Erwin Rommel

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ({{Audio|De-Erwin_Rommel-pronunciation.ogg|listen}}) (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German Field Marshals and commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II. He is also known by his nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs, {{Audio|De-Wüstenfuchs-pronunciation.ogg|listen}}), for the skillful military campaigns he waged on behalf of the German Army in North Africa. He is often remembered not only for his remarkable military prowess, but also for his chivalry towards his adversaries.

Early life and career

Rommel was born in Heidenheim, approximately 50 km from Ulm, in the state of Württemberg. The second son of a Protestant Headmaster of the secondary school at Aalen, Erwin Rommel the elder and Helene von Luz, a daughter of a prominent local dignitary. The couple also had three more children, two sons, Karl and Gerhard, and a daughter, Helene. Later recalling his childhood, Rommel wrote that "my early years passed very happily". At the age of 14, Rommel and a friend built a full-scale glider that was able to fly, although not very far. Young Erwin considered becoming an engineer; however, on his father's insistence, he joined the local 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet in 1910 and, shortly after, was sent to the Officer Cadet School in Danzig.

Related Topics:
Heidenheim - Km - Ulm - Württemberg - Protestant - Aalen - Engineer - 1910 - Danzig

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While at Cadet School, early in 1911, Rommel met his future wife, Lucie Maria Mollin. Rommel and Lucie married in 1916. In 1928, they had a son, Manfred, who became the mayor of Stuttgart. Scholars Bierman and Smith argue, during this time, that Rommel also had an affair with Walburga Stemmer in 1912 and that relationship produced a daughter named Gertrud ('). Rommel graduated from school in November 1911 and he was commissioned as a Lieutenant January 1912.

Related Topics:
1911 - 1916 - 1928 - Manfred - Stuttgart - Bierman - Smith - Walburga Stemmer - 1912 - Lieutenant

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World War I

During World War I, Rommel served in France, as well as on the Romanian and Italian fronts, during which time he was wounded three times and awarded the Iron Cross - First and Second Class. Rommel became the youngest recipient of Prussia's highest medal, the Pour le Mérite, an honor traditionally reserved for generals only and which he received after fighting in the mountains of north-east Italy. The award came as a result specifically from the Battle of Longarone, and the capture of Mount Matajur and its defenders, numbering 150 Italian officers, 7000 men and 81 artillery guns. His batallion also played a key role in the decisive German victory over the Italian Army named the Battle of Caporetto.

Related Topics:
World War I - France - Romanian - Italian - Iron Cross - First and Second Class - Prussia - Pour le Mérite - Battle of Longarone - Mount Matajur - Italian Army - Battle of Caporetto

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Inter-War years

After the war Rommel held battalion commands, and was instructor at the Dresden Infantry School from 1929-1933 and the Potsdam War Academy from 1935-1938. Rommel's war diaries, Infanterie greift an (Infantry Attacks), published in 1937, became a highly regarded military textbook, and also attracted the attention of Adolf Hitler, who placed him in charge of the training of the Hitler Jugend that same year, all the while retaining his place at Potsdam. In 1938, Rommel, now a colonel, was appointed commandant of the War Academy at Wiener Neustadt. Here Rommel started his followup to Infantry Attacks, Panzer greift an (Tank Attacks sometimes translated as The Tank In Attack ). Rommel was removed after a short time; however, he was placed in command of Adolf Hitler's personal protection battalion (Führer-Begleitbattalion).

Related Topics:
1929 - 1933 - 1935 - 1938 - Infantry Attacks - 1937 - Adolf Hitler - Hitler Jugend - The Tank In Attack

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