Erwin Rommel

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ERWIN ROMMEL

Erwin Rommel Jr. was born on November 15, 1891 in Swabian. His father Erwin Rommel Sr., was a schoolmaster in Heidenheim in Wurttemberg , and Rommel's mother was Helene von Luz was a daughter of the local Regierungs-President.

As a child, he was even tempered and was unremarkable academically and athletically. After high school, Rommel Jr. was thinking of applying to the Zeppelin works at
Friederichshafen, but his father, an ex-artillery officer, advised him to go to the army instead. In July, 1910, Rommel became a cadet with the 124th Wurttemberg Infantry Regiment in the 26th Infantry Division of the German Imperial Infantry. He served as cadet in the Army until March 1911. Then he attended the prestigious military academy Konigliche Kriegsschule in Danzig and he left the academy in November of 1911. During Rommel's stay he also met the love of his life, Lucy Mollin, whom he would write to everyday during both World Wars, he raised to Lieutenant: Corporal in October and Sergeant at the end of the year.

Rommel first showed his courage and intellect during World War 1 when a group of 15 to 20 French soldiers were spotted by him and his reconnaissance of three other men. Rommel opened fire and dropped 10 members of the group with regular rifles. His second encounter was 800 yards northeast of Bleid, at freshly dug French trenches. He charged and repulsed all French with only few parts of his regiment, Then Rommel with two other men drove off a whole French column. After this, Rommel passed out from lack of sleep. When he awakened, a confused firefight had begun. He immediately rallied his men and repulsed the French attack. The battle of Longwy resulted in a loss of 15% of Rommel's men and 25% of his officers. After the battle, medical doctors informed Rommel that he was suffering from food poisoning, but Rommel would not leave the field. In his first action as Battalion Adjutant, Rommel and a group of 13 men repulsed a charge of 2 French companies and dropped 30 French, capturing 12. Then on September 9, his outfit was ordered to begin digging trenches. On September 10, they were ordered to charge. Rommel lost 4 officers and 40 men dead, and 160 men wounded, and 8 missing.

On September 22, Rommel was again ordered to at...

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...ery pieces, and headed by 1000 British and American tanks. The British attacked northward on October 29th and overran elements of the 164th German Division and an Italian Bersaglieri battalion. Another extensive barrage heralded the event and the aerial bombardment went on nonstop. Rommel began plans for withdrawal, even though this would be very costly if the enemy commander was aggressive. When Rommel receives a radio message from Hitler to keep fighting, Rommel felt be trade from Hitler and Rommel disobey and retreated.

As Rommel was recovering from his injuries the assassination famous plot to kill Hitler was launched. After the plot crumbled, under torture, one of the conspirators mentioned Rommel's name, implicating him in the plot. As friends and fellow officers were arrested as conspirators, Rommel realized the end was near. On October 14th, 1944, two generals came to Rommel's house and gave him an ultimatum. Either takes his own life and be buried with full honors or stand trial and put the future of his wife and son in jeopardy. Rommel said good-bye to his family, went with the two men, and swallowed poison. He was buried with full honors.

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