Battlefield Beast - Rommel (Illustrated Series of International Figures in World War II)

Author: Cheng Guangzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: World War II was the largest-scale war in human history. In this war between the fascist axis powers and the anti-fascist alliance, the number of troops and equipment involved, the extent of the battlefield, the novelty of combat tactics, the magnitude of losses, and the depth of impact were unprecedented. Although nearly 50 years have passed since the end of the war, with the passage of time and changes in circumstances, it still attracts numerous military strategists and historians from China and abroad to explore and write about it with its grand scale, profound connotations, and rich heritage. World War II provided countless soldiers with opportunities to demonstrate their talents and skills, giving rise to a generation of outstanding generals. Among the anti-fascist camp, a group of brilliant generals with remarkable achievements emerged, whose names will be etched in history forever. The "Illustrated Series of International Figures in World War II" consists of 15 volumes, featuring 15 famous figures, basically covering the representative figures on both sides of the war who played decisive roles in politics and military. These include books written by the popular international affairs expert and best-selling author Xie Lifu, such as "The Three of World War II" and "The Three of World War II," as well as other works compiled by military historians on famous generals of World War II. Erwin Rommel was born on November 15, 1891, into a family of a ordinary German middle school principal. He joined the army in 1910 and was promoted to lieutenant two years later. During World War I, he fought in France and later on the Eastern Front against the Romanians and Italians. Over the course of the four-year-long battle, as a junior officer, Rommel distinguished himself with his bravery and tactical acumen, showcasing his potential in the midst of the flames and earning the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit from Emperor Wilhelm II. After World War I, he served as a battalion commander and a lecturer at the Military Academy. In September 1936, he was appointed commander of Hitler's bodyguard. In 1937, Rommel published "Infantry Attacks," documenting his personal combat experiences during World War I, which embodied the offensive spirit of German military theory and emphasized the importance of firepower, advocating "Attack, attack, attack!" In 1938, Rommel was promoted to the position of Chief of Staff of the Führer's Headquarters and received the rank of major general. In February 1940, he was appointed commander of the 7th Panzer Division. During the French campaign, he led the 7th Panzer Division across France, reaching Cherbourg, and his rapid attack and long advance earned the division the nickname "The Devil's Division." In January 1941, when Italy's position in North Africa was on the brink of collapse, Hitler chose Rommel to command the German Afrika Korps as a lieutenant general. After arriving in North Africa, Rommel turned the tide of the war within less than two months, capturing the entire Cyrenaica region except for Tobruk, sweeping up the desert with his Rommel-style whirlwind. On June 15, the British launched a large-scale offensive against him codenamed "Operation Crusader." Rommel defeated the British's initial thrust in the mobile warfare and achieved victory. After this battle, Hitler promoted Rommel to the rank of field marshal. On November 18, Churchill sent more troops to North Africa and launched another large-scale offensive codenamed "Operation Lightfoot." After achieving initial success in the counterattack, Rommel personally led the main force of the Afrika Korps across the El Alamein border to the east, attempting to cut off the British retreat. Rommel's move caused panic among the British, and the commander of the Eighth Army, Cunningham, was ready to order a full retreat, but under the intervention of the British Middle Eastern commander O'Connor, the British continued their offensive. Rommel's rear was stretched thin and fuel was scarce, forcing him to withdraw. In January 1942, Rommel organized the withdrawal of his troops to Tripoli. After replenishing his supplies, he launched another offensive, quickly broke through the British defenses, and captured Tobruk, conquering Cyrenaica. On June 22, 1942, Rommel was promoted to the rank of field marshal, reaching the pinnacle of his career. At the age of 51, this was the most glorious moment of his life. Subsequently, Rommel pursued the British with his victorious army, advancing more than 500 kilometers in less than 10 days, reaching the Alamein in Egypt. However, the long supply line of Rommel's troops increased logistical difficulties, and his exhausted forces lost momentum, forcing him to pause the offensive. Meanwhile, the British strengthened their forces in North Africa, and a steady stream of new American heavy tanks arrived, transforming the face of the British Middle Eastern army. At the same time, Rommel had received almost no reinforcement since his decisive victory in the Cyrenaica campaign. On October 23, 1942, the new commander of the British Eighth Army, Montgomery, launched an offensive against Rommel codenamed "Operation Lightfoot." Rommel was fully aware of the unfavorable situation he faced. He lacked ammunition, and the fuel for his tanks and vehicles was running low. If his troops remained in place, a breakthrough by the British would result in a encirclement, and the German army would be utterly destroyed. Therefore, Rommel, defying Hitler's order to hold firm, ordered a withdrawal. At this point, Rommel had neither reserves nor fuel. However, Montgomery failed to detect Rommel's withdrawal in time, and when he did, he was too cautious and missed the best opportunity to pursue, allowing Rommel's retreating forces to narrowly escape annihilation. On November 9, Rommel finally led part of the Afrika Korps out of Egypt and withdrew to the territory of Libya and Cyrenaica. In November 1943, Rommel was appointed commander of the B Army Group and ordered to strengthen the "Atlantic Wall" defenses. He repeatedly emphasized the argument that "the enemy must be defeated on the coast." Under Rommel's push, the "Atlantic Wall" underwent a complete transformation in just a few months. Crude landing obstacles were erected at every possible beach where he believed the landing might occur, and five million mines were laid along thousands of kilometers of coastline. Sharp poles were installed in open areas to prevent gliders from landing. Despite the perfection of the "Atlantic Wall" defenses, the enemy could still bring strong forces and supplies to the shore through amphibious landings, so Rommel advocated deploying armored divisions near the coast to prevent the Allied air force from cutting off the connection between reserves and the battlefield. However, most senior officers, led by General von Rundstedt, believed that dispersing armored divisions to defend the coast would not only fail to enable a strong counterattack but also lose mobility. Therefore, they planned to deploy armored divisions in depth and wait until the main attack point of the enemy was determined before launching an attack. Due to the endless debate, Hitler made a fatal compromise decision: dispersing the armored divisions near the coast but still keeping a certain distance, which resulted in insufficient strategic and tactical armored reserves. On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the D-Day landing at Normandy, and Rommel commanded the B Army Group to fiercely resist. However, due to the failure of the German armored reserves to arrive in time at the battlefield and the strong air and naval gunfire support from the Allies, Rommel's original plan to drive the Allies into the sea at the beginning of the landing was ruined. Rommel's car was also attacked by Allied aircraft, and despite suffering multiple injuries, he miraculously survived. On October 14, 1944, while recovering from his injuries, Rommel took his own life by poison after being accused of participating in the July 20 assassination attempt on Hitler. Rommel's life was short, lasting only 52 years, yet he spent 34 years in the military. His remarkable military qualities made him a formidable figure on the battlefield. He infused the offensive spirit of German military theory into his command, excelling at seizing fleeting opportunities, daring to defy opposition, and launching swift attacks. He was always at the forefront of the battle, allowing him to control the rapidly changing battlefield. He embodied both the of a tiger and the cunning of a fox. When leading his troops in charge, he was like a fierce tiger descending from the mountains. When employing various tricks to deceive the enemy, he was like a cunning fox. Churchill once remarked on Rommel: "Although we fought each other in the devastation of war, allow me to say that he was a great general."