Almost everyone with the slightest interest in WW2 is likely to know Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his famous nickname “The Desert Fox” or “Wüstenfuchs”.
Erwin Rommel was one of the most popular German Generals during WW2 and widely respected by both friend and foe, even long after the war. The stories of the battles in North-Africa, where the Allies and Germans played tricks on one another to outsmart and outmaneuver each other in the desert, are widely known and romanticized.
WWI
Rommel was born in Heidenheim, Germany on 15 November 1891. His father was a secondary school teacher and gave Rommel the choice to either follow his trade or join the military, even though Rommel himself wanted to be an airplane engineer. Obviously Rommel chose for a military career and joining WWI as a young Lieutenant he already proved his strategic talent and leadership during battle, earning him multiple decorations like the Iron Cross and the Pour le Mérite and eventually got promoted to Hauptmann in October near the end of WWI.
After the War, Rommel was allowed to stay in the army. He served in various positions, gradually building his military career. When Hitler came to power a new dawn came for the German Army. Hitler wanted to build up and modernize the Wehrmacht. Rommel was thrilled about this development.
Rommel met Hitler in 1934 during an inspection of his troops. Two years later Rommel would be in command of the “Führerbegleitbrigade” (Eng: Führer Escort Brigade), accompanying Hitler when he travelled abroad. Watching over Hitler’s shoulder, Rommel witnessed first hand all new developments like tank warfare and motorized infantry units. He was also present at the “Anschluss” of Austria, the march into Sudetenland and the Poland Campaign.
Invasion of Belgium and France (Fall Gelb & Fall Rot)
Impressed by what he saw and eager to join the action, Rommel lobbied for the command of a Panzer Unit (Eng: Tank Unit), which was eventually granted to him with the help of Hitler together with an highly unusual promotion to Generalmajor, skipping a rank. Rommel assumed command of the 7th Panzer Division in February 1940 and quickly started getting it ready for the upcoming campaigns in the West. Although inexperienced with armored warfare, Rommel quickly developed his tactics, which was a combination of rapid advance with commanding his unit from the frontline, a style that would be typical for his leadership. Rommel’s Division moved so fast during the invasion of France that it’s location was sometimes unknown by both the enemy and the German High Command (OKH), so that it was nicknamed the “Gespensterdivision” (Eng: Ghost Division).
Deutsches AfrikaKorps (DAK)
In the wake of the German successes in Poland and Western Europe, it’s ally Italy under the rule of Dictator Benito Mussolini, wanted to play a part too and had started the Western Desert Campaign by invading the Kingdom of Egypt (“Operazione E”) from it’s colony in Libya in September 1940, in an attempt to conquer the Suez Canal and deny the British a direct route to their Far Eastern and Indian territories. But when the British started their counter offensive “Operation Compass” in December of that year, the Italians were swiftly pushed back in retreat and even on the edge of defeat in January 1941.
Mussolini asked Hitler for support from the German Army. The Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK) was formed and Rommel appointed as Commander to aid the Italian forces in North Africa. Rommel took his army directly into the offensive against the British, pushing them far back in a series of victories and earning him the nickname the “Desert Fox”. But Rommel had growing problems maintaining his supply line and getting much needed replacements of tanks and equipment to bring his Panzer Army back to strength. After almost a year of fighting the situation took a turn for the worse at El Alamein and from August 1942, Rommel’s Panzers were forced into continuous retreat, until his Army finally surrendered to the Allies in May 1943.
Erwin Rommel wasn’t amongst them though. He was ordered back to Germany earlier in March of that year.
Italy
When Mussolini was overthrown in July 1943, Rommel was called in to restore order and resume command of Army Group B in Italy. When Italy called for an armistice with the Allies, he initiated “Operation Achse” to disarm the Italian Forces and send them to forced labour camps.
The Atlantic Wall
In November of the same year Rommel and Army Group B were transferred to France, where he was assigned to inspect and reinforce the “Atlantic Wall“. Rommel was dissatisfied by what he encountered and ordered the construction of massive improvements to the coastal defenses and fortifications, of which many by his own design. Rommel promised Hitler that the work would be ready on the 1st of May 1944, but this promise was not met. When the Allies landed on the Normandy Beaches on D-day, construction was still going on.
During the Normandy invasion on July 17th, Rommel’s car was strafed by a Spitfire, wounding his driver. The car crashed into the trees, throwing Rommel from the back seat out of the car. He was hospitalized with fatal head injuries.
The 20 July Plot
Three days later on 20 July 1944, a bomb exploded from a briefcase inside the field headquarters of the “Wolfsschanze” (Eng: Wolf’s Liar), Hitler’s Führer headquarters in the East. At the time of the detonation, Hitler and several high ranking officers, together with their attache’s were having a military conference there. The blast injured 20 people of whom 3 eventually died. Hitler survived miraculously. The briefcase had been positioned against the solid leg of the massive conference table, shielding him from the direct blast. The briefcase belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, whom had just left the conference room to answer an incoming phone call.
A hunt for the conspirators began. More than 7000 people were arrested and interrogated. 5000 people were executed or died during interrogation. Rommel’s name also came up, and more than once. He had supposedly known about the plot and might even have cooperated. In late September, with the hunt in full blaze, Hitler received a memo from Martin Bormann, summing up all the sources that had pointed in Rommel’s direction as a co-conspirator. Hitler didn’t take any risk and wanted a clean house. Rommel was placed under arrest while recovering from his injuries at home.
Death
On 14 October 1944, two Generals came to pick up Rommel at his home. As a small gesture from Hitler, he was given the opportunity to take his own life, instead of facing a public trail and save his family from a certain fate. Rommel put on his Afrikakorps jacket, said farewell to his wife and son, got into the car with the men and drove off. The car stopped along a quiet country road a few kilometers from his home in Herrlingen. He took a cyanide pill and died sitting in the car. Today the place is marked by a memorial.
The official public report stated that Rommel had died as a result of complications from his injuries. He received a full state funeral which was held in Ulm. Rommel is buried in the cemetery in Herrlingen, Blaustein.
Visit Herrlingen Cemetery, Blaustein in Germany
You can find Erwin Rommel’s grave at the Cemetery of Herrlingen: Kaplaneiweg 4, 89134 Blaustein, Germany
¹ There are some doubts around wether or not this uniform jacket genuinely belong’s to Rommel. Read this background article of the Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster.
El Alamein August 1942 and not 1941
Thank you Beatrix!
FIELD MARSHALL Rommel was a awesome soldier and a gentleman. I had the privilege to visit his grave in 1976.may his soul rest in peace with God almighty
Why the sychophancy? The man was a nazi and saluted the Austrian corporal with the Roman salute. He was responsible for thousands of deaths of allied soldiers by reinforcing the atlantic wall with the most hideous anti-personal weaponry. His sould will not rest in peace! Dr Rhydian Harker
Dr Rhydian Harker, FYI, Erwin Rommel was not a member of the Nazi Party. As for the defences in France to prevent allied landing, nothing was put place that any other nation would not have put in place had they been in the same situation.
Defensive Fortifications are a part of war. Further more he was highly respected by Allied soldiers and leader and even to this day Allied soldiers visit his grave to commemorate the anniversary of his death. “We all sleep peacefully in [our] beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on [your] behalf. Rommel, like every other soldier, was on of these ‘rough men’ but he fought with fairness, honour and respect.
Dr Rhydian Harker, you are aware that Rommel was forced to commit suicide because of his involvement in the July 20 plot to kill “the Austrian corporal”. He did so as he received assurances that his wife and children would not suffer due to his involvement in said plot. He said goodbye to his family, was driven a short distance from his home, where he was then left alone to take a cyanide tablet, which he did. Also Erwin Rommel was never a member of the Nazi Party.
Informationen helfen.
Wenn man keine Ahnung hat einfach mal nichts sagen.
Rommel was highly respected by the British soldiers who fought against his Afrika Korps WW2.
I knew some of them.
Old soldier British Army 1957-1965 (age 15 to 24)
A brave and a honorable man as my uncle call him.
Great general who defended military values and earn respect of his opponents! Rest in Peace!
his opponents from many countries as well. Highly admire his tearing up of Hitlers orders to kill the Jews and the fact as the photographer he was, never took a picture of dead soldiers or injured. Class act.
First time I have seen this memorial for Rommel I find it a sad one too. For such a man to have a crave stone so small and a wooden cross. Perhaps Rommel should have statue erected within the uk new war semetery for all who gone before us. Lets push for this to happen. My father fought against Rommel in Africa, he said that Rommel was good enemy to fight.
I agree with the statue and everything you said. He was an admired man by friend and foe alike. All these years later in 2022 I admire him and I’m only 35 years old. I’m obsessed with the Tactics and deployment of Panzer warfare in WWII and Rommel was that guy that set the stage for Panzer tactics and strategy and his tactics were studied years after the war. I believe his tactics are still studied in Armoured units around the World. I know there were many U.S Generals who studied his tactics after the war. Patton admired him in Africa.
All good generals like Erwin Rommel should be honored. Rest in peace sir.
I was a great admirer of this “Officer& Gentleman”, even when in school& college! I’ve NOT visited his grave.I’ll do it.
A very respected General of the German Army. I’ve read so many stories on Rommel and the deployment of Panzer warfare and he is definitely a man I admire so much.
Admired by friend and foe alike. I have studied so much on Panzer Warfare and as many people know Rommel was a master tactician. Rest in Piece General.
R.I.P. Field Marshal Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel – a.k.a. “Wüstenfuchs” (“Desert Fox”)
Rommel was honoured publicly when on 2 May 1970 the West German navy (Bundesmarine) named the Charles F. Adams-class destroyer D187 after him.
I will visit his grave in respect for my father in 2025