Rommel studying maps during the battle at El Alamein
Erwin
Rommel was one of Germany’s most respected military leaders in World War Two.
Rommel played a part in two very significant battles during the war – at El
Alamein in North Africa and at D-Day. Rommel’s nickname was the ‘Desert Fox’ –
a title given to him by the British.
Rommel
was born in 1891 in Heidenheim. During World War One, he distinguished himself
in the German Third Army and he was decorated for his bravery and leadership.
After the war, Rommel remained as an infantry officer and instructor. His
chance for real military power came when Hitler, appointed chancellor in 1933,
recognised his ability. By 1938, Rommel was a senior military figure in the
Wehrmacht. His success in the campaigns of 1939 and especially the successful
attack on Western Europe in 1940, lead to Hitler appointing him commander of
the Afrika Corps in 1941. It was in the deserts of North Africa that Rommel
found real success.
The
nickname ‘Desert Fox’ was well deserved. Rommel was highly respected even by
the British. Auchinleck, Rommel’s opposite until his sacking by Churchill, sent
a memo to his senior commanders in North Africa, to state that it was their
responsibility to ensure that their men thought less of Rommel as a ‘super
military leader’ and more of him as a normal German commander.
"…(you must) dispel by all possible means the
idea that Rommel represents anything other than the ordinary German
general……….PS, I’m not jealous of Rommel."
Auchinleck
Rommel’s
fame in the desert rests on his success as a leader and also his uncompromising
belief that all prisoners of war should be well looked after and not abused.
One story told at the time was that Italian troops took from British POWs’
their watches and other valuables. When Rommel found out, he ordered that they
be returned to their owners immediately. To many British ‘Desert Rats’, Rommel
epitomised a gentleman’s approach to a deadly issue – war.
Rommel
knew that his options at the vital battles at El Alamein were limited.
Montgomery, who succeeded the dismissed Auchinleck, had the advantage of
Bletchley Park feeding him the battle plan Rommel was going to use. Rommel was
also seriously starved of the fuel he needed for his attack on Montgomery’s
‘Desert Rats’. The second battle at El Alamein was a very fluid battle but the
sheer weight of supplies that Montgomery had access to (amongst other equipment
were 300 new Sherman tanks) meant defeat for Rommel. The defeat of the Afrika
Corps was the first major setback for Hitler and the Wehrmacht. Hitler ordered
Rommel to fight to the last man and the last bullet. Rommel had far too much
respect for his men to obey this command and retreated. The Germans left North
Africa in May 1943. Despite this refusal to obey Hitler’s command, Rommel did
not lose favour with Hitler.
In
February 1944, Rommel was appointed by Hitler to be commander of the defences
of the Atlantic Wall. Rommel’s brief was to ensure that Western Europe was
impregnable.
He
took full responsibility for the Northern French coastline. The beaches at
Normandy were littered with his anti-tank traps which were invisible at
full-tide. As it was, the planning at D-Day meant that Rommel’s defences were
of little problem to the vast Allied attack. At the time of D-Day, Rommel
commanded the important Army Group B.
On
July 17th 1944, Rommel was wounded in an attack on his car by Allied fighter
planes. The attack took place near St. Lo.
Rommel
was implicated in the July 1944 Bomb Plot against Hitler and the Gestapo was
keen to interview this famous military commander. Hitler was keen to avoid the
public show trial of his most famous general and it seems that a 'deal’ was
done. Rommel died ‘of his wounds’ on October 14th 1944. He was given a state
funeral. But it seems that he committed suicide to a) save himself from a
humiliating show trial and b) it seems that Hitler promised that his family
would not be punished for Rommel’s indiscretions if he died ‘of his wounds’.
What
impact Rommel would have had on the Allies drive to Germany after D-Day is
difficult to speculate. However, the sheer odds against the Wehrmacht and
Luftwaffe post-June 1944 were such that this famous commander would have been
unable to hinder the Allies progress.
"He was a daring and much-admired general, his
personality and his fate creating an enduring legend denied to many orthodox,
and ultimately more successful, commanders."
Alan Palmer
Copyright © construindohistoriahoje.blogspot.com.br Você pode republicar este
artigo ou partes dele sem solicitar permissão, contanto que o conteúdo não seja
alterado e seja claramente atribuído a “Construindo História Hoje”. Qualquer site que
publique textos completos ou grandes partes de artigos de Construindo História Hoje tem a obrigação
adicional de incluir um link ativo para http:/www.construindohistoriahoje.blogspot.com.br. O link não é exigido
para citações. A republicação de artigos de Construindo História Hoje
que são originários de outras fontes está sujeita às condições dessas fontes e
seus atributos de direitos autorais.
Você quer saber mais?
(HISTORY LEARNING SITE)
(E-BOOKS PARA DOWNLOAD)
(REDE SOCIAL BADOO)
(AGREGADOR DELICIOUS)
(COMUNIDADE CHH NO DIHITT)
(COMUNIDADE DE NOTÍCIAS DIHITT)
(PÁGINA NO TUMBLR)
(REDE SOCIAL ASK)
(REDE SOCIAL VK)
(REDE SOCIAL STUMBLEUPON)
(REDE SOCIAL LINKED IN)
(REDE SOCIAL INSTAGRAM)
(ALBUM WEB PICASA)
(REDE
SOCIAL FOURSQUARE)
(ALBUM NO FLICKR)
(CANAL NO YOUTUBE)
(MINI BLOGUE TWITTER)
(REDE SOCIAL BEHANCE)
(REDE SOCIAL PINTEREST)
(REDE SOCIAL MYSPACE)
(BLOGUE WORDPRESS HISTORIADOR NÃO MARXISTA)
(BLOGUE LIVE
JOURNAL LEANDRO CLAUDIR)
(BLOGUE BLOGSPOT CONSTRUINDO
PENSAMENTOS HOJE)
(BLOGUE WORDPRESS O
CONSTRUTOR DA HISTÓRIA)
(BLOGUE BLOGSPOT DESCONSTRUINDO O CAPITALISMO)
(BLOGUE BLOGSPOT
DESCONSTRUINDO O COMUNISMO)
(BLOGUE BLOGSPOT DESCONSTRUINDO O
NAZISMO)
(BLOGUE WORDPRESS
CONSTRUINDO HISTÓRIA HOJE)
(BLOGUE BLOSPOT CONTATO)
(REDE SOCIAL FACEBOOK
CONSTRUINDO HISTÓRIA HOJE)
(REDE SOCIAL FACEBOOK LEANDRO HISTORIADOR)
(REDE SOCIAL GOOGLE + CONSTRUINDO HISTÓRIA HOJE)
(MARCADOR DICAS DE LEITURA)
(MARCADOR ARQUEOLOGIA)
(MARCADOR ÁFRICA)
(MARCADOR ANTIGUIDADE)
(MARCADOR PERSONAGENS DA HISTÓRIA)
(MARCADOR HISTÓRIA DO BRASIL)
(MARCADOR FÉ)
(MARCADOR COMUNISMO)
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário