Erwin Rommel: The General Who Defied Hitler

[@Biographics]

Hello everyone. We've been experimenting with a bit of a podcast (a few people were asking for audio versions so they can get Biographics while doing other things)! Fair warning: none of these are new biographies, but rather me having a bit more of a free form chat around the script. I'd love to know what you think, if these are useful, wanted etc :). Thanks, Simon. Links: iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time/id1450405839?mt=2 Sitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time Website: biographics.blubrry.net/ RSS: biographics.blubrry.net/feed/podcast/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6N9PS4QXF1D0OWPk0Sxtb4 Trolled people: open.spotify.com/show/0JzjzwJcRqFZ3BcACtahh8?si=MG5HSm1oT0GTNm_r8_HQcg

[@Straycat77777]

Do you have a biography of Werner Mölders a German flying ace of WW2? Would be interesting.

[@haroldocesanteliz5665]

I think it is excelent. Thank you.

[@jaypea30]

@Titus Robertson yeah

[@taraellis7885]

Love the channel but please slow down. You're speaking too fast. It makes me not want to listen. Thanks

[@DELTA_GAMING-rl6kx]

That man was not a Nazi the Gestapo suspected him for having a lead role in operation Valkyrie and they gave him two choices commit suicide or face public execution he committed suicide in order to save his family's name and Legacy and was given a lavish State funeral with lots of Nazi propaganda everywhere as a last insult to the great General and his family you should have more respect than simply using his name for clickbait

[@yrsa7637]

" Am on the coast " Rommel was texting before texting was a thing. Ahead of his time.

[@backpfeifengesicht8415]

It's actually fitting in German.

[@ariari4133]

Allemaal maar geen enkele alleen.hemzelf

[@irisheyes9634]

"Coast" would have been more accurately texty although maybe just a selfie on the beach is more likely.

[@ATLKing404]

New Reich who dis

[@cullenholloway8377]

Dunca mine nigga

[@ethanguest3438]

"his sister became an art teacher" *Ironic*

[@ethanguest3438]

@HQ Night well, that would be weird

[@ajax7699]

@HQ ok

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

@Arkane Betha and should have stayed in art school,not becoming a antisemitical,mass murdering dictator.😒

[@salj.5459]

Maximiliano Moreira His art wasn't that good, you can see some online

[@maximilianolimamoreira5002]

@@salj.5459 i know,but it would be ten thousand times better,than be a dictator prone to genocide

[@SophiaAstatine]

I find it oddly hilarious that he sent a telegram to Hitler, worded in the fashion of a modern text message

[@alexandert696]

"adolf chan, we are kinda losing over here . lmao XD " - rommie

[@manfromnantucket9544]

Would've been amazing if he threw in an emoji or something for good measure

[@franklopez557]

Maybe he invented the first text message.

[@aaronseet2738]

Including an attachment photo of selfie at beach.

[@roshansreedhar4727]

@@alexandert696 "send help pls adolf-chan UwU"

[@weemido831]

He wasn’t a nazi. He never took part in the nazi party. He was a leader in the armed forces in the German army.

[@fuckinantipope5511]

Rommel was a Nazi. He wanted to kill Hitler not because he hated the Nazis, he wanted him gone because he saw that Hitler will ruin Nazi germany

[@sensefire4999]

@@fuckinantipope5511 he was well respected between the american generals and his troops loved him. He fought for his country.

[@assassin_rk42]

@@fuckinantipope5511 Rommel hated the other Nazi's, he only was a friend to just Hitler

[@lisasmith516]

@@sensefire4999 Many speak, God ALONE "Judges." I appreciate Rommel as a courageous, and intelligent man, regardless.

[@uofdub20]

He never joined the NAZI party

[@SchwanzdesWolf]

Rommel is still one of the best military leaders of history. My grandfather (an Australian soldier in Tobruk during the siege) actually somehow got his hands on a photo of Rommel drinking with other German soldiers. No idea how he got it but it's pretty eerie....

[@addisonwelsh]

I don't mean to disrespect your grandfather, but he probably looted it.

[@Legitpenguins99]

@@addisonwelsh nah. He merely "acquired" it from some German guy who "wasnt using it anymore"

[@winstein3689]

What are his opinions on him

[@cherylwebb2255]

He wants another one ya??

[@sneakydew8410]

rommel had mad respect for the australian forces in africa, mainly for the ingenuity they had for scavenging weapons and vehicles from defeated axis forces and making them their own

[@sarkasmt2]

Panzer Elite, Born to compete, Never retreat, *G H O S T D I V I S I O N*

[@wendigo017]

Living or dead, always ahead, fed by your dread.

[@im_gxld6569]

Wendigo01 always ahead as the blitzkrieg rages on, Recking moral with the sound of blazing guns

[@kairud6392]

First into line if fire, first into hostile land. Tanks leading the way, LEADING THE WAAAY

[@freddouglas1762]

Leaving a trail of destruction through a foreign land

[@atlas9852]

With the force of a furious storm!

[@kevg3563]

Rommel was a good guy, he was just on the wrong side. Also, my neighbour who died some years ago now was captured by Rommel in North Africa and let him, and about 60 other British soldiers go free two weeks later. He said, 'your unit is about 120 miles in that direction. Off you go and good luck'.

[@totallybobross2414]

R.I.P to your neighbor

[@totallybobross2414]

And Rommel

[@ThisCharmlessMan]

I know it's really late, but did he give the soldiers supplies? 120 miles in the desert would be a death sentence without plenty of food, drink and shelter.

[@3isen]

@@ThisCharmlessMan probably not much... I mean that was probably the reason why he let them go in the first place. The Africa korp had a problem with supplies anyway, making the fact that Rommel refused to execute POW's even more respectable imo

[@humayunrao9269]

@@ThisCharmlessMan this is the most stupidies thing one could say...he was fighting patton on one side and montogremmy on other without suplies and u want him to give a uber ride with uber eats to enemy soldier behind the line...naive af

[@skaterpulse6746]

Erwin Rommel is a prime example of someone who fights for his country not an ideology

[@codyfolsom365]

For his country not his government

[@davidlee6117]

Hit the nail on the head there!

[@imamshuzaifah]

A country itself is an ideology, one cannot separate the two.

[@jonathanf3434]

he was an honorable man. he showed extreme hospitality to his POW's, and was the only army leader under which no atrocities were ever reported by Allied POWs.

[@businessmanbrute2211]

​​@@imamshuzaifahA country is it's people and people have different ideologies and the majority often changes with time. I think Stalin put it nicely. “Hitlers come and go but Germany and the German people remain”

[@makowako6035]

fun fact: Erwin Rommel led the first attack on my country( Belgium) where 1 regiment of Chasseurs ardennais, managed to stop him for 14 days. Their regiment was only 40 men strong, while Rommel had difficulties defeating them with his panzer division. After the Belgian troops were captured he asked where the rest of the men were. The Belgians answered that there were no others, Rommel actually congratulated them on such a good defense.

[@gamingcultist]

Another fun fact, your Chasseur Ardennais have an amazing song in tribute to them, called Resist and Bite by the Swedish metal band Sabaton. The 9th Panzer division has one as well, Ghost Division.

[@happymonkeyfish]

Damn, Rommel gave a GG before GG was a thing

[@chaosinsurgent6089]

Resist and Bite.

[@Mrram_930]

The mistake Hitler made was sending Rommel to Africa...Rommel was needed in Russia... The dream match up ..Rommel vs Zuokov

[@yanivgalmor1747]

Yea. I think Rommel’s potentials was wasted in Africa and not in an actual important area of the war

[@Eran_Haim]

@@yanivgalmor1747 I love your fucking name

[@josiasbernard7618]

@Vichy France Ball UTTP THDTC Not really, Russia was invaded because: fear of communism, hate towards the slavs and one of their operations was about taking it's resources (i.s oil and ores) Africa was more geographical, the Suez, the Sinai peninsula and the Nile were perfect launch pads for outer-European raids on many British colonies such as India and Australia.

[@walx274]

Yeah actually I little known fact is that operation Barbarossa and the invasion of the Soviet Union would of probably succeed the invasion had to be delayed from spring to summer due to Rommels and others campaigning in North Africa , and as we all know the winter was what really stopped the invasion , so if they didn’t waste time on North Africa they very well could of invaded and defeated Russia before winter (since they would begin months earlier in spring

[@Gussyboy06]

@@walx274 winter didn't stop them their supply lines did

[@Polpiv4tifish]

My grandfather fought with the Australians against Rommel in North Africa. He had nothing but praise for Rommel. I understand that Commonwealth soldiers were happy to go along with the "Desert Fox" myth to hide their own shortcomings when coming up against superior German tactics and battlefield skill, but still, my grandfather's admiration seemed genuine.

[@SuperJohn12354]

Ok buddy a few facts about the short comings of Australian and Commonwealth soldiers, 1. We handed Rommel and Germany there first defeat at Tobruk prior to that he was kicking French and British arses all over Europe, 2 the American's were observing North Africa to decide whether to join the war and their code had been broken, the British informed the Americans that there code had been broken and they ignored it , so they were telegraphing troop movements to the Germans in real time, that's the "superior" German tactics and even with that they still lost, because Montgomery tricked Rommel into committing the bulk of his forced to the north of the line where the Australian forces were and he punched a hole into the centre of his line, basically a common theme in British command was get the Commonwealth soldiers to take the punishment and act as the distraction, another example of that was in Holland where the Canadians were sent to a 'hard point' in the German line, a point that was thought to be almost impenetrable, and they took it, at horrible loses, at least your grandfather showed the proper respect.

[@TigerNZ]

Dude my koro (grandfather) was int the 28th Maori battalion in north Africa in world war two. ANZAC for life. Respect to your koro, respect to Rommel.

[@saulgames1567]

My grandfather Also fought along side with the legendary desert fox and Also fought in the last standoff in Berlin

[@TigerNZ]

@@saulgames1567 respect you your grandfather

[@TigerNZ]

@@saulgames1567 dude Germany NEVER lost any of its glory. Be proud of your race and culture. The world needs to move on from that war. But no. Ppl still hate on Germany and I really dont understand why. I could go on about how much worse Stalin was then Hitler but I wont. It's not the place. But hay I know that I can respect your ppl as my grandfather did. Even though he lost his brother and bestfriend in the war he always talked highly of the german soldier. God bless the glorious dead. No matter the side.

[@nv7287]

"If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it" ~ Erwin Rommel (The desert Fox)

[@localcrazyrussian4511]

N V That’s a bit Too Rommel Just a bit A great quote though

[@craigstrickland7390]

Rommel never had to face US Marines....

[@11Survivor]

@MarcyyD Australians and Kiwis are considered some of the toughest and best soldiers, basically. Whether that is true, I can't say. As far as I know, all soldiers are good until proven else.

[@KBShow-bw4lj]

@@craigstrickland7390 US marines lost to vietnam rice farmers, shut up

[@TeamOfThe80s]

@@KBShow-bw4lj 😂

[@erictaylor5462]

I wish Rommel and Patton could have survived the war. I would have paid money to see what would happen if they shared a beer and talked about the war and tactics. Though they were enemies on the battlefield, I think they could have been friends in real life.

[@robertmiranda1184]

Eric Taylor Technically, General Patton did survive the war. He died on December 21st, 1945, in Germany. He died from his injuries due to a automobile accident 12 days prior to his death. Rommel died due to biting into a cyanid pill on October 14th, 1944. So technically, he didn’t die due to a direct cause of the war (such as a mortar attack, artillery barrage, gun shot, etc). However, I totally agree with you. It would be AWESOME if Rommel and Patton met, shared a beer, and talk about war tactics.

[@Hadduck]

Both their sons have met with each other and were friends

[@erictaylor5462]

That's cool.

[@SongsAboutHappiness]

+Bovington's Finest Hannibal decided taking Elephants through the alps was a good idea and he's still considered one of the greats. We measure success by how their names last through the sands of time. Rommel and Patton will live on!

[@erictaylor5462]

Patton died in a car accident. He was not murdered.

[@johnjunkersfeld2964]

“‘Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!’” -General George S. Patton in the 1970 movie, Patton.

[@camguy6224]

For real?

[@serophineearl847]

I see your reference there

[@Solron78]

If you have never seen that movie you owe it to your self: Patton (Francis Ford Coppola 1969). A must see war movie.

[@paulherlihy9290]

No doubt about it. He was one of the great generals/field Marshals of WW2. When he died Churchill even paid tribute to him.

[@phillipasalisbury7570]

Hi Paul I saw your post it's nice to know not all Germans were bad

[@alexandrvitalivich2787]

Churchill is a traitor.

[@michaellevan8352]

As he should of a great general

[@reddeadhead6613]

“No greater love hath no man, than to lay down his life for a friend” pretty crazy that Rommel took the choice to save his friends/staff and his family by committing suicide, rather than try to find a way out and put them all in danger.

[@GennyMikel]

It is said that his son wanted to defend him but he declined out of concern for his family. Amazing.

[@Xycomm]

Erwin Rommel Wasn’t a Nazi. he was a German General and German patriot but he was never a Member of the Nazi party

[@zincman1995]

Correct !

[@michaeltheundeadmariachi4494]

A true German patriot of Germany in WWII

[@joaquinrivera5997]

Nezzie Rae Just because he was an ideologically driven General Officer of a genocidal regime that’s political indoctrination spilled into every aspect of life and who’s mainstay armed forces were by and large complicit in the holocaust doesn’t mean he was a Nazi smh my head.

[@ELOFTW]

Yeah he wasn't a nazi! He just eagerly served a genocidal regime and only "defied" Hitler when it became convenient!

[@dickfitzwelliner2807]

@@toxiicwarfare9698 exactly, he didnt want to be part of the SS and didnt round up Jews.

[@TheNomad2727]

"ah Rommel!, ..... now there was a man that could get things done" - C Montgomery Burns

[@shuliu4804]

Rommel: **dissembles and rebuilds a whole motorcycle** Me: **cant even fix my dad’s spring pen**

[@monkestronk1227]

I feel your pain bro, when I was little I was trying to fix my spring pen but then the spring jumped out of my hand. I could never found that spring again

[@wog6523]

I converted a spring pen into a makshift paper ball launcher

[@tylerredforge5563]

People where really bored back then

[@CharizardMaster69]

My thoughts on Rommel is the same as Robert E Lee: A brilliant military mastermind who’s only fault was being on the wrong side.

[@jjiang7488]

Very good comparison

[@martinfunk4855]

depends on ur point of view. if u analyse the treaty of versailles u could already now that the future is war. it was not a real treaty. it was more a demand. (difference is that a treaty makes both sides happy at least a bit) so was it right to kill thousands of innocents? no of cours it was not right. but was it right to fight against the humiliating treaty of versailles?.. i would say yes. Rommel was never a NAZI in its real meaning. he was a german general that was excellent as his job. he fight coz he belived in germany as a nation, not in the nazi regime. i wouldnt say he was on the wrong side of war. he was working for a regime nobodyexactly from the outside knew what they were doing.

[@marenhempel1995]

He also NEVER opposed the holocaust, or the invasion of several countries for the sole reason the Germany needed space.

[@arcticsime]

@@marenhempel1995 because if he did he would be fired and maybe even killed

[@angelajohnsonkeys4199]

Kind of a big fault though... but good comparison!

[@r_xyz000]

A good guy, just in the wrong situation.

[@noha2230]

Killpatiant they said it is unclear if he took part in this but Evan looking back he was a pretty good guy for a Nazi and a good amount of allied generals did bad things like this

[@captainrex2737]

Mike Hunt we wasn’t a nazi he never joined the party

[@lancexangelo]

Dr. killpatient Just like any other soldier.

[@joelschittenhelm5571]

@Dr. killpatient Thats normal in our history. Sad but true. A few examples George Washington hero of America and later the first presindent send the black soldiers that fought for him back into slavery. The storm of the bastille is a celebrated day among the french but its a day on which rebels overthrow part of the military that kust happend to be stationed there and cut all there hads and walked threw the streets with the heads. Now you may say, oh but in 1939 nearly only Germans were doing that. I can tell you that many world leader and generals at that time were indead racists against jews and some American generals even wanted to keep the KZ going. The russian did as bad things to the Germans as they did to them. And a high number of US Generals wanted to use the A-bomb in all the next wars to come without question.

[@Wot50202]

Dr. killpatient not really a loss tbh. Lol

[@preciousthing101]

This channel is my addiction. I’m a History/biography nerd. Thank you SO much, keep uploading!

[@A2906-o8q]

I also can't seem to stop watching

[@shable1436]

Nice profile pic

[@maria-melek]

I highly suggest you guys watch Mark Felton's channel. Great history content

[@tomw3886]

I like this channel but you should also checkout the armchair historian

[@nesirsitsir]

What a fantastic narration. This is one of your best on this channel. Again; brilliant. Cheers Simon.

[@clownsey3382]

"He was intelligent, but his grades didn't reflect it." That's so true for me.

[@vermark8719]

@Eliphas 『Over Heaven』 same here but grades dont truly reflect on a person's intelligence

[@ybuRnoipmahC]

I somehow doubt that

[@bobsmith7982]

What they teach in school is mostly complete garbage that you'll never use again. The government can't even get rid of bad teachers due to the unions.

[@ZekeMan62]

@@bobsmith7982 Right. Back in my school days I knew lots of dolts who managed to get good grades. They would get C's on tests, but a daily string of "100's" for dutifully turning in homework would still net them an A average. If the public school system actually educated a citizen it would be dismantled and outlawed. Its primary aim is to churn out obediant workers with standardized worldviews that make them easy to manipulate by their elite masters. The average product of this system is blind as a bat, but convinced otherwise - an overconfident fool.

[@YorktownUSA]

Same.

[@skyden24195]

U.S. tank teams, today, still follow strategies developed by Rommel. In fact, during operation "Iraqi Freedom," Iraqi prisoners captured by U.S. tank units were surprised that U.S. tanks contained photos of Rommel. When the Iraqi prisoners asked of their captures," Why would they keep a photo of their former enemy?" The U.S. soldiers replied, "This photo is why you're a prisoner in my tank and not the other way around." *Correction edit thanks to an observation reply: the incident described occurred during operation "Desert Storm" and not "Iraqi Freedom."

[@addisonwelsh]

That was actually Desert Storm.

[@celtic69]

Pretty fitting of the US to carry pictures of nazis around

[@savinghumanity6661]

@@celtic69 Sky Den's comment wasn't pinned, so I'm pretty sure you've read tonnes of "Erwin Rommel wasn't a Nazi" as you glide along through the comment section.

[@3isen]

@@celtic69 well except that he wasn't a nazi you galaxy brain Did you even watch the video, like, at all?

[@tylerthompson6046]

But how would rommel have contributed to future U.S. victory ?

[@Abu-Aley]

Absolutely interesting, thanks Simon.

[@liltech-9]

47Sukhoi thank you

[@aahanimation]

"Am on the coast" must've been the most laid back message ive seen for the era

[@filipvanbaelen276]

When I suggested Erwin Rommel in your poll a few weeks ago I thought it would go unnoticed because i was the only one who opted for him. Thanks a lot goe this great video!

[@daveparrott9530]

I also suggested it Filip. This channel is certainly one of my favorites. Another is Simon's top 10 net.

[@daveparrott9530]

Hello brian stuart, no buddy, sorry I'm not. I've never been to Michigan.

[@americanpride8441]

brian stuart Michigan is magnificent

[@NoPulseForRussians]

As a veteran of desert warfare deployments, I fully respect The Desert Fox.

[@Monson3]

Rommel kinda reminds me of Thrawn in Star Wars In a good way though

[@connormacleod4922]

Thrawn was inspired by Rommel.

[@yanivgalmor1747]

Connor MacLeod wasn’t thrawn inspired by sun tsu

[@davudlastname2545]

His head does look like rommels

[@g3koot100]

So true

[@PKFireFawx]

Video: rommel was not in the nazi party Thumbnail: the NAZI who tried to kill Hitler Good job guys, I hope the guy who makes the thumbnails isnt the dude who makes the videos

[@11Survivor]

He's probably not.

[@rithvikmuthyalapati9754]

Me: *visible confusion

[@ayushpriyam8455]

Hahqhq

[@creamychoclatelobsterwarri979]

If he helped their agenda then he’s a filthy nazi

[@hengsenkerpangsen9639]

Pure clickbait. I remember an article on CRACKED that was titled "the black Nazi" - it was about a young black guy living in Germany during the world war 2 era and his experiences. He applied to be a member of the Hitler Youth and later he applied to be a member of the nazi party, but they wouldn't accept him because he was black. So in other words, he wasn't a nazi. He didn't even get accepted into the German army and didn't do any fighting, yet the title of the article says he was a nazi. Pure clickbait and hack journalism.

[@american27]

Thanks Fam

[@jonaw.2153]

Erwin Rommel, come back to life please. I need you.

[@pomeranianproductions647]

Lmfao

[@erwinrommel7480]

+Jona W. you called me?

[@atlas9852]

d-day Rommel - *I leave you guys for ONE DAY!*

[@driednoodles4291]

I was surprised to see that he actually wasn’t a bad man and is actually a pretty admirable one unlike other Germans generals.

[@avicciimmxx8156]

My Dad fought Rommel.He had total respect for Rommel. A man in Kimberley rsa respected Rommel so much he called his one son Rommel Chapman.

[@Ackii]

ROMMEL WAS NO NAZI. He was a General. Not all Wehrmacht Soldiers Where Nazis. In fact the most Soldiers wern't even Nazis

[@ncrveteranranger9126]

Fabian Ackermans well said!

[@Fullsafe]

Fabian Ackermans that’s right

[@sunburstshredder]

The video clearly states that Rommel was not a Nazi party member.

[@Carandini]

Incorrect. Just like all Soviet soldiers weren't communists. Bobby - the Nazis knew a lot of their crap was criminal so they tried to hide it from their own people. They created a society of snitches to rat out anybody who was 'disloyal' so nobody could speak their mind (plenty of stories of indoctrinated kids informing on their parents and then papa is off to Buchenwald for some re-education) - the military was the only force strong enough in Germany to shield dissidents from the Nazis so quite a number actually sought refuge from the Nazis by enlisting. The Wehrmacht, however, became enamored of Hitler after the speed of the Blitzkrieg in France and from that point on, except for isolated instances, they were largely in his pocket. Rommel was one of those instances, defying any order he felt to be unconscionable. After the July Plot failed, and the intense purge of military officers, that is when the mindset of licking Hitler's boots and trying to prove loyalty starts up. Hence you have generals in the bunker at the very end saying nothing while Hitler makes grand plans with army divisions that only exist on paper. Rommel is actually the only general Hitler ever chased down a hallway to apologize to after he went off on some tirade about the failure in North Africa. Tribunals and summary executions for military officers didn't start until after July 1944, before then he'd sack generals but he didn't have them shot.

[@EinGiesser]

Das stimmt so nicht!!

[@JoRiver11]

Thank you! I previously knew nothing about Rommel. This provided a much more nuanced picture of what was happening in Germany at the time as well.

[@willsteiner8021]

Patton and Rommel were the finest commanders of WWII.

[@markotomas7862]

But both died due to political reasons. Pattons *accident* and Rommels mistaken to conspire against hitler

[@paddyh8023]

What about Zhukov, Monty and Charles De Gaulle?

[@justinhowse7590]

@@paddyh8023 talking about the FINEST not just another Commander

[@timmocnik3458]

@@justinhowse7590 yeah zhukov was just another commander

[@Lem0nsquid]

both admirable but overrated. Heinz Guderian was the GOAT of the german war machine

[@carI_1]

"Rommel's brother became a teacher, another became a opera singer, and the sister became a *art teacher* " Well, of course Hitler hated Rommel!

[@JohnSmith-oe5rx]

Captain Nunley Wasn’t it for Hitler’s tight security i would’ve killed him with my own fists.

[@gustavofring5674]

🤣

[@lisashrestha5023]

Dentist, first brother.

[@samridhyadutt5284]

@@JohnSmith-oe5rx 😂

[@meekonvadaameh]

Kein Scheiße

[@michaelwillever3522]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@liltech-9]

Michael Willever ahh thank you

[@erwinrommel7480]

+Erwin Rommel hey other me, his are you?

[@cosminblk8359]

Rommel = the only well known personality of WW2 who did not destroyed the lives of millions of innocents

[@DrewPicklesTheDark]

I went through each of the major nations in my head and legit can't think of one. I mean Germany waged a rather clean campaign by WW2 standards (no banned weapons, rapists were shot by their own officers, etc.), yet others still did some things. The US and UK were tame compared to others, but war crimes did occur and were often overlooked by superiors. It's not talked about often since they won. The Japanese and Soviets were exceptionally cruel and both actually committed war crimes because they were _ordered to do so_ We do hear of Japan's, but the Soviets are not talked about nearly as much despite being the worst out of any belligerent. All of the political leaders were scumbags. Stalin was easily the worst, and for "least awful" I would say FDR, but mostly since the US entered the war late, he was a scumbag to.

[@annalisette5897]

@@DrewPicklesTheDark A Ukrainian friend whose family escaped first Communists, then Nazis during the war, told me many German POWs jumped off speeding trains to escape being sent to the gulags in Russia after the war ended.

[@annalisette5897]

@@irishwolfhound5703 Rommel was a good man, patriot and not a member of the Nazi Party. Most of Hitler's elite had psychopathic minds, IMO.

[@yanivgalmor1747]

@@cax1175 talking about his whole leadership life? stalin killed more but it had nothing to do with racial stuff just pure paranoia

[@cax1175]

@@yanivgalmor1747 Throughout his life, yes. During the war and as an advocate of racial superiority? No.

[@crusader_wolf1104]

No man could be more of a legend than Rommel was. Mad respect for him

[@James-xo4ph]

My brother thinks its bad that i look up to Rommel, this video proved him wrong.

[@davidmckail5509]

My father-in-law was part of the British army which fought against Rommel in North Africa. He had far more respect for him than any other British officer.

[@Fordring1776]

There's a theme with massive Historical Figures "When in doubt, Join the Military!"

[@youngin5112]

German general: puts feet on table Hitler:DONT PUT YOUR FEET ON THE TABLE Rommel: walks in and puts feet on table sorry what?

[@MultiB2D]

Same for Zhukov Stalin : Makes a sh*tty joke Soviet Generals: Laughs like maniacs Zhukov : Whats so funny?

[@liamdalton79]

"It's your uber driver, am on the coast"

[@fpslevi3812]

Erwin Rommel The Nazi Me: Very poor choice of words here

[@YungSatire]

@Larson Oppenheimer the wermacht was the German army not the waffen SS

[@fletcherervasti8336]

The Desert Fox 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 my favorite

[@Oblio1942]

I think that he was a really great guy, him carrying his illegitimate child's scarf into battle just makes him such a standup man.

[@silvertemplar8061]

One of the few Great Human Beings. Honorable and a well-respected Tactician, and not genocidal like Hitler.

[@thanksmaybe4103]

What?????

[@joaquinrivera5997]

Just because he was an ideologically driven General Officer of a genocidal regime that’s political indoctrination spilled into every aspect of life and who’s mainstay armed forces were by and large complicit in the holocaust doesn’t mean he was a Nazi smh my head.

[@silvertemplar8061]

You have to differentiate between soldier and Nazi when it comes to this. Germany was also a time where misinformation campaigns where prevalent, but Rommel was focused more on a military aspect.

[@thanksmaybe4103]

Resistance Commander military aspect that fought for evil.

[@rG1vZ]

thanks maybe dictatorship doesn't rly give u much of a choice

[@Necrosarioo]

So Erwin Smith from AoT was based on this guy? Both of their fathers were teachers, great military leaders and they always lead their charges..

[@SirCap]

It’s possible he was, though it’s not confirmed I don’t think. Design-wise, he was based on an extra for a Paris Hilton music video, though personality-wise, there are some resemblances to him and Rommel.

[@ram6ix224]

Erwin taichooooo

[@LittleSparklingStars]

@@SirCap paris hilton MV? Isayama is insane lmao

[@GingerGingie]

Incredible story. Thank you for sharing, what an insight to such an awful and complicated time.

[@swift7493]

8:55 Erwin Rommel predicts text messages (1940, colourized)

[@kameradin8964]

It's 1940

[@filzhut6234]

@@kameradin8964 Pshhh, let him have his moment.

[@sugarbxnny741]

“Am on the coast, meet up l8r 👍 - The Rommster_39” Seen 4h ago

[@hoodrat21]

Lmfao

[@luchko3936]

Am on the coast,fuhrer chan uwu

[@Choosemeiwin]

The German soldier of World War II deserves more respect and honor. The vast majority of them were humans like you and me victims of a criminal system that sent them into combat. Like any army, the punishment for not fighting in a time of war was death. A shitty situation for the German soldier who may have not agreed with Hitler but still held by law to do his duty. In fact they fought for their families, for their home country and most notably for their comrades next to them! i'm inspired and fascinated by this great and mighty army. And I think it's terrible that they get so little respect!

[@aaronlimeuchin7352]

@Cho I believe that the Wermacht is deserving little respect from many due to the fact that they are seen as "Nazi supporters" and had hands in Hitler atrocities as well. Many people tend to forget that many Wermacht soldiers are normal people and not Himler's SS which are comprised of murderers, rapists, etc. Even the Wermacht hated the SS for the atrocities they did. There was one battle where the Wermacht army side with the USA army in a French prison fort to fought back the SS army who was laying siege at the fort.

[@rimshot2270]

If the Hohenzollern Kaisers had still been in power, most of them would have been glad to launch another war. Even "normal people" (on both sides) did terrible things. War is not a boxing match with rules.

[@eleanorkett1129]

@@aaronlimeuchin7352 The Wermacht did participate in the holocaust.

[@balabanasireti]

Don't care

[@balabanasireti]

@@aaronlimeuchin7352 Except that the Wehrmacht helped with these crimes

[@JmAnYoShI]

My grandpa pretty much hated all WWII era Germans, but whenever he spoke of Rommel, he had nothing but admiration and respect, and viewed him as one of the greatest men to come out of WWII.

[@salvor6813]

I defended Rommel in one of my classes, the teacher told me to go to the office so I did. I convinced the vice principle he was a great solder and a courageous man no matter if he was in the German military of WW2. I did it again this time with more proof now she won't bother me

[@salvor6813]

@Witold Pilecki Polish Hero I will defend Rommel until I die, he was a glorious hero. Sadly he was dragged into the Nazi regime.

[@joaquinrivera5997]

UsuallyOkay Just because he was an ideologically driven General Officer of a genocidal regime that’s political indoctrination spilled into every aspect of life and who’s mainstay armed forces were by and large complicit in the holocaust doesn’t mean he was a Nazi smh my head.

[@agentc7020]

Rommel was a great soldier, a debatably good general and an excellent frontline commander, but that does not mean he was an angel or anything, the man had his sins and his flaws because no man is perfect (surprised right?) he’s arguably better than most other Germans when it came to torture and stuff but like I said the man had his sins

[@addisonwelsh]

@@agentc7020 Actually, Rommel is as close to clean as you can get. He ignored orders to kill captured British Commandos, tried to get SS soldiers courtmartialed for killing civilians, and even argued against the use of slave labor.

[@liambanloh6972]

@@addisonwelsh Rommel did know about the conspiracy to kill Hitler since those two came to him but he refused it was mentioned in another history channel. Yes on the easy side he looked like a chicken and a coward whom could have done us a favour and end the dictator but on the other side he is loyal to his people and not Hitler himself to the end even if he hated the Nazi ideology. He had saved live's too and repel orders to kill British commandos and even went against orders from Hitler himself in the later yeas of the war. He did know about the conspiracy and never told Hitler is what cements my thoughts of him as just a German soldier and not a Nazi.

[@xanderbell2750]

Simon looks like Michael from Vsauce 😂

[@ianicempiremapping1423]

Yep

[@spacegrass6632]

not at all, michael doesnt look like a deformed neanderthal

[@sharoconnell9634]

Or does he?

XxSWAGGERxX *epic music plays*

[@darrenbutler9819]

He has cloning tech

[@Haarithb]

This Channel Deserves More Subscribers

[@Biographics]

We are growing every day.

[@supremeleaderharryballs8104]

Ive learned more from you tonight than i did in school my entire life .. Amazing work glad this channel popped up in my feed ..

[@locomotivefaox]

Kinda disrespectful to call him a Nazi in the thumbnail just for clicks

[@wisienkakochacie]

HE WAS one of the biggest bosses in Wehrmacht for gods sake !!! Read Soldaten - On Fighting, Killing and Dying: The Secret Second World War Tapes of German POWs to find out how sadistic and racist typical german soldier was during WWII. read about 600 Polish villages razed to the ground with its inhabitants by Wehrmacht within years 39-44 . read about atrocities against civilians committed by german soldiers in Belarus during a war. to call you a cretin in an understatement really. why did you decide to write anything here in the first place ??

[@Konstantinos1648]

@@wisienkakochacie what is your point just because the German army was mostly a bunch of rassist buttholes doesn't mean Rommel was one too and also I don't think it says in any of the courses you provided that he joined the nazi party and I think I read somewere it was actually not ideal to do so if you want to join the military

[@jmatthews4064]

Rommel wasn't political. Most of the German army were yes brainwashed by hitler and his speeches. Whereas as said here rommel came back to hitler being in power and was just following what he as many others soldiers thought were orders for the good of the country. You also fail to mention the countless deaths the Germans did to themselves. Shooting their own soldiers dead for trying to run home. Rommel defied Hitler's orders and even recommended brokering for peace.

[@wisienkakochacie]

​@@Konstantinos1648 the point is Rommel was a nazi posterboy during the war. How engulfed in National Socialism you have to be to be a german general during WWII ? And people write here that he was not a Nazi!! It's like saying Dick Cheney was not a republican during Bush's presidency. After the war the myth was carried on, this time as an opposition to brutal and sick Gestapo Wehrmacht soldiers were portrayed as ... just soldiers who were following the orders, well they weren't. perhaps because of 95% of atrocities committed by Wehrmacht took place on eastern front there is that prevailing belief that Rommel didn't know about these crimes. Anyway, he was one of the Führer's undying supporters during first few years of the war.

[@clientsname2933]

@@wisienkakochacie learn some ww2 history and how to teach properly.

[@athr_blu]

Zhukov Karl Dönitz Guderian Isoruku Yamamoto Sergei Korolev

[@Jay-jb2vr]

Isoruku Yamamoto

[@julemandenudengaver4580]

otto Bismarck

[@whydoievenbothertoputthish2199]

Ike and pershing would also be awesome

[@Jay-vy5jg]

Montgomery

[@brunor.1127]

Karl Donuts?

[@atiboyful]

This guy says "What keeps Erwin Rommel in the History books"...? Err, Rommel is and will remain in the history books!

[@LordHoth_90]

I honestly think if Rommel had been born in France, England, or America he would’ve been regarded as one of the greatest generals of all time. Even more than he is now, it’s simply the fact that he fought for Germany (not the Nazis) that he isn’t outright praised. I do, however, agree with the sentiment he shouldn’t receive praise because of his allegiance but that he can still be considered a great general.

[@theemissary1313]

One of my father's drinking buddies who fought in the Africa campaign said of the germans they were exceptional soldiers and that Rommel was an exemplary leader, soldier and gentleman from what he'd heard of them. He said it was actually a shame they had to kill each other :(

[@rivende285]

Erwin Rommel was a hero to everyone... once bad then good RIP Erwin Rommel 1891-1944

[@mayerschwartz4000]

Let him rot in hell not rest in peace.

[@prussr1885]

@@mayerschwartz4000 why

[@luchko3936]

@@mayerschwartz4000 ewwww troll

[@jbarral6509]

@@mayerschwartz4000 booo have some respect man

[@JosiahJS976]

@@jbarral6509 Why should I respect a Nazi war criminal who killed innocents?

[@patsysadowski1546]

I like this video. It’s important to give history context and distinguish between those caught up in war from the sadists who generally prosper in that environment.

[@insanelystuart6764]

My grandad was a tank driver in North Africa and he mentioned Rommel to my mum once. He was when they all found out Rommel had been killed by Hitler they were all furious as they had a certain amount of respect for him saying he was possibly the only decent man in the german army.

[@sohrabnizoumi-berizi328]

He was.

[@firbolg1581]

rommel hated the idea of going to Russia, he had already conquered most of the relevant parts of africa to wartime, and his "service in africa" comment is the most chilling. i heard a ww2 tale once, that rommel was in fact so pissed off that hitler wouldnt just leave him alone to conquer all of africa, that upon hearing that hitler was ordering him to Russia, he did in fact drive two donkeys through egypt on the way back to berlin, with no salt. the leprosy those donkeys brought to hitlers stables wiped out hitlers favorite breed of bulldog, and almost killed Adolf himself.

[@pattmcruss4604]

I've seen three kinds of people in this comment section who are well aware of history. The first are angered at the fame and notoriety that is rewarded to this man. The next are upset at the shortcomings given to him in this video or its title. And the last are merely grateful to have it exist. I would like to count myself a member of that lady group.

[@PioterRArmia]

"His sister became an art teacher" Coincidence? Hardly so.

[@leeorrphotography]

Really love these Biographics. So great to have on when I'm working, I've learned a lot. Thank you.

[@alden9086]

"The age of 18, Rommel began studying at the officer cadet school in Tokyo." What???? How does such an inaccuracy like this go unnoticed? He went to the Officer Cadet School in Danzig. Where he met his future wife, Lucia Maria Mollin.

[@sibell6813]

Getting addicted to this channel!

[@Archiekunst]

1:32 Officer Cadet School in 'DANZIG', not 'Tokyo'. This is what happens when you read a prompt without scrutinizing it properly.

[@rowansmart9104]

Found it hard to believe he was in tokyo.

[@jeunejaegerx3458]

Honest mistake, go make your own vidoes and see how easy it is

[@basil9973]

He was in Tokyo idiots

[@dakotamartin1621]

@@basil9973 It was Danzig.

[@johnammerman8005]

I can find no sources that say that he trained in Tokyo, except for the biographics site. All other sources say that he did his officer's training at Officer Cadet School in Danzig, from where he graduated in November 1911.

[@jacobgregg1898]

W’s are pronounced like v’s in German

[@MissBlu3B3aR]

Jacob Gregg was searching the comments to see if anyone else noticed lol

[@slightlyexistential1640]

Ervin rommel

[@Pozydrive]

its pretty much like that in all of europe

[@riosbethany]

@@Pozydrive thank you, I didnt know that!!

[@dionwoollaston5717]

Jacob Gregg ve have vays of making your talk

[@FervantTwo8]

I truly respect this man, Not a Nazi But a soldier through and through a man with a sense of honour

[@isaiahhizer8796]

1:29 Did you hear Tokyo??? he went to Officer Cadet School in DANZIG. please tell me what he said. I think I heard wrong.

[@neverletmego6414]

Yea, I'm surprised not many caught that. Besides wtf is a German doing in Tokyo in 1910?

[@tavish4699]

@@neverletmego6414 train Japanese troops

[@3333teebee]

I too heard Tokyo ad was bewildered!

[@jonnyenough1531]

I heard tokyo

[@asianlifter]

@Tavish Lol, in 1910? Are you for real? First of all, Nippon wasn’t even part of the Axis, as it wasn’t a thing during this time. Germany was controlled by a Monarchy, not Hitler. Learn history.

[@chansedietz6687]

Rommel was always my favorite German to read about. Thank you for an abridged and narrated version to share with others :)

[@444coole444]

same

[@canadiannuclearman]

My father (royal navy) told me people could not understand how the desert fox could go through the desert so fast. Because he would move his army faster then the rate of his supply chain. My dad said it was found latter that he would hide and burry hid his fuel, food, water and ammunition in the sand and went back to pick it up in aid of his advance. I read someplace the US navy Seals do the same in their black opps.

[@sketchygetchey8299]

“Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!”

[@jhholliday4966]

First time I 'hopped over from top 10...very informative... I appreciate the time you and your team put into it. Peoples private life is often as interesting, if not more so, than their public lives...indeed

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:30 - Chapter 1 - Early life 3:20 - Chapter 2 - WWI 7:05 - Chapter 2 - WWII 13:00 - Chapter 3 - D day 15:00 - Chapter 4 - Death

[@UpcycleElectronics]

Epic, well written. Happy New Year.

[@HasxVoiks]

Upcycle Electronics yeah it’s from a book called on trail of the desert fox written by David Irving

[@HasxVoiks]

Pretty much a short summary of Irving’s research

[@callejarvholm]

What few people actually know, is that Rommel had a prototype of the first smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy THIRD REICH which he used to send ”am on the coast”. The worlds first text message. The battery then became unusually hot and that was the explosive which was put in hitlers suitcase

[@Benjaxiso]

So.. this is where the Emperor and Darth Vader relationship came from

[@thevozhd9846]

I see, you are a man of culture

[@lukezuzga6460]

Very good Simon, thanks for sticking to historical facts and not bs that's been drummed up over the years.

[@Holt131]

I am actually related to Erwin Rommel, so this was really interesting to me. My mother and father got to meet his son and his wife before he died and got to hear some stories about Rommel.

[@firbolg1581]

my grandfather helped some of rommels remaining family post suicide escape german persecution.

[@00qwert83]

My grandfather invade berlin

[@dylanvinitamusic2033]

"Am on the coast." What a straight G. 😆 I cried laughing. Such a GOAT. 🐐

[@explorer1968]

Erwin Rommel made it to Field Marshall, the youngest in the German Army; his stealth tactics disconcerted his enemies on the field. I don't believe he participated in the attempt on Hitler's life (July 20, 1944) although he had contact with some of the officers involved. A shame that such an honorable officer didn't survive the war.

[@hameedghulam6160]

He was a brilliant commander both in France and in Africa There is one question though. Did Rommel ever kill any civilians? He did spare the life of war prisoners.

[@muffiietkaliman8527]

In addition to that, he was the commanding general in the western front during the D-Day invasion of France. The overall orders were, No injured soldiers on both sides should be killed while treated, medics from both sides shouldn't be harm and can be treated as neutral.

[@avelus5984]

I believe that the medics would be captured, then.

[@dionwoollaston5717]

Hameed Ghulam no he didn't, he actually tried to get an SS unit court martialed for killing a village full of french civilians and insisted on paying civilians instead of using them as slave labor

[@kennethbarnard7667]

@@dionwoollaston5717 are you a moron

[@reichtanglevictor1694]

@@kennethbarnard7667 are you an idiot?

[@matthewmckenna248]

Do Georgy Zhukov.

[@gustavbrattberg936]

Jk idk

[@josephstalin6549]

My best general

[@ncrveteranranger9126]

Joseph Stalin you still lose a LOT of troops in the winter war, you incompetent brute... Xd

[@ncrveteranranger9126]

Joseph Stalin im in finland now, dont you remember how it went last time you entered there? SUOMI PERKELE!

[@josephstalin6549]

*WE HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS NOW!*

[@ScoutersSon]

My great grandpa was in the Africa Corps. I’ve been told the only word Rommel knew was: "Attack!"

[@skywalkergaming2057]

" His sister became an Art Teacher" *Hitler didn't like that*

[@evananderson1455]

Rest in Peace Erwin. You did the best you could with the life you were given.

[@shaquilleoatmeal7946]

This video was very interesting and fascinating 👍

[@Akursedtime]

I think what made Erwin Rommel so historic was that he didnt serve the Nazis. He served his country. He earnest respect even from his enemies and he was truly on the wrong side of history. It makes me wonder if he survived, the stories he would have told. He had honour and he is at least remembered fondly for that.

[@rap33042]

Thank you, Simon. This new channel is wonderful, and I am now dutifully addicted. Happy New Year!

[@StickMan1294]

The name of the Stuttgart airport is Manfred Rommel, which is the son of Erwin Rommel.

[@yuripetrov2838]

The son was mayor of the coty

[@Pgoddy]

Interesting I didn’t know that.

[@darthtirin-nooniensingh]

He was one of my favorite Generals in school I read about....imagine if he defected to The Allies during the War...that would be a good what if?!🤔

[@cmd31220]

Well according to my great grandfather (who served as a Lieutenant in the Wehrmacht during the war), the Allies were lucky he wasn't given more authority. One of the few things he told me about his time in the war is that if Rommel were in charge, Germany would have won the war and done it in half the time.

[@MarkAntony_1]

he didnt like hitler but he wouldve never defected he loved Germany and he was a proud man

[@avelus5984]

CMD 3 Him, Manstein and Guderian. Those were Germany's greatest strategists.

[@sevenblack110]

name surname yea thats right

[@disthingsuxyt8272]

name surname on small scale yes. But they were niave on supply and believe it they kept pushing Russia their lines would break. They were wrong very wrong

[@DefinitelyTheRealFBI]

He wasn't a Nazi. He was a German Patriot

[@secondaccount404]

Good poibt

[@fbi7275]

Tjats so true

[@dontclickonmychannel3525]

Don't click me here. That is my private square

[@universaldudes5404]

FBI I am a lily fan girl 👧

[@itzpro5951]

Am I a pro or a noob