The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel: A Brilliant Strategist and Controversial Figure

Early Life and Military Career

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel was born on November 15, 1891, in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany. His father was a schoolteacher, and his mother was a housewife. Rommel showed an early aptitude for military strategy, and he joined the German Army in 1910. He served in World War I with distinction, earning the Iron Cross for bravery.

Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel

by Daniel Allen Butler

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4642 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	799 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	110 pages
Item Weight	:	13.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	9 x 0.3 x 12 inches

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After the war, Rommel remained in the army and became an instructor at the War Academy in Berlin. In 1933, he was appointed to the staff of General Friedrich Paulus, the commander of the German Wehrmacht. Rommel played a key role in planning the invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the beginning of World War II.

North African Campaign

In February 1941, Rommel was appointed commander of the German Afrika Korps, which was sent to North Africa to support the Italian forces fighting against the British. Rommel quickly proved to be a brilliant strategist, and he led the Afrika Korps to a series of victories against the British.

Rommel's most famous victory was the Battle of El Alamein in June 1942, where he defeated the British Eighth Army under the command of General Bernard Montgomery. Rommel's victory at El Alamein earned him the nickname "the Desert Fox" and made him one of the most respected generals in the German Army.

Defeat in North Africa

However, Rommel's luck eventually ran out. In October 1942, the Allies launched a major offensive against the Afrika Korps at the Second Battle of El Alamein. Montgomery's Eighth Army finally defeated Rommel's forces, and the Afrika Korps was forced to retreat.

Rommel was evacuated from North Africa in March 1943, and he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords for his leadership in the campaign. However, the loss of North Africa to the Allies was a major setback for Germany, and it marked the beginning of the end for Rommel's military career.

Later Years

After his defeat in North Africa, Rommel was appointed commander of Army Group B in France. In this role, he was responsible for defending the Atlantic Wall against an Allied invasion. However, Rommel was pessimistic about Germany's chances of victory, and he clashed with Hitler over strategy.

In July 1944, Rommel was implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler. Although he was not directly involved in the plot, he was aware of it and did not report it to the authorities. As a result, Rommel was arrested and forced to commit suicide.

Legacy

Erwin Rommel remains a controversial figure in history. He was a brilliant military strategist, but he also served in the Nazi regime and was complicit in its crimes. However, Rommel's reputation as a skilled and daring commander is still admired by many military historians.

Rommel's most famous victory, the Battle of El Alamein, is studied by military academies around the world. His tactical brilliance and his ability to inspire his troops are still studied and admired by modern-day soldiers.

Rommel's legacy is a complex one. He was a brilliant military strategist, but he also served in the Nazi regime and was complicit in its crimes. However, his reputation as a skilled and daring commander is still admired by many military historians.

Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel

by Daniel Allen Butler

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4642 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	799 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Paperback	:	110 pages
Item Weight	:	13.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	9 x 0.3 x 12 inches

FREE