On this date in 1944, German General Erwin Rommel, known as “the Desert Fox,” was presented with a choice: face a public trial for treason, linked to the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler, or take cyanide. He opted for the latter.
Born in 1891 in Wurttenberg, Germany, Rommel was the son of a teacher. Despite lacking a military lineage, the newly formed German empire made military careers appealing, a path young Rommel chose when he became an officer cadet. Demonstrating natural leadership and remarkable courage during World War I, he fought in France, Romania, and Italy. After the war, he transitioned to a teaching role in German military academies, authoring a respected textbook, Infantry Attacks, which gained acclaim.
When World War II broke out, Rommel was assigned to command the troops protecting Hitler’s headquarters, a disappointment for someone yearning for front-line combat with infantry. However, in early 1940, he was finally given the opportunity to utilize his talents by taking command of the 7th Panzer Division. Despite being inexperienced with mechanized forces, he quickly grasped their benefits and demonstrated his leadership skills during the German offensive against the French channel coast in May.
In early 1941, Rommel took charge of the troops dispatched to North Africa to support Italy, Germany’s struggling ally, in maintaining control of Libya. It was in the North African deserts that Rommel built his esteemed reputation and earned his nickname due to his “fox-like” surprise attacks. Although he achieved notable victories against the British, whom he secretly respected, he grew increasingly disillusioned with this campaign, yearning to return to Europe. It wasn’t until he faced defeat in the second battle for el-Alamein in Egypt that the once “invincible” general was summoned back to Europe.
Tasked with preventing an Allied invasion, Rommel was reassigned to northern France. His recommendations for defensive measures against an enemy invasion went unheeded, leading to his diminishing trust in Hitler and Germany’s chances of winning the war. When approached by friends about the possibility of leading the German government if Hitler were to be overthrown, Rommel agreed—though he found discussions of assassination repugnant.
As D-Day commenced, Rommel’s forewarnings of disaster for Germany were realized. Yet, Hitler refused to consider negotiations with the Allies. Shortly after, following an attack by British bombers that forced him off the road, Rommel found himself hospitalized. During his recovery in Herrlingen, details of the thwarted assassination plot reached Hitler’s ears, including Rommel’s connections with the conspirators. While he was recuperating, two generals came to visit and presented him with a grim choice—trial or suicide. Rommel shared the events with his wife and son, informing them of his decision to use the cyanide capsules provided by the generals.
Rommel received a state funeral from the German government, with his death officially attributed to war wounds.
