1891-1944. German field marshal. He served in
World War I, and in World War II he played an
important part in the invasions of central
Europe and France. He was commander of the N
African offensive from 1941 (when he was
nicknamed `Desert Fox') until defeated in the
Battles of El Alamein. He was commander in
chief for a short time against the Allies in
Europe 1944 but (as a sympathizer with the
Stauffenberg plot against Hitler) was forced
to commit suicide. His son Manfred Rommel
(1928-) became mayor of Stuttgart 1975.