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Birth
Erwin J.E. Rommel is born in Heidenheim an der Brentz,Wurttemberg,Germany. He was born to a schoolteacher father and a mother who was the daughter of a senior official. He showed early determination to succeed at whatever he set out to achieve. -
Joins the army
Rommel joins the Imperial German army's 124th Wurttemberg Infantry Regiment as a officer cadet. His father said even though he was frail and skinny, he was atheletic. Therefore he recomended him for the army. He never joined the NAZI party because he did not like the evil they were doing.He used to be made fun of by his superior officers for not joining the NAZI party. -
Second Lieutenant
Rommel was commisioned second lieutenant at War Academy in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland). This is where he met his future wife, Lucie Maria Mollin. -
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Decorate World War I Hero
Rommel was wounded thrice during World War I. He had established himself as a brilliant young officer and was decorated with the Iron Cross, First and Second Classes, and the Pour le Merite. -
World at War
World war I begins and Romel is wounded multiple times. This is when he experienced his first combat experience during a German advance on France's Marne River. During the time of World War I he got his most promotions for his bravery, devotion, and hard work. -
Captain
Rommel was promoted to Captain in the German Imperial Army because he was a hard working person. His tactics he created were exeptional. One of his ideas was to run the panzer at top speed creating dust in which the enemy can't spot the Panzer division. The idea was approved, but they said the downside was that fuel would be wasted quickly. -
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Instructor
Rommel was posted as instructor at Infantry School, Dresden and authored a book 'Infantry Attacks' based on his observations and experience in World War I. The book attracted the attention of Hitler, the future Chancellor of Germany. With the book, he bacame favored by Hitler. -
Major General
Rommel was promoted to major general and served as commander of Hitler's bodyguard during the Polish Campaign of World War II. -
"Desert Fox"
Arrives in Tripoli to take command of Africa Korps. They nicknamed him the "Desert fox" because of his deceptive tactics in desert warfare. -
Turning point
Rommel is deafeted by British General Montgomery in the battle of El Alamein, one of the most important battles of World War II. This was the turning point for Rommel in Africa as it led to the decline of German superiority in North Africa. -
Invasion of Normandy
Rommel, as Field Marshal of the German Army, strengthened the defenses of Normandy and boosted the spirits of the German forces before the Allied D-day Invasion. -
Fall of the Hero
Rommel was injured severely in his last battle in Normandy. He had begun to disapprove Hitler's rule and created a failed plot to kill Hitler. Hitler gave him a choice of standing trial for treason or of taking his own life. Rommel swallows posion to save his family from Hitler's wrath. Many consider Rommel to be one of the greatest generals of all time.
