A&E Biography - Rommel The Last Knight (1997)

This edition of Biography, the long running documentary series from A&E, explores the life of Erwin Rommel.

Rommel was a German field marshal, born in Heidenheim, Germany. He fought in World War I showing leadership for which he was rewarded with a teaching position at the Dresden Military Academy. He commanded Hitler's headquarters guard during the early occupations, and led a Panzer division during the 1940 invasion of France. He achieved remarkable success due to his understanding of mechanized warfare. He then commanded the Afrika Korps, where he again achieved major successes and earned the nickname, the Desert Fox because of his tactical abilities. He soon became Germany's youngest Field Marshall. Eventually driven into retreat by a strongly reinforced Eighth Army under Montgomery, he was withdrawn from North Africa, and appointed to an Army Corps command in France.

In charge of the defenses for France, he became increasingly aware of the desperation of Germany's situation. Returning home wounded in 1944, he condoned the plot against Hitler's life. After its discovery, he was allowed to commit suicide because of his military reputation rather than face a public trial.

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