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**peleliuexplorer** · 01-28-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by Abzeichen View Post

I was discussing this issue on another forum and thought I may bring it up. It may have been discussed here before, but what the hell.

What was the reason behind Erwin Rommel's death? suicide, wounds from accident

, execution? What is your speculation?

If Rommel had pressed for a trial, would Hitler have given him a public trial? Such a highly respected General being charged with treason could have back-fired.

Per Manfred Rommel (son of the legendary German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel), he "had some relations" in the plot to assassinate Hitler. I believe he took his own life to avoid torture. According to Rommels son, Feild Marshal Rommel, being the great general that he was, was prepared to surrender the German army in the West once the Allied landings in France proved successful.

Not sure if this answered your question. Eric

**John Hodgin** · 01-28-2008, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by peleliuexplorer View Post

I believe he took his own life to avoid torture.

Have always believed that Rommel was told that if he did not take his own life, then his family would be killed. He took his life in order to save Manfred and Lucie.

**MilitaryCollect** · 01-28-2008, 03:42 PM

Rommel takes the pipe

Hello,

A few interesting links:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/rommel.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...tegory&id=6617

Quote from Wikipedia:

Because of Rommel's popularity with the German people, and possibly because he had been one of Hitler's favourites and one of Germany's most successful battlefield commanders, he was approached at his home by Wilhelm Burgdorf and Ernst Maisel on October 14, 1944. Burgdorf offered him a choice from Fieldmarshall Keitel- he could face the People's Court and potential persecution of his family, or choose to commit suicide quietly, and in the latter place the government would assure his family pension payments and a state funeral claiming he had died a hero. After a few minutes' thought by himself, Rommel announced that he chose to end his own life and explained his decision to his wife and son. Returning to Burgdorf's Opel, driven by SS Master Sergeant Heinrich Doose, Rommel was driven out of the village. Doose walked away from the car, leaving Rommel with Maisel. Five minutes later, Burgdorf gestured to the two men to return to the car - Doose, noticing that Rommel was slumped over and sobbing, replaced his fallen cap atop his head. Ten minutes later the group phoned Rommel's wife to inform her that Erwin was dead.

However, there also exists a theory on the German Commander's death, which states that Rommel was given a choice to face the People's Court or to be shot down by the German police. Rommel chose the latter because, he later explained to his wife and son, it would be better to die immediately with honour rather than die after facing national humiliation at the People's Court. He was then taken to a secret place in or around Berlin where he was shot by two Gestapo officials. He was then hailed as a national hero who died as a result of sustaining injuries.

C.

**Abzeichen** · 01-28-2008, 07:47 PM

Rommel

Originally posted by DAKcollector1 View Post

Hello,

A few interesting links:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/rommel.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...tegory&id=6617

Quote from Wikipedia:

Because of Rommel's popularity with the German people, and possibly because he had been one of Hitler's favourites and one of Germany's most successful battlefield commanders, he was approached at his home by Wilhelm Burgdorf and Ernst Maisel on October 14, 1944. Burgdorf offered him a choice from Fieldmarshall Keitel- he could face the People's Court and potential persecution of his family, or choose to commit suicide quietly, and in the latter place the government would assure his family pension payments and a state funeral claiming he had died a hero. After a few minutes' thought by himself, Rommel announced that he chose to end his own life and explained his decision to his wife and son. Returning to Burgdorf's Opel, driven by SS Master Sergeant Heinrich Doose, Rommel was driven out of the village. Doose walked away from the car, leaving Rommel with Maisel. Five minutes later, Burgdorf gestured to the two men to return to the car - Doose, noticing that Rommel was slumped over and sobbing, replaced his fallen cap atop his head. Ten minutes later the group phoned Rommel's wife to inform her that Erwin was dead.

However, there also exists a theory on the German Commander's death, which states that Rommel was given a choice to face the People's Court or to be shot down by the German police. Rommel chose the latter because, he later explained to his wife and son, it would be better to die immediately with honour rather than die after facing national humiliation at the People's Court. He was then taken to a secret place in or around Berlin where he was shot by two Gestapo officials. He was then hailed as a national hero who died as a result of sustaining injuries.

C.

The movie with James Mason I believe ends with the first version.

My follow up question, if Rommel had chose a trial in the people's Court, could that had back fired on Hitler. I think some people in Germany would wonder why such a great General would feel the war was lost.

Bruce

**pzrwest** · 01-28-2008, 09:58 PM

I have a video tape of a documentary called The Strange Death Of Erwin Rommel. And in it one of the conspiritors was heard to mention Rommel's name under torture and Hiltler offered Rommel a strange bargin. It stated that if Rommel was to take his own life and spare the Reich a public trial that Hitler guarranteed Rommel his family would be spared and he would receive a hero's funeral

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