The Rommel family had little to no military history. They were only a simple, respectable Swabian family with an average income and they did not have any ties or any influential friends in military circles. This was strange considering Erwin Rommel's military success, since most of the high-ranking officers within the German military usually were born into military families or had aristocratic ties. By the age of 19 Rommel joined the 124th Infantry Regiment at Weingarten, and in March of 1911 he was posted to the War Academy in Danzig. While he was at the War Academy, Rommel would eventually meet his future wife, Lucie Mollin. Also while he was at the War Academy in 1912, Rommel would study hard and be promoted to a 2nd Lieut

Previously Rommel had talked with a General named Speidel about capturing Hitler, but never about killing him. Rommel only talked about the plight of the soldiers, and that the war should end. He actually voiced his opinion on overthrowing Hitler, but never about killing him. He thought that this would make Hitler a martyr to the German people, and no peace could be pursued. The war would be fought for Hitler's memory, and Rommel thought that it would be self-defeating to kill him. Speidel himself admitted only to knowing about a plot to overthrow Hitler, but he did not know any of the details. The most damaging evidence to Rommel's case came from a Colonel named Caesar von Hofacker. Hofacker told a colleague that he had informed Rommel and Speidel of the coming coup, and Rommel had said that he was content to play his own part to bring the plan to success. Another interpretation was handed down by Speidel who said that Hofacker told him that he gave Rommel that response, when asked if he would help in the coup. Either way, Rommel could not live after allegedly saying these things with two witnesses. Rommel was presented with an ultimatum.

Hitler gave him a full military funeral as was promised, with von Rundstedt replacing Hitler in his stead. Rundstedt spoke of Rommel's career and exploits, and he claimed, "His heart belonged to the Fuhrer." His heart belonged to the Fatherland, Germany, not to Hitler. His wife Lucie watched in agony and a sense of shock as those who attended knew the truth but still grieved her husband. Rundstedt, obviously knowing about the truth and loathing it, could only say a few words to the widow and son. He left promptly. Germany would lose the war just as Rommel and virtually all the German Generals and Field Marshals had thought. Hitler would self inflict his end by suicide just as Rommel did, with the exception of a pistol being also used by Hitler. Hitler, in his paranoia, had killed one of his best subordinates, and so ended the chapter of history dominated by the "Desert Fox" (The Rommel Papers, 1982).

Version. 1997. http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761573313

Nov. 1995. http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/11115.html (26 April 2001).

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