Interesting about Tibbets flying Ike.
IIRC Fredendall is the only American general to have directly opposed Rommel. And a Rommel leading veteran troops.
My dad landed in North Africa shortly after Torch and his unit processed some of the German POWs. He said they were the best trained troops he saw in the entire war. One spoke perfect English and said “I feel sorry for you Americans. You have to fight the war, while we will be going to America”. Some German POWs worked on my grandparent’s farm in west Texas. Germans have long had a fascination with the American West so it couldn’t have been much better for them.
You’re correct. We also had some German POW’s not far from my home area in Maryland. There was a camp in Somerset County, I believe.
I have long admired Rommel. I think his retreat from El Alamein is without a doubt one of the outstanding feats of a leader of any side in any war. The man was a genius and cared deeply for his troops. I have never heard any ill spoken of him by any veteran in Europe or here.
Montgomery, of course did not defeat Rommel at El Alamein. Thanks to the boys at Bletchley Park and the British RAF in the Mediterranean, Rommel’s supplies and fresh troops were sunk before reaching Africa. Rommel and Patton had similar styles.............rapid movement. Montgomery never moved until he had amassed overwhelming odds in his favor no matter how long it took. That was quite evident in Normandy.
I find it interesting how throughout the war, the same people keep cropping up. I’ve almost finished writing a book which has a lot about the runup to Torch. Nonfiction.
History is fascinating and all the tales should be preserved.