Erwin Rommel

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Automatons led by a lunatic who looked like Charlie Chaplin

Nazism

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Rommel

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (5 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), nicknamed the "Desert Fox," was one of the more interesting Nazis – maybe sorta kinda. A German Field Marshal in World War II, he commanded Panzer divisions in the North African Campaign (the Afrika Korps). He managed to become well-respected by his adversaries,[1] for reasons explained below.

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[edit] The anti-Nazi... Nazi?

Early records showed that Rommel had a close working relationship with Adolf Hitler, but he eventually came to the conclusion that the rest of the world had made. On numerous occasions he refused Hitler's orders to engage in war crimes against POWs, especially Jews, and his Afrika Korps was never convicted or even accused of any war crimes; ironically, Hitler couldn't touch Rommel himself because he was responsible for turning the general into a Chuck Norris-esque meme in Nazi propaganda.[2] Rommel also held negative opinions toward his Italian allies, and his rebellious nature left him with many critics in the German military.

In 2011 there was considerable controversy over a German biopic that portrayed him as... just a usual Nazi. David Irving obviously enjoyed it.[3]

[edit] Attempt to overthrow Hitler

It was later revealed in the Nuremberg Trials that Rommel was complicit in the attempt to assassinate Hitler in the July 20 plot (although Rommel seemed to have favoured arresting him instead). He was given the choice to be put on trial and have both him and his family killed, or commit suicide to allow his family to survive. He picked the latter.

[edit] The offspring

His only son, Manfred, was the post-war mayor of Stuttgart, Baden-Württember for over 20 years (as a member of the CDU) and was an advocate of minorities' civil rights.[4] Rommel personally prevented his kid from joining the SS.

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

  1. For example, this quote by Winston Churchill almost led to a censure vote in the House of Commons
  2. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
  3. Rommel TV biopic stirs controversy
  4. Manfred Rommel, Son of German Field Marshal, Dies at 84, The New York Times
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