Military · 1891–1944
Born: 15 November 1891 · Died: 14 October 1944 · Age at death: 52
Erwin Rommel died aged 52. He was born on 15 November 1891 and died on 14 October 1944.
German field marshal nicknamed the Desert Fox for his North African campaign, forced to take poison after the plot against Hitler
Did you know?After being implicated in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, he was forced to take his own life to ensure the safety of his family.
Erwin Rommel became famous as the "Desert Fox". As a young officer in the First World War he won Germany's highest award for bold mountain attacks in Italy. In 1940 he led a panzer division racing across France. In North Africa he outmanoeuvred British forces for two years with speed and daring. He was finally defeated at El Alamein in 1942. He later strengthened the coastal defences in Normandy. Linked to the July 1944 plot against Hitler, he was forced to take poison to protect his family.
Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (pronounced; 15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), known as The Desert Fox (German: Der Wüstenfuchs, pronounced ), was a German Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal) during World War II.
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Profile
German field marshal, 1891–1944
Erwin Rommel was born in Heidenheim on 15 November 1891.
He won the Pour le Mérite in 1917.
He led the Afrika Korps from 1941.
He died on 14 October 1944.
Career highlights
Did you know?He wrote a book on infantry tactics, Infantry Attacks.
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