Heinz Guderian
Search results
Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (pronounced [ˈɛʁviːn ˈʁɔməl] ⓘ; 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal) during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox ( German : Wüstenfuchs , pronounced [ˈvyːstn̩ˌfʊks] ⓘ ), he served in the Wehrmacht (armed forces) of Nazi Germany , as well ...
- Herrlingen cemetery
- Generalfeldmarschall
- 1911–1944
- Overview
- Early life and career
- Commander of Afrika Korps
Erwin Rommel (born November 15, 1891, Heidenheim, Germany—died October 14, 1944, Herrlingen, near Ulm) German field marshal who became the most popular general at home and gained the open respect of his enemies with his spectacular victories as commander of the Afrika Korps in World War II.
Rommel’s father was a teacher, as his grandfather had been, and his mother was the daughter of a senior official. A career as an army officer began to be fashionable, even among middle-class southern Germans, after the establishment of the German Empire in 1871; thus, notwithstanding the absence of a military tradition in his family, Rommel in 1910 joined the 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet.
In World War I, Rommel fought as a lieutenant in France, Romania, and Italy. His deep understanding of his men, his unusual courage, and his natural gift of leadership quite early showed promise of a great career. In the Prussian-German army, a career on the general staff was the normal avenue for advancement, yet Rommel declined to take that road. Both in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic and in Adolf Hitler’s Wehrmacht, he remained in the infantry as a frontline officer. Like many great generals, he possessed a pronounced talent for teaching and was accordingly appointed to posts at various military academies. The fruit of his battle experiences in World War I, combined with his ideas on training young soldiers in military thinking, formed the main components of his military textbook, Infanterie greift an (1937; “Infantry Attacks”), which received high initial esteem.
In 1938, after Austria’s annexation by Germany, Colonel Rommel was appointed commandant of the officers’ school in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. At the beginning of World War II, he was appointed commander of the troops guarding the Führer’s headquarters and became personally known to Hitler. Rommel’s chance to prove himself as a commander came in February 1940 when he assumed command of the 7th Panzer Division. He had never commanded armoured units before, yet he quickly grasped the tremendous possibilities of mechanized and armoured troops in an offensive role. His raid on France’s Channel coast in May 1940 provided the first proof of his boldness and initiative.
Britannica Quiz
Less than a year later, in February 1941, Rommel was appointed commander of the German troops dispatched to aid the all-but-defeated Italian army in Libya. The deserts of North Africa became the scene of his greatest successes—and of his defeat at the hands of a vastly superior enemy. In the North African theatre of war, the “Desert Fox,” as he came to be called by both friend and foe because of his audacious surprise attacks, acquired a formidable reputation, and soon Hitler, impressed by such successes, promoted him to field marshal.
Rommel had difficulty following up these successes, however. North Africa was, in Hitler’s view, only a sideshow. Nonetheless, despite the increasing difficulties of supply and Rommel’s request to withdraw his exhausted troops, in the summer of 1942 Hitler ordered an attack on Cairo and the Suez Canal. Rommel and his German-Italian army were stopped by the British at El-Alamein (Al-ʿAlamayn, Egypt), 60 miles (100 km) from Alexandria. At that time Rommel won astounding popularity in the Arab world, where he was regarded as a “liberator” from British rule. At home the propaganda ministry portrayed him as the invincible “people’s marshal” (Volksmarschall). But the offensive against Egypt had overtaxed his resources. At the end of October 1942, he was defeated in the Second Battle of El-Alamein and had to withdraw to the German bridgehead in Tunis. In March 1943 Hitler ordered him home.
Special offer for students! Check out our special academic rate and excel this spring semester!
Learn More
Learn about Erwin Rommel, a German army officer who commanded the Afrika Korps and was a Field Marshal. Explore his role in World War II, his relationship with Nazism and the Holocaust, and his involvement in the July 20 plot to kill Hitler.
Oct 29, 2009 · Learn about Erwin Rommel, the German field marshal who led the Afrika Korps in World War II and was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Find out how he rose to fame, suffered defeat and died by suicide in 1944.
Oct 14, 2021 · Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the famous German military commander, was forced to end his life by Nazi authorities in October 1944. He was accused of high treason and faced a People's Court for his opposition to Hitler and his plan to overthrow him. He met his death near Herrlingen, Germany, where he had been hiding from Allied bombing.
People also ask
Why did Erwin Rommel die?
Who was Erwin Rommel?
When did Erwin Rommel become a captain?
Why was Erwin Rommel involved in the July 20th plot?
Apr 2, 2014 · Erwin Rommel was a famous German general and one of Hitler's most successful commanders in World War II. He was implicated in a plot to overthrow Hitler in 1944 and took his own life by biting into a cyanide capsule. Learn about his life, career, achievements and legacy.
Mar 13, 2017 · Erwin Rommel, often dubbed the Desert Fox for his cunning and strategic prowess in the North African Campaign during World War II, stands out as a remarkable figure in military history for several reasons. His fame and enduring legacy are attributed to a combination of his innovative military tactics, leadership qualities, and a certain level ...
