federation, George Zhukov played a crucial role in leading the Red Army during the World War 2 and conquering Germany’s capital, Berlin. He was born on December 1, 1896, in a poor family and later went to Moscow to work as a cloakmaker. Notable for depicting the “never give up” attitude, General Zhukov is still remembered for his stringency, tough discipline and detailed planning. 5.

Bernard Montgomery: Best known by his nickname “Spartan General,” Bernard Montgomery was an eminent officer of British Army, who just not only participated in the World War 1, but also played a significant role in World War 2, ensuring the victory of his 8th Army against the Allies in 1942. General Montgomery was the person, who, on May 4, 1945, accepted the surrender of German forces at Luneburg Heath. Winner of several prestigious awards , Montgomery took his last breath on March 24, 1976, at his home in Hampshire. 4. Douglas MacArthur: Douglas MacArthur was a notable warrior who played a striking role in Pacific War during the World war 2 which further climaxed in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing, thus compelling Japan to surrender. For his outstanding service in Philippines Campaign, General MacArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor. Apart from serving as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he had also served as the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government of Philippines. 3. Dwight D. Eisenhower: An essential cornerstone of the World war 2, General D.

Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, who played a major role in washing away the Nazi Germany. After the end of World War 2, he was elected as the first supreme commander of NATO and later became the 34th President of the United States of America . After living a prestigious and esteemed life, this prominent figure of war and politics finally departed to heaven on March 28, 1969. 2. Erwin Rommel: Respected by both his own troops and opponents for being a generous officer, Erwin Rommel was a German Field Marshal during World War 2 who commanded the German forces fighting against the Allied Forces during Normandy invasion. Counted among one of the most experienced commanders of desert warfare , General Rommel was popularly known by his nickname “Desert Fox”. Throughout service, he was never accused of war crimes, and furthermore, he was against to kill captured soldiers or civilians. 1. George S. Patton: And here comes the most brilliant General of of World War 2.

A man of colorful characteristics and a master of an unexplained brand of eloquence, General Patton was widely known for his fearless, unorthodox and cheering image among his friends as well as in vast list of enemies. Under his skilled leadership, the U.S. Third Army captured enemies and emancipated territories in less time than any other army in military history. Nicknamed “the crazy cowboy general” by Adolf Hitler , General Patton has been also portrayed in an epic Academy Award winning movie “Patton“. “The Desert Fox” recaptures Libya - Apr 02, 1941 - HISTORY.com “The Desert Fox” recaptures Libya Share this: “The Desert Fox” recaptures Libya Author “The Desert Fox” recaptures Libya URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1941, German Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, “the Desert Fox,” resumes his advance into Cyrenaica, modern-day Libya, signaling the beginning of what nine days later will become the recapture of Libya by the Axis forces.

Early Italian successes in East Africa, which included occupying parts of Sudan, Kenya, and British Somaliland, were soon reversed after British offensives, led by British Field Marshall Archibald Wavell, resulted in heavy Italian casualties and forced the Italians to retreat into Libya. But Axis control of the area was salvaged by the appearance of Rommel and the Afrika Korps, sent to East Africa by the German High Command to bail their Italian ally out. On the verge of capturing Tripoli, the Libyan capital, Britain’s forces were suddenly depleted when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill transferred British troops to Greece. Seizing the opportunity of a weakened British force, Rommel struck quickly, despite orders to remain still for two months. With 50 tanks and two fresh Italian divisions, Rommel forced the British to begin a retreat into Egypt. Operation Battleaxe, the counteroffensive by British Field Marshall Archibald Wavell, resulted in little more than the loss of large numbers of British tanks to German 88mm anti-tank guns, as well as Wavell’s ultimately being transferred from North Africa to India.

Rommel, known for his trademark goggles, which he pilfered from a British general’s command vehicle, may have had some help in defeating his British counterpart. He was known to carry with him a book called Generals and Generalship, written by Archibald Wavell. Rommel was portrayed by James Mason in the 1953 film The Desert Rats and by Christopher Plummer in 1967’s Night of the Generals. Wavell was portrayed by Patrick Magee in the 1981 TV movie Churchill and the Generals. Related Videos The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel ( 1951 ) Approved | The story of the final years of the respected World War II German general, Erwin Rommel.

Director: Nunnally Johnson (screenplay), Desmond Young (biography) (as Brigadier Desmond Young M.C.) Stars: Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence. a list of 40 titles created 17 Aug 2013 a list of 44 titles created 28 Jan 2014 a list of 27 titles created 01 Jul 2015 a list of 24 titles created 3 months ago a list of 38 titles created 2 weeks ago Title: The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) 7/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Richard Burton plays a Scottish Army officer put in charge of a disparate band of ANZAC troops on the perimeter of Tobruk with the German Army doing their best to dislodge them.

Director: Robert Wise In 1942 Libya, a German-speaking British Intelligence officer uses former British POWs, some dressed in German uniforms, to fulfill a secret sabotage mission inside German-captured Tobruk. Director: Henry Hathaway The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship. Director: Lewis Gilbert During World War II, an American destroyer meets a German U-Boat. Both captains are experts, and so begins a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Director: Dick Powell A Canadian POW major is rescued by a special British military unit made up of Germans to help lead an attack on a major Nazi fuel depot in Tobruk, Libya. Director: Arthur Hiller An American POW leads a group of mainly British prisoners to escape from the Germans in WWII. Director: Mark Robson A dramatization of Nazi Germany's final Western Front counterattack of World War II. Director: Ken Annakin During WW2, German ships are "safely" docked upriver at Bordeaux, but the British send a team of kayakers to attack them. Director: José Ferrer The story of the final seven months in the life of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

Director: Niki Stein The attack by British submarines on the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord during the Second World War. Director: Ralph Thomas One of WWIIs bloodiest battles as the Allies smash through the German lines which have enclosed the Anzio beachhead. Four months and 30,000 casualties before the Allies finally march to Rome. Directors: Edward Dmytryk, Duilio Coletti Stars: Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, Robert Ryan As the Allied armies close in, the Germans decide to blow up the last Rhine bridge, trapping their own men on the wrong side. But will it happen? Director: John Guillermin Edit Storyline This biopic follows Rommel's career after the Afrika Korps, including his work on the defenses of Fortress Europe as well as his part in the assassination attempt on Hitler, and his subsequent suicide. Written by Alfred Jingle 17 October 1951 (USA) See more » Also Known As: The Desert Fox See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know?

Trivia 'The Hollywood Reporter' announced in April 1951 that actor George Pembroke would be appearing in this movie but he does not appear in this film's cast credits. See more » Goofs During the naval bombardment prior to the D-Day landings, one of the ships shown shooting is HMS Repulse, which was sunk in December of 1941, two and a half years before D-Day. See more » Quotes Field Marshal Gerd von Runstedt : I tell you this in confidence, Rommel: I don't think anything we can do would be of the slightest use. The pattern for defeat has already been set. "Hold fast. Don't give up a millimeter of ground. Victory or death." Wars simply can't be won by men whose knowledge of tactics is based on copybook maxims. They may stir schoolchildren, but they don't stop troops. But give me a free hand for a few months and I'd make them pay for it. I'd make them pay such a price in blood they'd wish they'd never ...

The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) for Rent on DVD - DVD Netflix The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel 1951 NR Rated NR 1hr 31m This classic World War II drama chronicles the life of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (nicknamed the Desert Fox), focusing on his military career in North Africa, his connection to a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler and his lonely demise. Rent DVDs for only $4.99 a month. Erwin Rommel Erwin Rommel The Desert Fox / Der Wustenfuchs (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) Erwin Rommel 1891-1933 Erwin Rommel was born on November 15th of 1891 in Heidenheim an der Brentz near Ulm in the state of Wurttemberg. His father was a schoolteacher and his mother was a daughter of a former president of the government of Wurttemberg.

Rommel planned to be an engineer but joined the army in July of 1910.He enlisted with his local infantry regiment, the 124th (6th Wurttemberg) Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet. After three months, Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Corporal and after six to Sergeant. In March of 1911, he went to the officers’ military school in Danzig (Gdansk). In January of 1912,Rommel was commissioned and returned to his regiment in Weingarten. While he was in Danzig, Erwin Rommel met and fell in love with Lucie Maria Mollin and they became formally engaged in 1915 and both were married in 1916. On Christmas Eve of 1928, their only child, Manfred was born. Since 1912, until the outbreak of World War I, Erwin Rommel served as regimental officer in charge of recruiting at Weingarten. On August 2nd of 1914, Rommel’s regiment marched out to war and Rommel joined them few days later because he had to stay behind in Weingarten.

Since the beginning of his military career, Erwin Rommel showed signs of bravery while attacking the enemy against the odds. In September of 1914, Rommel was wounded in the leg when, he charged three Frenchmen with a bayonet because he run out of ammunition. After returning to the frontlines in the Argonne area, in January of 1915, Erwin Rommel received his first decoration for bravery – Iron Cross Class I. In September/October of 1915, Rommel was transferred to the mountain unit for training. In late 1916, Erwin Rommel was posted to the Eastern (Carpathian) Front, in the area of Siebenburgen, where he was to fight with Rumanians. In May of 1917, Erwin Rommel was transferred to the Western Front, in the area of Hilsen Ridge, and in August back to Carpathian Front, where he took part in the assaults on Mount Cosna and Caporetto. For his outstanding action at Caporetto, Erwin Rommel was awarded the "Pour le Merite" and was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Rommel was one of few junior officers awarded the "Pour le Merite", which was reserved for generals. Shortly after, Erwin Rommel was posted away to a junior staff appointment, where he remained to the end of the war. In mid December of 1918, Captain Erwin Rommel was reposted to his old regiment at Weingarten. In the summer of 1919, Rommel was sent to Friedrichshafen to command internal security company and in January of 1921, to Stuttgart where he commanded and infantry regiment. Erwin Rommel remained in Stuttgart until October of 1929, when he was posted as an instructor to the infantry school in Dresden. At the time, Rommel wrote and published his book "Infantry Attacks" ("Infanterie greift an"), which was based on his experiences during World War I. 1933-1940 In October of 1933, Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Major and was sent to Goslar, where he commanded a mountain battalion.

In October of 1935, Rommel was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and received the position of the teacher in War Academy in Potsdam. In November of 1938, Erwin Rommel received the command of War Academy in Wiener Neustadt, which left shortly before the outbreak of World War II. In September of 1939, Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Major General and received the command of Adolf Hitler’s Bodyguard for the duration of the Polish Campaign. At the same time, Rommel realized the full potential of Panzer Divisions and tactics of Blitzkrieg. After the Polish Campaign, Hitler allowed Rommel to choose what he would like to command and Erwin Rommel asked for a Panzer Division.On February 15th of 1940, Rommel received the command of 7th Panzer Division, although he had no practical experience in Panzer warfare. In preparations for German Invasion of Low Countries and France, codenamed Fall Gelb, Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division became the part of 15th Panzer Corps, which was positioned, in the central sector.

The 15th Panzer Corps was under the command of General Hoth. On May 10th of 1940, Germany invaded the Western Europe. On May 12th, 7th Panzer Division reached Dinant and on May 13th, after heavy fighting crossed the River Meuse. On May 15th, Rommel virtually unopposed reached Philipiville and continued his advance westwards, passing Avesnes, Le Cateau and reaching Arleux on May 20th. Rommel’s plan was to by-pass Arras to the southand then turn northwards in the direction of Lille. On May 21st, Rommel reached the area of Arras, where his forward units where counter-attacked by two British Tank Regiments (70 tanks). After inflicting heavy losses among German infantry and anti-tank gun crews, British tanks advanced and were stopped by few 88mm Flak (anti-aircraft) guns deployed in the rear. It was the first time ever, that 88mm Flak guns were used against ground targets and soon became well known and feared "tank killers".

In preparations for the attack into central France, which was to take place on June 5th of 1940, Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division was positioned close to the coast near Abbeville. On June 8th, Rommel reached the outskirts of Rouen and on 10th, 7th Panzer Division reached the English Channel west of Dieppe. On June 17th, Erwin Rommel reached the southern outskirts of Cherbourg and on 19th, city’s garrison surrendered to Erwin Rommel. On June 25th, fighting in France came to an end. During the Battle of France, 7th Panzer Division earned a title of the "Ghost/Phantom Division", because no one knew were it was, including the German High Command and Rommel’s staff. 7th Panzer Division’s success in France was based on the speed and total distance covered by it. As commander of 7th Panzer Division, Erwin Rommel presented himself as an unconventional military leader with unique methods of command. Also, Rommel commanded his units from the frontline, since he felt it was important for the commander to always be near his troops.

Erwin Rommel was always with the reconnaissance troops and sometimes he cut the communication with the High Command, because he didn’t want to be disturbed. Rommel realized that the High Command didn’t know about tank warfare, so he simply cut the communication and explained everything later. His staff criticized Rommel for his behavior and they were often unable to find out where Rommel was. In his letters to his wife Lucie, Erwin Rommel wrote that the French Campaign was a "lighting tour of France". Erwin Rommel after the Fall of France. 1940-1943 After the fall of France, Erwin Rommel worked on his war diary, which described the events of May and June of 1940. In January of 1941, Rommel was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and in early February was called to Berlin. In Berlin, Erwin Rommel received the command of Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps) and was ordered to leave for Tripoli on February 12th. Deutsches Afrika Korps was to consist of two divisions and was destined for North Africa (Western Desert) to aid Germany’s Italian ally in their struggle against the British.

From December of 1940 to January of 1941, British pushed Italians from Egyptian frontier back to El Agheila in Libya. On February 14th of 1941, leading elements 5th Leichte (Panzer) Division along with their commander Erwin Rommel landed in Tripoli and was joined in early May by 15th Panzer Division. Since his arrival, Rommel found Italians to be demoralized by the defeats inflicted upon them by British, and his relations with Italian commanders left much to be desired. In view of the tenseness of the situation, and the sluggishness of the Italian command, I decided to ignore my orders and to take command at the front with my own hands as soon as possible – at the very latest after the arrival of the first German units. – Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel – The Rommel Papers. On February 24th, Afrika Korps had its first combat engagement with British forces at El Agheila and on March 31st launched a successful attack on British positions at Mersa Brega.

Erwin Rommel, utilized the tactics of Blitzkrieg, which worked so well in France and took British completely by a suprise. Afrika Korps continued pursuing retreating British, advanced eastwards from Tripolitania through Libya to Cyrenaica and captured Benghazi. On April 13th, Erwin Rommel captured Bardia and Salum and on April 15th, reached Egyptian (western) border. Rommel’s offensive forced British and its allies to retreat to the safety of static defenses around Tobruk. Rommel’s first attempt to break the Tobruk’s defenses made on April 11th lasted until April 13th but failed. It was followed by a second unsuccessful attempt on April 30 that lasted until May 2nd of 1941. At that time, Erwin Rommel was nicknamed the Desert Fox by both his friends and enemies, because he constantly improvised and used tricks in order to outsmart his enemies. Also at the same time, Rommel was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. Rommel the youngest German Field Marshal ever, since he received the promotion at the age of 50.

From mid April to mid June, British launched small scale offensives but were forced to retreat to defensive positions by 88mm Flak (anti-aircraft) guns deployed as anti-tank guns. "The 88 Ambush" 88mm Flak gun Erwin Rommel deployed and dug in his 88mm Flak guns in the U-shaped formation.They were dug in so deep, that the barrel looked only 30 to 60cm over the ground level.They were dug in, because they had no wheelsand stood very high on large pods and had a high profile. Then a low tent was erected over the position of every gun and evenwith field glasses it was impossible to distinguish them from sanddunes. Since the British saw a lot of sanddunes, they were not disturbed by them as well as that they didn’t know of any German weapon with the profile as low as the small sanddunes. Then Rommel sent his light tanks to fake an attack on British positions. The British Crusaders saw an easy prey and followed Panzers to attacked, while Panzers withdraw in the U-shape.

At point-blank range, sometimes requiringnerves of steel for the 88mm Flak gun crews, the trap sprang and they opened fire. In June of 1941, both Allies and Axis, seized any offensive activities and strengthened their defensive positions. At the time, Erwin Rommel became very popular in Arab world and was regarded as a "liberator" from the British rule. In Germany, the Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels used Rommel’s popularity among soldiers and civilians as well, to create an image of an invincible Volksmarschall – People’s Marshal.In mid August of 1941, Afrika Korps (now designated Panzer Group Africa) was re-organized and in reality Erwin Rommel became the commander of all Axis (Africa Corps and five Italian divisions) troops in North Africa. At the same time, 5th Leichte (Panzer) Division was redesignated as 21st Panzer Division and additional 90th Light Division was transferred to Afrika Korps. Erwin Rommel constantly requested equipment and supplies but received small portions of what he asked for.

In October, Rommel started planning for the new offensive and further reorganization and strengthening of defensive positions took place until November of 1941. In the night of November 17th, British Commando unit was sent to penetrate Rommel’s Headquarters and assassinate him but was unsuccessful since Rommel was not even there. Panzer III in the Desert On November 18th, British started their offensive codenamed "Crusader". British attacked at the Halfaya Pass to relieve the encircled city of Tobruk. After British attacks on November 22nd and 23rd were stopped, Rommel counterattacked and drove into the British rear, relieving Axis forces at the Halfaya Pass. At the same time, British reached the vicinity of Tobruk and on November 29th, broke through to Tobruk. By December 7th, Afrika Korps was forced to withdraw across Cyrenaica and on January 6th reached El Agheila in Libya. From January 2nd to 17th, Axis forces were defeated at Halfaya Pass, Bardia and Sollum.

In mid January, Erwin Rommel consolidated his forces and positions and decided to launch a new offensive when his force would be properly supplied and equipped. "The Desert Fox in action" Rommel ordered to attach bundles of wood and bushes on long ropes to all the supplytrucks and some Italian light tanks. The Italian light tanks drove in thefirst line, one after the other, behind them all the supply trucks. The attached bundles of wood and bushes made an immense clouds of dust. For the British, it looked like the real full-scale attack. They not only withdraw, but turned their delaying forces in the wrong direction. At the same time, Rommel attacked from the otherdirection with his German Panzer Division. The British were completely outwitted and defeated. In late January, Rommel launched his new offensive, recaptured Benghazi and forced British to retreat to the safety of Gazala line. In early February, both sides took defensive positions to consolidate their strength. On May 26th of 1942, launched the next stage of his new offensive and after heavy fighting breakthrough the Gazala line and threatened the city of Tobruk.

On June 21st, Rommel captured Tobruk and decided to continue advancing eastwards into Egypt and by June 30th reached the British defenses at Marsa Matruh. Pursuing retreating British, Rommel reached the defensive system at El Alamein, 96km west of Alexandria and 240km west of Cairo. At this point, Axis forces were completely exhausted with only 50 tanks and relied on captured supplies and equipment. From early July to late August, British concentrated their efforts on destroying the remains of Afrika Corps but with little success. Erwin Rommel continued requesting equipment and supplies but the main focus of German war machine was on the Eastern Front and very limited supplies reached North Africa.On August 30th, Rommel launched another offensive directed in forcing the British to withdraw from their positions at El Alamein.He attacked the British rear at the ridge at Alam Halfa, but quickly run out of supplies and Allied superiority forced him to withdraw to his previous defensive positions. From September to October of 1942, there was another period of when both Allies and Axis, seized any offensive activities and strengthened their defensive positions.

In November, sick and in the need of convalescence, Erwin Rommel left for Germany. On October 23rd, British launched their offensive directed in recapturing lost land and destroying the Axis forces in North Africa.Right after the start of the British offensive, Rommel was recalled to Africa and reached his headquarters on October 25th. British with total superiority quickly defeated Axis forces at El Alamein and pushed the outnumbered Axis forces and on November 12th, recaptured Tobruk. To worsen the situation, on November 8th, an Anglo-American Invasion of North-West Africa, codenamed "Torch" began. British continued their offensive and recaptured Benghazi on November 19th, followed by the recapture of El Agheila on December 17th. Erwin Rommel was unable to establish defensive positions nor to launch an offensive due to the lack of equipment and supplies and decided to retreat to the German bridgehead at Tunis. British continued their pursuit of the Desert Fox and on January 23rd of 1943, captured the city of Tripoli. On February 19th, Rommel launched his last offensive in North Africa.

On February 20th, he recaptured the Kasserine Pass but on February 22nd, his attack was stopped by the superiority of Allied forces. On the same day, he received the command of newly formed Army Group Africa, which was made up of all Axis troops in North Africa, but he refused to take the command. Captured British Matilda On February 23rd, Rommel was forced to take the command of the Army Group Africa. Soon after, Rommel handed over the command of the Army Group Africa to General von Arnim.On March 6th of 1943, Erwin Rommel flew back to Germany, to persuade Adolf Hitler about the hopelessness of the Axis situation in Africa. In reality, Rommel was recalled back to Germany, he then was ordered to take the sick leave and all his pleas to return to Africa where turned down. On March 11th of 1943, Erwin Rommel was awarded by Hitler, the Knights Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the time, Erwin Rommel was physically and morally shaken and was a shadow of his past glory.

Two months later, on May 13th of 1943, the surrender of all Axis forces (200.000 men) in North Africa, took place. Erwin Rommel in Africa Erwin Rommel as a commander of Africa Corps. 1943-1944 From March to July of 1943, Erwin Rommel was enjoying his badly needed sick leave, spending time with his wife and occasionally with his son. On July 10th, Rommel was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief in Greece, but was quickly recalled back to Germany. In early November, Rommel became the Commander-in-Chief in Italy, but was quickly replaced by General Albert Kesselring. In late November of 1943, Rommel was transferred to France and on December 31st, received the command of Army Group B under Field Marshal von Runstedt. He was responsible for the area stretching from Holland to Bordeaux and was to organize coastal defenses against the expected Allied invasion. He was also appointed as Inspector General and was put in charge of the defenses on the Atlantic Wall.

When preparing the Western Europe for the invasion, Rommel designed special paratroop and aircraft landing barrier, called "Rommel-Spargel" (Rommel’s Asparagus), along with many other obstacles. Once the landing in June of 1944, had succeeded, Erwin Rommel realized that the war was hopelessly lost and that to condone Hitler’s senseless continuation of it would be irresponsible. Injured in a strafing air attack on July 17th of 1944, Rommel could not personally participate in the attempt to overthrow Hitler three days later (July 20, 1944), but he was gravely implicated. (Rommel’s role in the overthrow of Hitler is still not clear and highly disputed by the historians.) Rommel’s opposition to Adolf Hitler was kept secret, because of his popularity. On August 8th, Erwin Rommel was transported from the French Hospital to Herrlingen, where he was placed under house arrest. Erwin Rommel was given the choice of suicide, to be reported as death from his wounds, as an alternative to execution as a traitor, which would have placed his family and close associates in grave danger.

On October 14, 1944, Rommel was taken to the hospital at Ulm, where he died by his own hand taking the poison. On October 18th, Erwin Rommel was buried with full military honors and it was a day of national mourning ordered by Adolf Hitler himself. Overall, Erwin Rommel was an outstanding and an unconventional military leader with unique methods of command. Erwin Rommel is one of the few commanders, who was not involved in any war crimes. Rommel was highly respected by his enemies and was considered to be the last of the knights. During the North African Campaign, Rommel often cut the water rations of his troop, so that the prisoners of war could survive. His personal papers and notes, all put together by Lucie-Maria Rommel and Fritz Bayerlein, titled "Rommel Papers" ("Krieg ohne Hass"), were published for the first time in 1950 and described all of Rommel’s combat and personal experiences. In post-war years, Erwin Rommel’s son Manfred became Mayor of the city of Stuttgart.

Question: Which World War II General was nicknamed The Desert Fox?
Answer: General Erwin Rommel