“Yes! Lot’s of misinformation on this thread.”
Well, it IS the internet. :p)
Rommel was a very interesting soldier.
At only 5’6” he was definitely on the short side but his knowledge and daring more than made up for it.
Rommel was in charge of Hitler’s security detail during the invasion of Poland. He used his position there to get a command for the invasion of France.
During the invasion of France he sent part of his 7th Panzer division racing ahead to take strategic crossroads, instructing them to leave anti-tank guns at a crossroad.
After getting the rest of the division rolling he jumped into his staff car and arrived at the anti-tank guns just as some French tanks came into view.
He went down the line telling each gun which tank to fire at.
Those tanks blowed up real good.
While trying to cross the Meuse river Rommel jumped into the water himself to help the engineers building the pontoon bridge.
He also manned a machine gun to help beat off a counter attack.
The man loved being in the thick of the action.
When he had been given command of 7th Panzer most senior officers dismissed him as a butt kisser.
By the time he reached Dieppe no one was doubting his ability.
Given the supply situation in North Africa Rommel did much better than anyone else could have.
As for Normandy, Hitler was positive that the invasion would come at Calais.
Rommel had studied every previous allied landing and correctly predicted Normandy as the invasion point.
Hitler was so sure that he would only let the Panzer divisions move on his personal order.
By then it was too late.
Rommels biggest attraction to Hitler was rebuilding the army. When Hitler started re-arming Rommel stated that it was honorable to be a soldier again.
Though he loved the Wermacht Erwin Rommel detested the Waffen-SS.
When he was in Italy he had the SS units transferred out of his area of command and had none in North Africa.
He reportedly made Manfred promise he would never join the SS.
Manfred Rommel joined the military at age 14 and helped man an anti-aircraft gun.
FWIW could you imagine an army with Guderian, Rommel and Patton as the field commanders?
Just point them in a direction and get out of the way!
Rommel always led from the front. Gotta respect a General who does that.