50 to 73 million people killed, that was the result of the Second World War that held the world in its firm grip from 1939 to 1945. The unimaginable deadliness of the war makes it the bloodiest war in all of human history. Throughout the war, two alliances had formed: The Allied on the one hand and the Axis on the other. The Axis forces consisted mainly of Germany, Italy and Japan whereas the 'rest' of the western world was part of the Allied force: From the Soviet Union to the United States and from France to the United Kingdom. Adolf Hitler led Germany to the occupation of most part of Europe, but ended up fighting British, French and US forces in France (western front) and the Soviet Union in Russia (eastern front). This two-front war proved to be too much for the German army and resulted in the German surrender in 1945. On the other side of the world, Japan capitalized after the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which killed almost a quarter of a million people (mostly civilians). The Second World War gave rise to a few exceptional leaders like General Patton, General Montgomery and Field Marshal Rommel. The last one receives special attention in this essay, not in the least because of the great admiration he received from both friend and foe.
Erwin Rommel, son of schoolmaster Erwin Rommel (senior) and his wife Helene, joined the German army in 1910. Upon graduating cadet school, the commandant found him to be a lad with a firm character, with willpower and a keen enthusiasm. He was orderly, punctual, conscientious and comradely. Indeed, he was 'a useful soldier' as his commandant put it. After his graduation, Rommel drilled new recruits. He was dedicated to his career in the army. He didn't drink and didn't smoke.
In 1914, Rommel and his men were sent towards the frontline of the First World War. Rommel, with an empty rifle while facing three French soldiers, was shot in his thigh. After recovering from this incident, Rommel led his men, crawling through 100 yards of barbed wire, into the French positions, capturing bunkers and defending them from counter-attacks from the French. Rommel only lost a few men. These acts of bravery got him the Iron Cross. Theodor Werner (one of his platoon leaders, boek), said that most part of the regiment was inspired by his initiative, courage and gallantry. He seemed to know no fear, and was always in front when there was danger so that others could follow him.
Rommel would again set the example in his next theater of war, Italy. In the mountains he breached enemy lines while another officer went off with the 'Pour le Mérite', the highest order of merit in the German army. Rommel felt the award belonged to him. He later stormed mountain peaks while again; another officer unrightfully received the 'Pour le Mérite'. Rommel was getting even more upset, but that only made him more eager. After leading the Germans to victory by capturing 8,000 Italian soldiers in one day at Longarone, the German high command decided to award Rommel with the 'Pour le Mérite'. Rommel proved himself to be a leader who has the whit and imagination to use bluff, bravado, surprise attack and rapid pursuit to a devastating effect. Nonetheless, Germany lost the war.
In between the wars he trained his soldiers about duty, obedience and the fatherland. But it was not until the Second World War that people would witness the qualities of Rommel as a leader in action.
Hitler came to power. Rommel admired Adolf Hitler because Hitler wanted to show the greatness and strength of Germany. Hitler noticed Rommel; he was impressed by the book Rommel had written about the First World War 'Infantry attacks'. Rommel's career prospered. With Germany's invasion of Poland, the Second World War had begun. Hitler gave Rommel command over the 7th panzer division. Soldiers praised Rommel because he led from the front (Meinhard Glanz, video). His division drove through the enemy lines in France, operating isolated from the German front. He attacked the French were they least expected it, with tremendous speed and devastating effect. That is why his division was called the 'ghost' division. Rommel was a tactician, with huge imagination (Count friedrich von Einsiedel 2nd luitenant, video). He was mentally and emotionally so powerful that he could bare huge responsibilities and cope with the greatest victories and the most painful losses. He was a man with great moral strength and the gift of speech. He was also a man with temperament, often taking bold decisions others would not dare to make. Rommel is referred to as a real soldiers' general. The attitude that Rommel had to the war was that the most important thing was to win it with as few casualties as possible. Rommel always set the example. He led from up front. Rommel did not prioritize his logistics and supplies, something that according to a few would show that he is not a true leader. The same criticasters would say that Rommel did not lead forces larger than 50,000 men into war, implying that true and great leaders lead huge armies. He was criticized by his method of leading up front. Many believed that in modern day warfare, to be able to overlook the whole situation one must be placed in his headquarters behind the front. 'No admiral ever won a battle from a shore base', Rommel would reply. On the battlefield, in the frontlines Rommel could show his 'fingerspitzengefuhl'. It was there that he could adjust his tactics and strategy to the situation at hand, and he was pretty good at that. We may conclude that Erwin Rommel had in himself most of the important characteristics of a 'good' leader we discussed in the lectures.
Rommel AKA the desert fox and his 'Afrikakorps'
Hitler would send his finest panzer general to fight the front in Africa. In 1941 Rommel's troops landed in Tripoli. During a military parade in Tripoli, Rommel had his few tanks drive around the block and follow in line again several times. Rommel bluffed the British agents in falsely noting the amount of tanks that were under his command. They believed he had quite an army. Later, he advanced his troops towards the British. But he did not only advance his tanks, he actually used every vehicle available to ride through the desert in order to circulate dust. The British, by viewing from their planes and seeing all those trails of dust, concluded that Rommel's army must be tremendous. Again, Rommel used his wit to instill fear in the British. Rommel also used his signature tactics of speed and surprise with success. These tactics gave him the name 'desert fox'.
Rommel standing on a tank, watching British movements in de desert, June 1941
At the fortress of Tobruk, Rommel suffered his first defeat. He then took a small detour and attacked Tobruk again, this time with success. Tobruk fell, and Rommel was becoming more and more a war hero. Rommel received respect not only from his own troops, but also from the British. Rommel treated POW's with honor and respect (he captured around 33,000 allied troops). Moreover Rommel was promoted to a field marshal by Hitler because of his great efforts. Rommel continued his way to Egypt, over 'Wavell Way' a road which was built by the British. The Germans even changed the name to 'Rommel Weg'.
The battle of El Alamein, the battle against Monty
It was along this road, near the outpost of El Alamein, where the British would make their last defensive line. It was their only way to stop the desert fox on his way to Cairo. And for Rommel and his Afrikakorps, this was the only route towards Cairo. Rommel's legend had become so great, that even the British started to believe in it. Rommel was more like a myth, who can cast a spell on his opposing forces. It made the British feel inferior. The British high command was quite upset about this because it demoralized its troops, even more so because the Egyptians saw Rommel as a liberator from the British. The British called in general Bernard Montgomery. Born as the 4th child in a family of 9, Montgomery is viewed as the black sheep of the family, the trouble maker and a renegade at times. He served in the First World War, and later in Palestine, Egypt and India. When the allied forces retreated from Dunkirk toward Great-Britain in the Second World War, Montgomery swore he would come back and beat the Germans. He is described as an egocentric en eccentric person, with a very single minded character. He is regarded as one of the most successful British officers during World War II, although he was also regarded as someone who was not willing to cooperate with his fellow Chiefs of staff. Montgomery had an iron determination. He was very controlling and disciplined. Unlike Rommel, Montgomery was more rigid and wanted to plan everything in detail.
Montgomery sitting in his tank, watching German movements in de desert, June 1942
While Rommel was called back to Germany, the Afrikakorps attacked El Alamein. The British were superior, both on the ground and in the air. The Afrikakorps faced annihilation which caused Rommel to rush back to his army. Rommel knew that there was only one solution: Withdraw. However, Hitler ordered the desert fox to hold out and make a stand. Rommel showed he had a tremendous backbone and resisted this order. He made an ultimate effort to retreat and save his poor troops, rather than listen to his Fuhrer and the man he admired Adolf Hitler. He saved 10,000 lives while being under attack by British and US troops. Hitler ordered Rommel to leave the Afrikakorps and put him on a leave of absence. Not a long time later, his former army in Africa surrendered.
The end of the desert fox
After being assigned to defend the French coastline against a suspected invasion, Rommel fortified the Atlantic wall. Although he would perform his duty, Rommel began to see what brutalities en extremities were being executed on Hitler's order. Rommel thought Germany would be better off without Hitler, but also thought that a dead Hitler was even more dangerous than a live one. That is why he declined to participate in an assassination attempt, on which the recent WWII movie Valkyrie (2008) was based. The assassination attempt failed, and the conspirators were executed. Rommel's name was being linked with these conspirators. Although the German high command believed that he was not a conspirator, they knew that Rommel was informed about plans for the assassination. And that was enough to drop the field marshal. On October the 14th 1944, a black German limo arrived at the house of Rommel near Uhl. Two generals came out of the car: General Burgdorf and general Maisel, who gave Rommel the choice between either taking his own life or facing the court of justice. The second choice would mean that his family could be held liable for the assassination as well. The first choice would give him an honorable death and a military funeral. Erwin Rommel made his lasts brave decision and chose for option a: The cyanide capsule.
