Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel
15 November 1891 (1891-11-15) – 14 October
1944 (1944-10-15) (aged 52)
Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel
Nickname
"Wüstenfuchs" ("Desert Fox")
Place of
birth
Heidenheim, Kingdom of
Württemberg German Empire
Place of
death
Herrlingen, Nazi Germany
Allegiance
German Empire (to 1918)
Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany
Years of
service
1911–1944
Rank
Generalfeldmarschall
Commands
held
7th Panzer Division
Afrika Korps
Panzer Army Africa
Army Group Africa
Army Group B
Battles/
wars
World War I
• First Battle of the Argonne -
(1915)
• Carpathian Offensive (1915)
• Battle of Caporetto (1917)
World War II
• Fall of France
• Battle of Arras (1940)
• North African Campaign
• Siege of Tobruk (1941)
• Operation Crusader (1941)
• Battle of Gazala (1942)
• Battle of Bir Hakeim (1942)
• First Battle of El Alamein
(1942)
• Battle of Alam Halfa (1942)
• Second Battle of El Alamein
(1942)
• Battle of Medenine (1943)
• Battle of the Kasserine Pass
(1943)
• Battle of Normandy (1944)
Awards
Pour le Mérite
Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
with Oak Leaves, Swords, and
Diamonds
Military Merit Cross (Austria-
Hungary)
Relations Manfred Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (
listen )
(15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) (also
known as the "Desert Fox", Wüstenfuchs,
listen ), was perhaps the most famous German
Field Marshal of World War II.
He was a highly decorated officer in World
War I, being awarded the Pour le Mérite for
his exploits on the Italian front. In World War
II, he further distinguished himself as the
commander of the "Ghost Division" during
the 1940 invasion of France. However, it was
his masterful leadership of the Deutsches
Afrikakorps in the North African campaign
that established the legend of the Desert Fox.
He is thought by many to have been the most
skilled commander of desert warfare in the
war.[1] He later commanded the German
forces opposing the Allied cross-channel inva-
sion at Normandy.
Rommel is considered to be a chivalrous
and humane military officer, in contrast wit