Killing Rommel - The Demise of the Desert Fox

What were the circumstances that led to the death of Germany's most famous WW2 general, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel? Get the full story here.

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Credits: TCY; Wald-Burger; US National Archives; Bundesarchiv

[smythharris]

Rommel's son, Manfred, had a fine career in politics and maintained friendships with Patton's son and Montgomery's son.

[josephoshea]

As you pointed out, by choosing suicide, Rommel protected his family from further Nazi persecution. This included his son, Manfred, a teenaged soldier in the Luftwaffenhelfer. After the war, Manfred would go on to a political career, serving as mayor of Stuttgart from 1974 to 1996. He also befriended sons of two of his father's Allied opponents, George Patton and Bernard Montgomery, further cementing German-British-American post-war friendship.

[Roller_Ghoster]

This is the type of history channel that a WW2 nut like myself loves.

[bufnyfan]

I had the chance to take care of the nurse who looked after Rommel after his staff car was strafed in France and he almost died. She immigrated to Canada after the war and showed me some of the letters that she received from his wife/son thanking her for the care of General Rommel during his hospital stay and subsequent convalescence.

[meganegbert]

My great uncle destroyed a dozen of Rommel’s tanks in North Africa during the war. He was the worst mechanic the Afrika Korps ever had

[jasonkinzie]

My grandfather fought in Africa. His unit was captured and he spent the rest of the war as a POW on a farm in Germany. Before this happened Rommel came out and talked to them, reassuring them that they would be well treated. My grandfather was impressed and always thought highly of Rommel after that.

[mattgibbs]

There are lots of World War II channels on YouTube and Mark Felton's stands out because of his crisp diction and steady but pacy delivery. We might have seen the newsreel footage and images elsewhere but Mark with his intriguing research and masterful storytelling creates documentaries which always bring a surprise. Thank you, sir, for your information, education and fascinating viewing.

[liverpoolscottish]

Rommel's open refusal to implement the notorious Kommando Order issued by Hitler speaks volumes about his sense of honour. A superb soldier and a decent man. I knew a Desert Rat veteran who served as a Captain in Churchill's old cavalry Regt- 7th Hussars. Tom was an ardent admirer of Rommel, and had a great deal of respect for German soldiers. He once quipped to me, "The only officer more popular than Montgomery with the men of the 8th Army, was Rommel!"

[jonhill]

I can add a small footnote to the Afrika Korps story. In 1968 I went on a summer tour of Europe with a couple of fellow students from the Univ. of Florida. In Hamburg we pooled our money and bought a used German Ford Taunus station wagon that we drove all over western Europe. While traveling through the beautifully scenic Bavarian Alps one afternoon we came upon a picturesque gastehaus (roadside tavern) and decided to stop in for a snack and some good German beer. Imagine our surprise when, upon opening the front door, we were confronted with a room full of middle-aged Germans wearing WWII desert campaign uniforms, which we recognized immediately from films about the desert war. We noticed that some were missing various body parts as well. It was as if we had just wandered onto a movie set. But they were all laughing, swing steins of beer about and singing some of the old Wehrmacht songs. We froze, wondering if it was a good idea us to be there, given their painful history and our being associated with the other side. So we moved quietly to a small table in a far corner, hoping not to be noticed as obviously American (blue jeans, etc.)

But within just a few minutes a waiter walked over with a tray of beer steins and some dark bread. One of our group spoke a little German and told that waiter it was a mistake, that we had not yet ordered anything. The waiter laughed and said, "Yes I know, but they realize you are Americans and want you to feel welcome here." That's when it dawned on me that the losing side also had it's veterans' associations too and that we had stumbled into a reunion of Rommel's fabled Afrika Korps. And they clearly honored Rommel's code of ethics for treating the opposing side with respect and hospitality. Long story short, we spent a very memorable afternoon drinking steins of beer, laughing, back-slapping and learning some of the popular songs of the their day (Lilly Marlene is the only one I can remember now). Some of them who spoke English gladly shared stories of their adventures during the war and of their great respect for Rommel, whom many of them had met or seen during the desert campaigns. But by the end of that unforgettable afternoon the four of us felt that we had been fully adopted by these gentlemen as honorary members of the Afrika Korps. (Not something that happens every day)

Fun Footnote: the very next day we were all arrested for driving a car with 'bad brakes' into Switzerland - the German Taunus! Different day, different culture. But that's a story for another time ....

[benpatsy]

My Grandad was a desert rat and he got gunned across his legs and was captured by Rommel. He escaped from the prison, but had to hand himself back in because his legs became infected. Despite escaping they still treated him well and sorted out his infections.

[SGSRF]

I just recently learned that my grandfather served in the Africa Corps with Rommel as a truck driver. Before the war he was a poor cow farmer from a small village. He was captured in 1943 in Tunisia and moved to Texas as a POW. He returned to Germany in 1947. My dad was born in 1952. Luckily he survived otherwise I wouldn't be on this planet.

[jackcloud]

This was no end for such a man. Having the respect of your enemies is possibly the highest honour a general can have

[KalterAdler]

Note that Rommel’s home was actually in Herrlingen-Blaustein just outside of Ulm. He committed suicide not far from there on a spot overlooking the valley below. His grave is in the town’s cemetery, not far from the entrance to the church building there. There is also a museum to Rommel in that town’s old school house, that I can highly recommend.

[mg]

I talked to an old man in a Bar in avillage close to me and he told me that Rommel had asked him how he was doing when he visited his unit one day, that’s when he told Rommel that one of his comrades had fallen a day earlier so Rommel asked what he could do for the man and he just wanted a pack of cigarettes so Rommel actually got him one. This man actually started crying when he talked about Rommel that’s how much this meant to him

[refugeeca]

Mark Felton: "I'm sure this will trigger a lively debate in the comment section"
Comment Section: "Wow. Much information. Many thanks"

[powerthings]

Dr. Felton is the best. Incredible facts, uncanny photos, smooth presentation and good speaking voice.

[Guadalajara]

*killing Rommel*
The Desert Fox: "Fine, guess I'll have to do it myself"

[AgencyIsland]

Rommel got my respect when he buried a commando officer who was sent to kill him with full military honors. Say what you want about who he fought for, but that man understood the meaning of honor

[walboyfredo]

15:21 l recall the 50th anniversary of his "death", the modern German Army laid a reef on his tomestone plus survivors of the British 8th Army also laid a reef. In the end both groups saluted his grave. That's respect big time.

[glennkathrynclark]

Really appreciate these amazing videos. My father was a desert rat who fought against Rommel, and told us repeatedly that Rommel was well respected by himself and his fellow allied soldiers. My father was injured and captured in the notorious Breakout at Minqar Qa'im on 25 June 1942. Rommel was furious at the brutal tactics used in the breakout and intended to summarily execute all prisoners, however was eventually talked out of that action. For that humane concession, I too have respect for the Desert Fox, my father being sent to a hospital in Piacenza, Italy where he recovered from his injuries (although became a POW in Czekhoslovakia, eventually enduring an 800 mile "death march", ending in liberation by the US troops in Bavaria.
These videos help me appreciate what my father experienced in North Africa (he died when I was 21 and like so many others, I never got to talk with him about the reality of his experience.