“Field Marshall” or “Generalfeldmarschall” was the highest rank available in the Nazi corps until 1940. And being at this rank, he commanded the soldiers in the battlefield. So, this man was one of those at the apex of the Nazi army, fighting on the front lines. Yet he refused to commit any war crimes at all. A rare figure indeed.
Even in World War 1, Rommel was a highly decorated officer. He was awarded the “Pour le Mérite” for his exploits on the Italian front. And he farther distinguished himself in World War 2 as the commander of the 7th panzer division during the 1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established him as one of the most able commanders in the war, and earned him the nickname “Dessert Fox”, for he is regarded as one of the most skilled commanders of dessert warfare in the war.
Rommel was regarded as a humane and professional officer. His “Afrika korps” was never accused of war crimes, and soldiers captured during his Africa campaign were reported to have been treated humanely. Orders to kill Jewish civilians, soldiers and captured commandos were ignored. But as humane as he was, he was a remarkable leader. The boldness of his attacks often led larger armies to surrender, as they were overwhelmed by the pace of action and became unsure of themselves. He was a man who led by example. He believed a commander should be more fit than his troops.
His division, the 7th panzer division, was nicknamed “Gespenster-Division” meaning the ghost division. This was because it moved so quickly, devastating the enemy ranks with speed and surprise, that high command often lost track of them. It was part of the siege of Tobruk, Operation Crusader and many others. His successes led him to be much favoured by Hitler. But favoured as he was, a humane man could never support such brutality showed by Hitler. So, after being asked many a time by other conspirators, he took part in the conspiracy against Hitler, the reason being, as he put it “to rescue Germany”. However, he opposed assassination, fearing it would put Hitler in the pedestal of a martyr. He thought it better to arrest him and bring him to trial for his crimes.
His part in the conspiracy was found out soon enough. But, since he was a national hero, making this public would not stand. So, on October 14th, 1944, two Generals from Hitler’s headquarters approached him in his home and informed him of the charges, offering him two options. The first that he would be brought to public court and his staff would be arrested and his family would suffer before an-all-but certain execution. The other being that he would commit suicide, the Government would assure his family full pension payments and give him a state funeral claiming he died a hero. One of the generals, Burgdof brought a cyanide capsule along for the occasion. And Rommel took it.
Rommel was extraordinarily well known during his lifetime, by Germans and enemies alike. Stories of his chivalry and tactical prowess earned him the respect of many opponents. Hitler counted him among his favourite Generals. He was one of the few Axis commanders directly targeted for assassination. At least two such attempts were made. After the war, his stature was farther enhanced in the eyes of the former allied nations when his involvement in the plot to kill Hitler became known. He was often cited in Western sources as “a General who, though a loyal German, was willing to stand up to Hitler”. In 1970, a German Lütjens-class destroyer warship was named Rommel in his honour.
In a parliamentary debate following the fall of Tobruk, Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke of Rommel as a “daring and skilful opponent”, comments for which the parliament considered a censure vote against him. When writing about him years later, Churchill offered the following:
“His ardor, and daring, inflicted grievous disasters upon us. But he deserves the salute which I made him, in the House of Commons, in January 1942. He also deserves our respect, because although a loyal German soldier, he came to hate Hitler and all his works, and took part in the conspiracy to rescue Germany by displacing the maniac and tyrant. For this he paid the forfeit of his life. In the sombre wars of modern democracy, there is little place for chivalry”
So in the end, it may be said, that one of his greatest achievement was to stay a human, while amidst all those demons.
Writban Alim (15years)
Class IX, Cantonment Public School and College , Chittagong
Writban Alim
Sumikhan29bdj@gmail.com
Cell-01713103699
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