The Scent Of A General: Rommel's Cologne Choice

Erwin Rommel, the German field marshal also known as the Desert Fox, was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his actions on the Italian Front. In 1937, he published a classic book on military tactics, Infantry Attacks, drawing on his experiences in the war. In World War II, he commanded the 7th Panzer Division during the 1940 invasion of France, earning a reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war. Rommel's leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as a wily and aggressive commander, and earned him his famous nickname.

Rommel's cologne of choice was Eau de Cologne, a perfume originating from Cologne, Germany, and created by Italian perfume maker Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709.

Erwin Rommel's early life and career

Erwin Rommel was born on November 15, 1891, in Heidenheim, Germany. Rommel's father was a teacher, and his mother was the daughter of a senior official. Rommel joined the 124th Württemberg Infantry Regiment as an officer cadet in 1910. During World War I, Rommel fought as a lieutenant in France, Romania, and Italy. Rommel's deep understanding of his men, his courage, and his natural leadership skills demonstrated his potential for a great military career. After the war, Rommel remained in the infantry as a frontline officer and was appointed to posts at various military academies. Rommel's experiences in World War I and his ideas on training young soldiers formed the basis of his military textbook, 'Infanterie greift an' ('Infantry Attacks'), published in 1937.

In 1938, Rommel was appointed commandant of the officers' school in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. At the beginning of World War II, he was appointed commander of the troops guarding Hitler's headquarters and became personally acquainted with the Führer. In February 1940, Rommel assumed command of the 7th Panzer Division and led them during the invasion of France in May 1940. Rommel's leadership during the French campaign brought him recognition, and he was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

In February 1941, Rommel was appointed commander of the German troops sent to aid the Italian army in Libya. Rommel's successes in North Africa earned him the nickname "Desert Fox" from both friend and foe. In August 1941, Rommel took command of the wider Axis forces in North Africa, and his reputation as a bold and innovative commander grew. Rommel's aggressive tactics often involved taking advantage of the terrain to outflank the enemy and launch surprise attacks. Rommel's successes in North Africa continued with victories at the Battle of Gazala and the capture of Tobruk in 1942.

However, Rommel faced setbacks at the First and Second Battles of El Alamein, where his forces were defeated by the British. Rommel returned to Germany in March 1943 due to ill health. He was then appointed Commander-in-Chief Southeast in July 1943 and later moved to command the defence of the Alps and, subsequently, the Axis forces in northern Italy. In August 1943, Rommel was appointed Inspector General of the Atlantic Wall, responsible for fortifying the coastal defences along the northern European coast in anticipation of an Allied invasion. Rommel disagreed with Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt's strategy of holding a mobile reserve force and instead advocated for halting the invasion on the beaches.

Rommel was approached by conspirators involved in the plot to assassinate Hitler, and while he supported the cause, he did not agree with the plan to kill the Führer. Rommel was seriously injured in an air attack on his staff car in July 1944 and was implicated in the plot due to his association with other conspirators. Facing charges of treason, Rommel was given the choice to commit suicide or face a public trial that would result in his disgrace and execution. He chose the former and took his own life on October 14, 1944.

Rommel's role in World War I

Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I, earning the Pour le Mérite for his actions on the Italian Front. He fought in France, Romania and Italy, and was awarded the Iron Cross, Second Class, for his actions in September 1914 and January 1915. Rommel was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) in September 1915 and transferred to the newly created Royal Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion of the Alpenkorps.

In August 1917, Rommel's unit was involved in the battle for Mount Cosna, a heavily fortified objective on the border between Hungary and Romania. Rommel's battalion was then assigned to the Isonzo front, in a mountainous area in Italy. The offensive, known as the Battle of Caporetto, began on 24 October 1917. Rommel's battalion, consisting of three rifle companies and a machine gun unit, was part of an attempt to take enemy positions on three mountains: Kolovrat, Matajur, and Stol. In two and a half days, from 25 to 27 October, Rommel and his 150 men captured 81 guns and 9,000 men (including 150 officers), at a loss of six dead and 30 wounded. Rommel achieved this success by taking advantage of the terrain to outflank the Italian forces, attacking from unexpected directions or behind enemy lines, and taking the initiative to attack when he had orders to the contrary.

In January 1918, Rommel was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and assigned to a staff position in the 64th Army Corps, where he served for the remainder of the war.

Rommel's relationship with Adolf Hitler

Rommel's relationship with Hitler was a complicated one. Rommel was not a member of the Nazi Party, but he did welcome Hitler's rise to power. Rommel was one of Hitler's favourite generals, and his close relationship with the dictator benefited his career. Rommel was a supporter of Hitler, at least until near the end of the war, but he was not necessarily sympathetic to the party or the paramilitary forces associated with it.

Rommel first met Hitler in 1934 and was soon appointed to command Hitler's escort battalion. Hitler gave Rommel command of the 7th Panzer Division in 1940, and Rommel's successes in France and North Africa were played up by Nazi propaganda. Rommel's reputation as a superior military instructor led Hitler to appoint him as the War Ministry's liaison officer to the Hitler Youth in 1937. However, Rommel clashed with Hitler Youth leader Baldur von Schirach and was quietly removed from the project in 1938.

Rommel's relationship with Hitler continued to develop during the invasion of Poland, where Rommel served as commander of the Führerbegleitbrigade battalion, tasked with guarding Hitler. Rommel attended Hitler's daily war briefings and had opportunities for one-on-one conversations with the dictator. Hitler gave Rommel a promotion to the rank of Generalmajor ahead of more senior officers. Rommel's successes in France and North Africa were played up by Nazi propaganda, even though his successes in North Africa were achieved in Germany's least strategically valued theatre of the war.

Rommel's relationship with Hitler began to sour in 1942, when Rommel realised the war could not be won. Rommel's attitude towards Hitler changed, and he became disillusioned and critical of Hitler's leadership. Rommel was implicated in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler, and Hitler decided to eliminate him quietly instead of having him immediately executed, as many other plotters were. Rommel was given the choice between suicide, in return for assurances that his reputation would remain intact, or facing a trial that would result in his disgrace and execution. He chose the former and took a cyanide pill.

Rommel's command of the Afrika Korps

Erwin Rommel was a German army officer who rose to the rank of Field Marshal during World War II. He was renowned as an innovator of armoured tactics, particularly as commander of the Afrika Korps in North Africa.

Rommel took command of German forces in North Africa in February 1941. He earned the nickname "Desert Fox" after achieving stunning early victories there. Rommel's leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war.

Rommel's forces scored several quick victories against British defences around Cyrenaica and surrounded the coastal fortress of Tobruk by mid-April. In early 1942, he launched another offensive, culminating in the defeat of the British in the Battle of Gazala in June and the capture of Tobruk. Rommel's speedy surprise attacks drew awe and praise even from his enemies, and his nickname, "Desert Fox", became widely used among British soldiers as well as German ones.

However, the tide of war soon turned against the Axis in North Africa, with Allied forces recapturing Tobruk in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, defeating Rommel's exhausted and inadequately supplied troops. In March 1943, Hitler ordered Rommel—by now a field marshal—back to Europe.

Rommel's death and the circumstances surrounding it

Rommel's death was the result of his involvement in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Rommel was given the option to either commit suicide or face a public trial, which would have resulted in his disgrace and execution, as well as the persecution of his family. He chose the former and took a cyanide pill on 14 October 1944.

Rommel's death was not immediate. He was hospitalised with major head injuries after his staff car was strafed by a fighter plane on 17 July 1944. He was given a state funeral and it was announced that he had succumbed to his injuries from the strafing of his staff car in Normandy.

Rommel's death was not without controversy. He was implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler, but the extent of his involvement is debated. Rommel was disillusioned with Hitler's leadership and Germany's chances of winning the war. He had expressed his views in a letter to Hitler, urging him to end the war with the Western Allies. Rommel was also in contact with friends who were involved in the secret opposition to Hitler. However, it is unclear whether Rommel supported the assassination attempt or not.

Rommel's death was also surrounded by mystery. The exact details of the accusations against him remain unknown. The testimonies of those present during his death are questionable, and there are doubts about their credibility.

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