BLUF
His troops and his enemies respected WW2 German General Rommel—his daring resulted in tactical success. Still, in the long run, he did not pay enough attention to logistics, and in the end, his forces were driven out of Africa.Summary
Turner Collins writing in the Collector makes the following points:
- He was a successful WW1 German officer.
- Remained in the army between WW1 and 2.
- Commanded Hitler’s escort battalion.
- Hitler gave him command of the Seventh Panzer Division.
- He was a daring and successful commander during the Battle of France.
- This success led to him commanding the Afrika Korps in North Africa.
Worth however noting that not everybody considers Rommel a particularly good commander and there is some ambiguity over his commitment to the Nazis.:
- Drive to Nowhere: The Myth of the Afrika Korps, 1941-43 | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (nationalww2museum.org)
- Erwin Rommel | Holocaust Encyclopedia (ushmm.org)
References
- MILITARY HISTORY: INDEX of PAGES AND COLLECTIONS ON THE RAAF RUNWAY
- 7 Talented Generals Who Shaped World War II |The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- Tobruk: 8 facts about the WW2 confrontation in North Africa | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
References from the Web:
- AUG 2022 How Rommel The Desert Fox Fell Afoul Of Hitler-the Friday Times
- Oct 2022 Erwin Rommel: The Renowned Military Officer’s Downfall-the Collector
