Field-Marshall Erwin Rommel (1891 ~ 1944)was a German general and military theorist. Popularly known as theDesert Fox, the career serviceman served asfield marshalin theWehrmacht(Defense Force) ofthe Third Reich duringWorld War II, as well as earlier serving in theReichswehrof theWeimar Republic, and the army ofImperial Germany(1871 ~ 1918).

Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded thePour le Méritefor his actions on theItalian Front. In 1937 he published his classic book on military tactics,Infantry Attacks, drawing on his experiences from World War I.

In World War II, he distinguished himself as the commander of the7th Panzer Divisionduring the1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in theNorth African campaignestablished his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war and earned him the nicknameder Wüstenfuchs, the Desert Fox. Among his British adversaries, he earned a…