Outcry in Germany over homage to Nazi general [Rommel]

AFP ^ | October 17, 2018 | Staff

[C19fan]

A senior official at Germany's defence ministry has sparked an uproar with a tweet commemorating the death of Erwin Rommel, a favourite general of Adolf Hitler who was later involved in a plot to kill the Führer. "Erwin Rommel, who was forced to commit suicide by the Nazis, died 74 years ago today," wrote Peter Tauber, a former close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, on Twitter.

[QualityMan]

billy mitchell

not dive bombing, but high level bombing.

[xkaydet65]

IIRC Rommel’s book was Infantry in Attack.And his success in France and that of his superior, Guderian, was initially the result of daring use of infantry to breach the Meuse, establish a beachhead, secure the bridges for the panzers , all against determined if badly led French forces.

[JewishRighter]

I think you meant tacticians, not statisticians.

[QualityMan]

Rommel was never directly connected to the july 20 plot.

hitler’s retribution eventually claimed almost 5000 lives.

Rommel took his own life, once given the option. Your assertion about his response after being approached is correct, as I understand it.

[oldvirginian]

It was Heinz Guderian (Hurrying Heinz) who wrote the German book on motorised warfare in his book Atchung Panzer! (Danger Panzer!).

Rommel wrote the book on the use of infantry in his book Infantry At War.
He was also known for combining infantry and armor better than his contemporaries.
Except for Patton.

[BlueLancer]

I think it was also Rommel's command who first used anti-aircraft 88mm guns in an anti-tank role during the Ardennes campaign.

When I play computer tactical wargames in the German role, I always ensure that I have a strong battery of 88mm guns in my unit: great for long-range tank killing and also for anti-aircraft work.

[oldvirginian]

IIRC his chief of staff was involved up to his neck and gave up Rommel to save himself.?

[Covenantor]

Didn't see this post before. The German who developed both Blitzkrieg and Panzer doctrine was actually General Heinz Guderian...literally wrote the book. Rommel used what he learned and adapted those tactics to suit North Africa and the lack fuel, ammo and parts denied by Allies killing the supply ships thanks to the code breaker boffins at Bletchley Park. Some quotes:

You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.

If the tanks succeed, then victory follows.

There are no desperate situations, there are only desperate people.

It is sometimes tougher to fight my superiors than the French.

Logistics is the ball and chain of armored warfare.

Whenever in future wars the battle is fought, armored troops will play the decisive role.

It is decisive to completely destroy Warsaw.

The engine of the tank is a weapon just as the main-gun.

[Conan the Librarian]

There is a LOT of us out here who still play it (and other games). GREAT game.

I once got a game of AK with Cory Wells of Three Dog Night fame. Highlight of Life there! He was a great guy...taken WAY too soon.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is “the Campaign for North Africa”, where you have to track gallons of water, ammo, fuel and many other items. Sheldon on “Big Bang Theory” set it up on the show last season.

[pierrem15]

He was terribly naive in some ways: I read he returned from North Africa at some point (I think in 1942) and asked an acquaintance, "What happened to all our Jewish friends?"

He was informed what most suspected (his friend later confirmed) and was dumbfounded.

He also suffered tremendous PTSD from WWI: that's why he was such a meticulous planner-- he knew the stress of anticipating battle would make him violently ill for a few days just before an attack, so he carefully planned and rehearsed everything with his staff beforehand. As soon as the battle started, the sickness dissipated.

[RinaseaofDs]

Battle of the Bulge was 1944, correct?

I agree, they were on defense from 1942 on. However, if Patton doesn’t relieve Bastogne on Christmas in 1944, could the war have dragged on another couple of years, or was Hitler losing it too badly by then?

[Don Corleone]

Whenever in future wars the battle is fought, armored troops will play the decisive role.

Especially if they have 'smart missiles' and are traveling at Mach 3.

[sima_yi]

Rommel was indeed involved in the plot to remove Hitler, although he was opposed to assassination. He was in favor of removing him from power and perhaps putting him on trial.

(Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, William L. Shirer)

[Covenantor]

Guderian wrote that, IIRC, in the 1930s....

[Leaning Right]

> if Patton doesn’t relieve Bastogne on Christmas in 1944, could the war have dragged on another couple of years <

From what I’ve read, the Germans were finished not when Bastogne was relieved, but when the weather cleared. Then the overwhelmingly superior Allied air force could do its thing.

And since the weather was going to clear sooner or later, the whole German plan was doomed from the start.

[RinaseaofDs]

Interesting.

So it was the air/armor/infantry combo that made it inevitable. Would that be generally correct?

[rjsimmon]

He was implicated by Gen. Beck and Goerdler, the Mayor of Leipzig. An intermediary was also quite damning to the Field Marshal. A Dr. Strolin, whom his wife and he were friends with. They even served together in WWI.

Rommel lost all respect for Hitler after el Alamein due to the Fuhrer’s disdain for Germany’s people. He never once bought into the assassination plot, only that Hitler should be arrested and brought to trial, specifically because his order’s grew more and more incoherent.

[Leaning Right]

> So it was the air/armor/infantry combo that made it inevitable. Would that be generally correct? <

I’m no expert, but I think I’d add “supplies” to your list. Part of the German plan was the rather goofy idea that they’d be able to capture what they needed as they rolled along. For some reason they thought that the retreating Allies would just abandon supply depots, and not destroy them.

[samtheman]

The Germans knocking this guy for the tweet are like the people we have here who want to remove the statues of confederate generals and soldiers. The left constantly seeks to demonize historical figures of the past (except their own pantheon of heroes, of course).
—
yup

[oldvirginian]

“With regard to armored warfare development, many other soldiers contributed such a Guderian.”

Heinz Guderian was the only General to defy Hitler TWICE and live.

When the order came to halt the advance on Dunkirk Guderian kept rolling, calling it a “reconnaissance in force”.
Only when told he would be denied gas and munitions did he stop.

When the Russians counter-attacked from Moscow Guderian wanted to fall back to a better position. He even flew to Hitler’s hq to plead his case.
Hitler denied his request.
Guderian returned to the front and pulled off a series of withdrawals anyway.
Field Marshall Gunther von Kluge, commander of Army Group Center relieved him of command and sent him back to Germany as a reserve pool officer.

In 1943 Hitler decided he needed Guderians expertise and created the office of Inspector of Armored Troops. Guderian was to control the development and production of tanks and mobile artillery and the training of the troops.
He wanted more Panzer IV’s and Panthers but was over ruled by Hitler who was mesmerised by super tanks and huge railway guns.

Guderian very nearly talked Hitler out of authorizing the Kursk offensive, pointing out that the terrain was unfavorable and the Russians had built up a formidable defense.
General Wilhelm Keitel strongly believed the offensive was of great political importance.
Guderian remarked, “How many people do you think even know where Kursk is? It’s a matter of profound indifference to the world whether we hold Kursk or not...”

Guderian ended the war as Chief of Staff of the Army.

He later had a hand in starting the German Defense Force, the precursor of the Bundesweher.

Heinz Guderian was a very intriguing fellow.