Killing Rommel - The Demise of the Desert Fox

[@josephoshea1442]

As you pointed out, by choosing suicide, Rommel protected his family from further Nazi persecution. This included his son, Manfred, a teenaged soldier in the Luftwaffenhelfer. After the war, Manfred would go on to a political career, serving as mayor of Stuttgart from 1974 to 1996. He also befriended sons of two of his father's Allied opponents, George Patton and Bernard Montgomery, further cementing German-British-American post-war friendship.

[@johnstirling9358]

Sadly, Col David Stirling never met Manfred Rommel in the years following the war. Much the shame as it was Field Marshall Rommel who gave David Stirling the title of 'The Phantom Major'. Regards, John Stirling

[@ravenbrown74]

Have you ever thought that the USASSHOLES were behind all this from day one

[@snfab1]

wonderful to know that 👍👍

[@4fthell]

It's crazy that Rommel's kid becomes friends with George Patton's kid.

[@robertcottam8824]

Hmmm. I never new that Patton ever commanded against Rommel - and I’ve been researching for a lot of years. Who won?

[@smythharris2635]

Rommel's son, Manfred, had a fine career in politics and maintained friendships with Patton's son and Montgomery's son.

[@notsosilentmajority1]

Really? That's very interesting. Thank you for the information.

[@BillinHungary]

Indeed, Manfred was the mayor of Stuttgart for 22 years.

[@alphalunamare]

@@BillinHungary a city twinned with Cardiff.

[@darrenchang2907]

And their great grand children played War of Thunder together from time to time...

[@Masterhitman935]

@@darrenchang2907 nice ( ◠‿◠ )

[@bufnyfan1]

I had the chance to take care of the nurse who looked after Rommel after his staff car was strafed in France and he almost died. She immigrated to Canada after the war and showed me some of the letters that she received from his wife/son thanking her for the care of General Rommel during his hospital stay and subsequent convalescence.

[@BFP2021]

Thats high class! Remembering to write thank you notes to the nurses who cared for you when you were injured in war.

[@Au60schild]

@@BFP2021 Frau Rommel's writing of thankful letters to General Rommel's nurse was not uncommon in the first half or so of the 20th century amongst those of honor raised in a dignified class. After the early sixties, all pretense of dignity went out the window as the plurality if not majority of the world, for the most part, but certainly so in the U.S. became the undignified "me-me-me" generations which followed. Reference Hunter Biden and no, I am an apolitical independent disgusted by society's profound decline.

[@roryobrien4401]

@@thewayback2920 I agree, Felton is a good choice.

[@johnstirling9524]

I was introduced to Manfred Rommel when I worked in Germany in the 70's. We met on a number of occasions in Stuttgart, in what was then West Germany. My opinion of Manfred Rommel was that of a very open individual. We talked at length about his father, and in particular about the events surrounding the attack on the staff car carrying his father on the 17th July 1944 in Normandy. The definitive facts to as who it was that attacked Field Marshall Rommel's Staff Car were conveyed to his son by his father during his days in recovery after the event. Regardless, Manfred remained frustrated by the various claims being made that the attack on his father's Staff car was carried out by the Americans, South Africans, British, New Zealanders or Canadians. Of great personal interest, Manfred also conveyed that it was his father who named Col. David Stirling 'The Phantom Major'. Sadly, David Stirling and Manfred Rommel never met in the years following the War. Manfred died some years back but he left a legacy well remembered as the Mayor of Stuttgart. Kind regards. John Stirling

[@ethics3]

@@thewayback2920 Rule number one..... When a Canadian leaves a comment , you can be pretty sure its bull crap. Take it from a very old Canadian. You can't trust a word they say. Just look at when they leave these grandiose comments. Do you EVER see them respond to inquiries like yours sir ? I have traveled all over Canada , from sea to sea to sea and this is one of the traits Canadians all seem to have in common...that being an all encompassing pretense to dishonesty and being two faced . Even when i traveled 1/2 a world away and a Canadian came across me , it was the same ...

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Rommel's open refusal to implement the notorious Kommando Order issued by Hitler speaks volumes about his sense of honour. A superb soldier and a decent man. I knew a Desert Rat veteran who served as a Captain in Churchill's old cavalry Regt- 7th Hussars. Tom was an ardent admirer of Rommel, and had a great deal of respect for German soldiers. He once quipped to me, "The only officer more popular than Montgomery with the men of the 8th Army, was Rommel!"

[@tiernanwearen8096]

They really call him the desert fox?

[@TheSulross]

If Valkyrie had succeeded, then the Cold War with the Soviet Union might have commenced several years earlier. The Allies might of thought twice about allowing Germany to fall to a Soviet onslaught.

[@meganegbert8570]

My great uncle destroyed a dozen of Rommel’s tanks in North Africa during the war. He was the worst mechanic the Afrika Korps ever had

[@AA-bz1pr]

Okay ngl, that was pretty good

[@thomascrowley9122]

🤣

[@lewisticknor]

Awesome!

[@christianpethukov8155]

Had me in the first half, ngl.

[@raypurchase801]

My uncle fought with the 8th Army. My uncle also fought with the French Foreign Legion and the Royal Navy. He couldn't go into a military bar ANYWHERE without getting the crap beaten out of him.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

This is the type of history channel that a WW2 nut like myself loves.

[@par576]

And that a WW2 survivor loves!

[@1Gaumer]

It’s like the history channel before it became garbage.

[@johnsmith1474]

The shallow type?

[@dogcopter2606]

i know right! its so good

[@Lerxstification]

Rommel once said, "If I had one days worth of the supplies wasted away on the OstFront, I'd conquer all of Africa and more!"

[@mattgibbs5252]

There are lots of World War II channels on KZbin and Mark Felton's stands out because of his crisp diction and steady but pacy delivery. We might have seen the newsreel footage and images elsewhere but Mark with his intriguing research and masterful storytelling creates documentaries which always bring a surprise. Thank you, sir, for your information, education and fascinating viewing.

[@demef758]

I could not agree more. I subscribe to several YT channels, but Mark's newest videos are the only ones that I routinely wait for and immediately watch.

[@charleshmansfield5786]

Well said, Matt Gibbs, well said.

[@stevemolina8801]

Well Said Sir!

[@themadsnowballer]

What are some other good ones?

[@e-curb]

@@themadsnowballer Subscribe to this channel and look at the extensive library of former videos created by Dr. Felton.

[@jackcloud4728]

This was no end for such a man. Having the respect of your enemies is possibly the highest honour a general can have

[@jasonkinzie8835]

My grandfather fought in Africa. His unit was captured and he spent the rest of the war as a POW on a farm in Germany. Before this happened Rommel came out and talked to them, reassuring them that they would be well treated. My grandfather was impressed and always thought highly of Rommel after that.

[@davidrenton]

Rommel was known for that apparently , he would have lunch with Captured Allied Senior Officer's, discuss the War, Politics, Culture etc. They all said he was very polite and not like the majority of Senior German staff.

[@petercastles5978]

The battles around Tobruk (1941)between the German/Italian troops and the Australian/Indian Infantry has been recorded as a "war without hate". Rommel's own men said he was a stickler for correct behavior, "no piggy business". I admire him for that.

[@Sonderbarr]

@@davidrenton Hilarius - like these guys knew what "the majority of Senior German staff" was like.

[@stronkserbia444]

your grandfather thought highly of a man taking orders from a freak like hitler..... you should be embarrassed

[@johnrogers9481]

Stronk Serbia. Jeeze..at the time every human had to play their part in events bigger than anyone. No matter a situation we will still access any humanity shown by any other human.

[@mg2699]

I talked to an old man in a Bar in avillage close to me and he told me that Rommel had asked him how he was doing when he visited his unit one day, that’s when he told Rommel that one of his comrades had fallen a day earlier so Rommel asked what he could do for the man and he just wanted a pack of cigarettes so Rommel actually got him one. This man actually started crying when he talked about Rommel that’s how much this meant to him

[@nutpeg6915]

What a legend.

[@vegitoblue5000]

As if I am going to believe someone with a swastika in his profile picture.

[@internetbodhi1009]

@@vegitoblue5000 dude, no one cares of you believe it or not, you really don't need to announce it

[@dannymcnamara2554]

@@internetbodhi1009 👍🏻

[@WinstonSmith1997]

I love the pfp and your sense of humor!

[@benpatsy2076]

My Grandad was a desert rat and he got gunned across his legs and was captured by Rommel. He escaped from the prison, but had to hand himself back in because his legs became infected. Despite escaping they still treated him well and sorted out his infections.

[@fredgarv79]

I think this was fairly normal in that theater of the war. they respected each other, just as the pilots in the battle of britian did.

[@rooseveltdarbey9493]

Wow amazing story

[@dracomalfoy1784]

@@rooseveltdarbey9493 it's satire

[@johnduffy6992]

nice..

[@johnduffy6992]

desert is truly a lonely place...

[@glennkathrynclark7983]

Really appreciate these amazing videos. My father was a desert rat who fought against Rommel, and told us repeatedly that Rommel was well respected by himself and his fellow allied soldiers. My father was injured and captured in the notorious Breakout at Minqar Qa'im on 25 June 1942. Rommel was furious at the brutal tactics used in the breakout and intended to summarily execute all prisoners, however was eventually talked out of that action. For that humane concession, I too have respect for the Desert Fox, my father being sent to a hospital in Piacenza, Italy where he recovered from his injuries (although became a POW in Czekhoslovakia, eventually enduring an 800 mile "death march", ending in liberation by the US troops in Bavaria. These videos help me appreciate what my father experienced in North Africa (he died when I was 21 and like so many others, I never got to talk with him about the reality of his experience.

[@ursulascholten7438]

My Father was in the African Korps under General Rommel. He always maintained the highest respect for him, visited his graveside in Herrlingen at least 3 times during his lifetime. My Dad said that his soldiers would have done everything for him. They held him in highest regards.

[@concordlp]

@@ursulascholten7438o ok

[@SGS04RF]

I just recently learned that my grandfather served in the Africa Corps with Rommel as a truck driver. Before the war he was a poor cow farmer from a small village. He was captured in 1943 in Tunisia and moved to Texas as a POW. He returned to Germany in 1947. My dad was born in 1952. Luckily he survived otherwise I wouldn't be on this planet.

[@hambam7533]

Glad it work out for you by the way i am part German as many are in the US

[@sharpsvilleBill]

My Grandfather fought at Leningrad with the German Wehrmacht. He survived by hiding in a hollow tree before making his way back through Russian soldiers to the German line. He was shot and hospitalized multiple times. I saw what little of his paperwork and emblems survived before my sister lost them in a move.

[@tysondolan1533]

Thanks for posting that. My Grandfather was shot in the face by a Japanese sniper on the island of Peleliu...I too wouldn't be here if he had not survived.

[@dicebed]

Yes - there were a lot of German POW camps in Texas and Oklahoma during the war - my family is from Oklahoma and my grandfather worked part-time in a POW camp, tending horses for the guards and building/repairing the fences - he got to know some of the POWs and said, most of them were just small time farmers, just like he was. If they spoke English, they would talk about growing up in the country on a farm, and how hard the work was. One of them knew some blacksmithing, so he made my grandfather a fireplace poker, out of iron rebar - I still have and use that poker in my fireplace.

[@DarkMatterX1]

@@dicebed Legitimately cool story bro

[@jonhill7729]

I can add a small footnote to the Afrika Korps story. In 1968 I went on a summer tour of Europe with a couple of fellow students from the Univ. of Florida. In Hamburg we pooled our money and bought a used German Ford Taunus station wagon that we drove all over western Europe. While traveling through the beautifully scenic Bavarian Alps one afternoon we came upon a picturesque gastehaus (roadside tavern) and decided to stop in for a snack and some good German beer. Imagine our surprise when, upon opening the front door, we were confronted with a room full of middle-aged Germans wearing WWII desert campaign uniforms, which we recognized immediately from films about the desert war. We noticed that some were missing various body parts as well. It was as if we had just wandered onto a movie set. But they were all laughing, swing steins of beer about and singing some of the old Wehrmacht songs. We froze, wondering if it was a good idea us to be there, given their painful history and our being associated with the other side. So we moved quietly to a small table in a far corner, hoping not to be noticed as obviously American (blue jeans, etc.) But within just a few minutes a waiter walked over with a tray of beer steins and some dark bread. One of our group spoke a little German and told that waiter it was a mistake, that we had not yet ordered anything. The waiter laughed and said, "Yes I know, but they realize you are Americans and want you to feel welcome here." That's when it dawned on me that the losing side also had it's veterans' associations too and that we had stumbled into a reunion of Rommel's fabled Afrika Korps. And they clearly honored Rommel's code of ethics for treating the opposing side with respect and hospitality. Long story short, we spent a very memorable afternoon drinking steins of beer, laughing, back-slapping and learning some of the popular songs of the their day (Lilly Marlene is the only one I can remember now). Some of them who spoke English gladly shared stories of their adventures during the war and of their great respect for Rommel, whom many of them had met or seen during the desert campaigns. But by the end of that unforgettable afternoon the four of us felt that we had been fully adopted by these gentlemen as honorary members of the Afrika Korps. (Not something that happens every day) Fun Footnote: the very next day we were all arrested for driving a car with 'bad brakes' into Switzerland - the German Taunus! Different day, different culture. But that's a story for another time ....

[@ericharris7699]

Great story....thanks for sharing that!

[@christiandemarco4699]

Please tell us the rest of the story!

[@drstrangelove4998]

That is a fantastic story, thanks for sharing. I have met German vets in the past, and can concur!

[@Benjamin-md9xx]

Great story, thanks for sharing

[@ahbarahad3203]

damn bro you have lived an adventurous life

[@rmassey1965]

Note that Rommel’s home was actually in Herrlingen-Blaustein just outside of Ulm. He committed suicide not far from there on a spot overlooking the valley below. His grave is in the town’s cemetery, not far from the entrance to the church building there. There is also a museum to Rommel in that town’s old school house, that I can highly recommend.

[@RadicalCaveman]

Ulm? You mean, the home of Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle-dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein-nürnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mitzweimache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shönendanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft?

[@thelakeman5207]

A great General, forced to commit suicide by Hitler for being accused of being part of the plot to kill Hitler. I think, had he lived, he may have had his life spared by the allies.

[@mustafayldrm3449]

I was keep seeing "Rommel Bau" signs on Stuttgart. It was probably the biggest construction company in the area, also Stuttgart is pretty close to Ulm... Are those guys actually son/relative of the Erwin Rommel ? Do you have any info on that?

[@michaellevan4346]

He was a general and fought hitler on many occasions and was part of Hitler's assassination attempt after he found out about killing of people in the camps

[@georgebuller1914]

@@RadicalCaveman Golly - what great Gobbledegook! I actually wasted a few seconds of my life reading it. Congratulations, in my eyes, you win "Gormo of the year!"...

[@tomlee432]

I've read Rommels book on tanks in warfare. I've read some books by Patton and Montgomery as well. These men took warfare to a different level. But you can clearly understand their honor and respect for ones enemies. Very few of Hitler's general's had this. Statistician, soldier , and gentlemen all. Brings a few modern generals we have had to mind as well. May he rest in peace.

[@ProudMarineVet0311]

Field Marshal Rommel is an icon to this day. A man of courage and respect. A great tactician that we as Marines came to respect years after his death. “Be an example to your men, in your duty and private life. Never spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don’t in your endurance of fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your subordinates to do the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide. -Erwin Rommel.

[@KB-us3pz]

Rommel won many of his victories with Italian troops.Also ,a lot of his early successes in N. Africa were due to an excellent source of information provided by Italian intelligence.Rommel called it "the good source". Once this wealth of information dried up, he began to lose.

[@josephryan9230]

@@KB-us3pz Interesting. Thanks for sharing that. So often the work of intelligence gets overlooked, taken for granted, or even ignored, such as in Operation Market Garden. The 1/7th Cavalry was sent into the IA Drang Valley with little to no intelligence on enemy forces located there and only survived due to the extensive close air support that was available to them.

[@roygardiner2229]

That speaks volumes about the character of the man. I would have liked him as a boss.

[@condedooku9750]

@@josephryan9230 Rommel also committed war crimes and was an ardent Nazi, but I suppose people like the Rommel of Allied and German propaganda better than the real Rommel. "Newer research has exposed Wehrmacht war crimes in North Africa. This opposes the term "War without hate" which is used by some authors to describe the North African Campaign.[95] Giordana Terracina writes that: "On April 3, the Italians recaptured Benghazi and a few months later the Afrika Korps led by Rommel was sent to Libya and began the deportation of the Jews of Cyrenaica in the concentration camp of Giado and other smaller towns in Tripolitania. This measure was accompanied by shooting, also in Benghazi, of some Jews guilty of having welcomed the British troops, on their arrival, treating them as liberators."[96] Jews from all around Cyrenaica and Benghazi were deported into Italy for forced labour. At the Giado concentration camp, a survivor by the name of Sion Burbea testifies that he witnessed Erwin Rommel inspecting their work at the camp.[97] Some historians directly connect Rommel with the war crimes of the Wehrmacht in North Africa. According to German historian Wolfgang Proske, Rommel forbade his soldiers from buying anything from the Jewish population of Tripoli, used Jewish slave labour and commanded Jews to clear out minefields by walking on them ahead of his forces.[98] Proske also claims that Jews in Tripoli were later sent to Concentration Camps.[99] The Wehrmacht's persecution of Jews continued into 1942. According to the publication Jewish Communities of the World edited by Anthony Lerman, in 1942 during the German occupation, the Benghazi quarter that housed the Jewish population was plundered and 2000 Jews were deported across the desert, out of which circa a fifth of them had perished.[100] Jews in Benghazi were also victims of a pogrom in 1942 [101] The Moment Magazine reports: "on orders from the German military commander, the Axis forces, in 1942, plundered Jewish shops and deported 2,600 Benghazi Jews to Giado".[102] Robert Satloff writes in his book Among the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust's Long Reach into Arab Lands that as the German and Italian forces retreated across Libya towards Tunisia, the Jewish population became victims upon which they released their anger and frustration. According to Satloff, Afrika Korps soldiers plundered Jewish property all along the Libyan coast. This violence and persecution only came to an end with the arrival of General Montgomery in Tripoli on January 23, 1943.[103] German historian Clemens Vollnhals writes that the use of Jews by Afrika Korps as forced labour is barely known, but it did happen alongside persecution of Jewish population (although on smaller scale than in Europe) and some of the labourers were worked to death.[104] The persecution of Jews by the Wehrmacht continued into Tunisia. According to several historians, allegations and stories that associate Rommel and the Afrika Korps with the harassing and plundering of Jewish gold and property in Tunisia are usually known under the name "Rommel's treasure" or "Rommel's gold".[105][106][107] Other historians, however, state that Rommel had nothing to do with the treasure, and that "Rauff's treasure would be a more appropriate name.[108][109] When the Wehrmacht entered Tunisia, they ordered the establishment of a Judenrat and Jews were subject to forced labour.[110] 2,000 Jewish men were forcefully conscripted, and a few thousand more would be conscripted later on. This forced labour was used in extremely dangerous situations near targets of bombing raids, facing hunger and violence.[111]"

[@downwithputinsaveukraine1313]

I've never met a single historian or lifetime officer or GI who has spoken badly of him.

[@NOTJustANomad]

I went to the small village in southern Germany during a Christmas trip and visited Rommels grave as well as the hill where he as taken to before he swallowed the poison. It was a beautiful and peaceful place with a memorial stone explaining the story of his death. I spent a good 20 minutes under the tree next to this stone. There are flowers and wreath sent by military units from the British Army. There were some locals passing by and they all said hello. It was a beautiful afternoon.

[@jbuckley2546]

You paint a fine picture.

[@stargazer1744]

The Brits always had a sort of admiring respect towards Rommel...even during the North Africa campaign, Churchill referred to him in the House of Commons as "a great general", and just 5 years after the war's end they made a remarkable movie about him called "The desert fox", starring the Brit actor James Mason, and based upon a bestselling book with the same name written by a former 8th Army soldier captured by the Afrika Korps who got to see the Field-Marshall in the desert.

[@johnofypres]

Very good indeed. I had the same plan but the Covid foolishness has put it on hold for now.

[@martenikaeltheroy3621]

They said Hello, and you heiled Hitler back ?

[@ireneuszpyc6684]

@@stargazer1744

[@Dr.VonBraun]

The fact that the German Amry has an Army base bearing his name to this day shows you what kind of man and Leader he was, and how well respectd he is to this very day. Great documentary. Rommel was a good man in a very bad situation.

[@mikeryan3701]

Also, the German Navy had a destroyer (1970-1999) named after Rommel.

[@condedooku9750]

If Rommel were truly a good man he would not commit war crimes or support the Nazi cause fervently.

[@jakublulek3261]

When you look into this topic, you find many other German Army officers who were in the same situation. That was also the reason why not many of them were sentenced to death in Nurenberg.

[@condedooku9750]

@@jakublulek3261 Rather, they were left alone to allow the myth of the clean Whermacht to spread.

[@jakublulek3261]

@@condedooku9750 That was another reason. But considering West Germany needed experience army officers, Western Allies let it slide.

[@power4things]

Dr. Felton is the best. Incredible facts, uncanny photos, smooth presentation and good speaking voice.

[@walboyfredo6025]

15:21 l recall the 50th anniversary of his "death" , the modern German Army laid a reef on his tomestone plus survivors of the British 8th Army also laid a reef. In the end both groups saluted his grave. That's respect big time.

[@RobMacKendrick]

Wreath.

[@sydpotter]

The word is "wreath", not "reef"!

[@questionreality6003]

Thanks for this. Great for you to bring it to light here. ER was a great man. In the Desert Campaign, a Canadian doctor who was there told me he'd come to the Allies' camps to check on his captured troops to see if they were o.k., then exchanging niceties, then simply go back to his side.

[@roostersbays95]

Australians also respected him...

[@NesconProductions]

@@williambodin5359 Have heard that there are those who lay reef(er) on Jim Hendrix's tomb. But that's another tomb all together.

[@AgencyIsland]

Rommel got my respect when he buried a commando officer who was sent to kill him with full military honors. Say what you want about who he fought for, but that man understood the meaning of honor

[@ccrider3435]

Do you comprehend the crimes he assisted with, defended and presided over? Crimes like murder, torture, terror, rape, theft, eco obliteration and genocide. nazi is as nazi does.

[@andrewbates6840]

@@ccrider3435 Please stop with the dramatics.

[@AgencyIsland]

@@ccrider3435 need i remind you of the bombing of Dresden, a city targeted by the british specifically to cause mass loss of civilian life? most of these "atrocities" you speak of were committed by foriegn ost-legions, majority of them were committed by the Estonian SS, not 1 general lol

[@wwta]

@@ccrider3435 Rommel never was a Nazi party member. He was one of the v few soldiers who did not join the party despite INTENSE pressure to do so. Easy to judge from a keyboard.

[@paul5475]

Just think about why German Civilians was so happy when Allies won the war. Yes people in germany seen Allies as liberators against Nazi. Remember Nazi didn't came to power or hitler by an election. Hitler didn't win in the Election nor his Party. For many germans Nazi is not Germany and also.. Not all Nazi are germans only there's a lot of Nationality that are Part of Nazi despite not even Germans. There are even NAZI in america during the heights of war in europe

[@jonnyqwst]

I was a soldier in the US army stationed in Germany for most of the nineties. In an NCO academy in Baumholder, one of the classrooms had a quote from rommel and attributed to him, that every ounce of sweat in training avoids spilling a gallon of blood in battle, or thereabouts. Decades after the war’s end, my army thought highly enough of Rommel to add his principles as a guide to better soldiering.

[@abhisheknuwan320]

Rommel is ofcourse the most respected general of the allies

[@tavish4699]

Rommels infantry attacks priciples have been 1 to 1 copied into the us army manual

[@scottschaeffer8920]

It’s the most fascinating period in our history. I never tire of learning about it. Thanks Mark!!!

[@15-Peter-20]

One of German's greatest generals of all time. Secondly dr Mark felton Britain's best history teacher of all time.

[@johnbrereton5229]

Rommel is a long way from being one of the greatest General of all time, even in Germany. Many of his victories appeared spectacular but in reality lacked substance. Because he failed to realise the importance of objectives and logistics. In fact Rommels image as a great general was created by the Nazi protagonist Joseph Goebbels and many of the photographs we now have of him looking like a film star on the battle field were actually posed to create this myth.

[@cricketerfrench7501]

@@johnbrereton5229 To be fair it also suited the British to say how good he was as they beat him.

[@Guadalajara1937]

*killing Rommel* The Desert Fox: "Fine,guess I'll have to do it myself"

[@moarliekmirite]

Rommel: well I'm somewhat a killer of Rommel myself

[@leonardobastarrachea3058]

why I always end up finding you in all the videos I watch 👁️👄👁️

[@wyattpeterson6286]

That's in poor taste, friend.

[@M167A1]

@@wyattpeterson6286 a bit perhaps, but I believe the general would appreciate the humor.

[@Guadalajara1937]

@@leonardobastarrachea3058 because youtube reccomends content based on who we are subscribed to and the type of videos we watch. Apparently alot of Hoi4 KZbinrs watch this channel

[@Dmcs1917]

I’m not even a full minute in, but I can already tell this is going to be a good one mark.

[@ipadair7345]

same

[@BoneistJ]

In all fairness, has Mark really ever made a bad one?

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, I had a feeling that there was going to be a bad ending to this storey!

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

It's a Felton Production

[@RockmasterVideos]

Mark is the Best, my Son told me about him & now I subscribed to him......Brilliant videos as always from Mark.

[@denissullivan4639]

How busy must he have been as a Field Marshall but yet found the time almost daily from North Africa, to write letters, sometimes only a sentences or two, to his wife. His wife preserved over a thousand of these letters. How could you not respect such a family man.

[@Nice-sm5hr]

He was a Nazi for Christ sakes. This comment section is throwing me for a loop

[@beachchicken6268]

@@Nice-sm5hrSchindler was a nazi too, now of course i'm not saying every nazi was innocent most are not however, it was either join the party or be fired and sent too a camp, which would you choose?

[@afinelad3673]

@@Nice-sm5hr Sure but even ignoring his attempt to kill the fuhrer, you can still admire such qualities; even back then such a good marriage was rare. It's the same way I keep being reminded of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich when I find myself wasting time; the damn Butcher of Prague for god's sake, the Blonde Beast. He was good at so many things beside being Himmler's No.2 and a fighter pilot on the side; a life well lived........except for butchering Eastern Europeans.

[@refugeeca]

Mark Felton: "I'm sure this will trigger a lively debate in the comment section" Comment Section: "Wow. Much information. Many thanks"

[@jeffmoore2351]

And How,

[@B20C0]

Because Mark's format is too long for the angry mob. Also he's awesome and does his homework really, really well.

[@fromulus]

@@B20C0 when he made that comment it was in regard to an unknown, a what if that we couldn't ever know, because it wasn't allowed to play out.

[@edwelndiobel1567]

@@B20C0 How dare you! Oh well Im too tired to argue. Tea perhaps?

[@christopherwright8811]

@@B20C0 I second that! Very interesting each time.

[@internetstrangerstrangerofweb]

Okay but for real, this new information found in 2018 has absolutely blown me away. I was under the impression that Rommel completely disassociated himself with Valkyrie's participants, but SEEING HIM IN A PHOTO WITH THE PLOTTERS was an AMAZING piece of history. I can't believe I didnt see this earlier, THANK YOU FOR YET ANOTHER BRILLIANT VIDEO, MARK!

[@RW4X4X3006]

Read somewhere recently, members of Rommel's staff were in contact with SHAEF though the OSS. So yeah, he was looking for a path to stop the war on the western front.

[@rimshot2270]

He didn't want to murder Hitler. He wanted him to be ousted by a coup and arrested. That was not feasible.

[@haroldalston3349]

What do you mean ,because he's in a photo don't mean he was part of the plot.Rommel refused to join valkyrie

[@gonczoltomi7824]

@@haroldalston3349 He wasn't involved directly, he knew of it, and he knew of the assasination too, he wasn't really supportive of this, but he didn't really mind either, cuz he knew in late 1944 that Hitler is completely idiot in terms of military.

[@stevem2323]

@@haroldalston3349 But he was, not directly but he was ready to help.

[@joeylandry4933]

Back in the late 80’s I was a patrolman in a small southern Virginia town. We had a WW2 veteran who was part of operation Torch, Mr Orange was his name. He operated the town gas pumps for all the town police vehicles and I loved hearing him talk about seeing Patton and the respect that he had for Rommel.

[@Sturminfantrist]

"My Name is Joe Roberts i work for the State..........."

[@VinceNeil-sg9nq]

Dr.Feltons productions are second to none. Thank You for all of your dedication and hard work.

[@LiebeNachDland]

I had heard of beforehand what happened to the general, but not those disturbing details of how it came to be in the end. Those last few minutes were quite sad, in a way. Another excellent video. This was probably my favorite video of yours highlighting those of higher command.

[@johnt.4947]

I agree Nicholas. I didn't know about the choices he was offered, but really there was only one to choose.

[@matthewlok3020]

I can hear the same sort of sad feeling from Dr Felton himself from his tone at the end of the clip

[@robv1953]

Rommel was considered to be a highly regarded tank Commander, with the Panzer tank at his behest, his Afrika Corp was considered the top in WW2, then they had him killed for an unfound treason.

[@ktipuss]

@@johnt.4947 Historian William Shirer covers that in his book "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". Curiously, Shirer states that Von Rundstedt said that he did not know about this arrangement until he heard Keitel's evidence in the dock at Nuremberg.

[@DeclanMBrennan]

James Mason plays this scene with great pathos in "The Desert Fox"

[@rogerlebaron]

probably the only of hitler’s generals/field marshals that has any sort of enduring post war respect. fortunately for the allies he travelled to paris on the eve of d-day to celebrate his wife’s 50th birthday. this contributed to the delay in re-deploying panzer divisions from calais to normandy & the rest is history…..

[@Fiberous_Pulley]

Manstien was well respected too

[@martyfeldman3269]

He could only ever hope to stretch out the inevitable defeat. He knew this. It was all over.

[@Juhani96]

@@Fiberous_Pulley manstein* :)

[@jboss119]

@@martyfeldman3269 he was the head of hitlers personal bodyguard and happily went along. The fondness by people to him is shocking to me.

[@Saleh-994]

@@Fiberous_Pulley his defense of the wehrmacht cost him much of the respect the allies had for him

[@GhostRanger5060]

Rommel's death has always haunted me. What the allied troops of two World Wars could never do, the secret police of his own people did. Suicide is such a horrible punishment for a man of genuine patriotism and professional integrity. Rommel was no saint but he didn't deserve to die as he did, except that his political enemies were petty men, extremely envious of his military prowess and heroic popularity. Probably the greatest compliment a man can receive is the respect of his battlefield enemies. Rommel certainly had that. Thank you for posting this.

[@bufnyfan1]

General Rommel deeply loved his wife and son and didn't want any harm to come to them so when offered the chance to protect his family he chose suicide (I believe the story goes (from William Shrier's book-the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich) that he was provided cyanide capsules and he was given a full military funeral after this

[@fabianteruel5748]

Actually I met Manfred few times, my dad was politically involved with him when he was Mayor of Stuttgart. Unfortunatelly I was to young to appreciate the dinner and 2 other meetings. He was very kind from what I remember. My private teacher was an ex Wehrmacht officer, I loved to hear the stories from the Eastern front. Graduated with honor in history LOL

[@Ewen6177]

And now Ladies and Gents, the weekend can begin. Cheers all from Speybay, Scotland.

[@alex123castro]

Cheers from cape cod Massachusetts mate

[@jamesbrackett575]

Cheers from Panama City Florida laddie

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

Clinck

[@harryscott2768]

Cheers from Airth, Forth Valley, Scotland.

[@societyreborn33]

Cheers from Oahu!

[@douglasturner6153]

The movie "The Desert Fox" starring James Mason as Rommel came out around 1954. Many of Rommel's former subordinate Officers were asked their opinions of the portrayal. Their main observation was: "Much too polite"! Apparently Rommel was a very brusque and demanding leader.

[@demef758]

I'm not surprised. You didn't rise to the top of the ranks, particularly the German Army, without being an SOB, at a minimum.

[@tamilly7941]

Rommel was a nice man with his subordinates, but he was very demanding to his peers superiors and his inmediate subordinates.

[@scottpeters371]

@@tamilly7941 Not to mention any Italians he was around. He had very little respect for the Italian Army

[@freedomisslavery6840]

@@scottpeters371 Can you blame him?

[@tamilly7941]

@@scottpeters371 Well, he was a good man with his Italian forces, of course he didn't respected an army who was whiped from every campaign, but thanks to Rommel they even fought the tank vs tank against the British and manage to win by the first time at the Battle of Bir El Gubri

[@Imafed42069]

I broke my leg last week and just resting. Seeing this notification made my day! Thanks for all you do I look forward to this one

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Get well soon!

[@osamabinladen824]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Is World War 2 era your main focus? Can you do 1980s onwards? I'd like to hear your take about my friend Saddam.

[@zacharypayne4080]

@@osamabinladen824 I want only ww11 videos..views would drop if he did that @Mark Felton productions

[@Imafed42069]

@@MarkFeltonProductions thank you so much! :) you're the best

[@mikesummers6880]

My uncle was in the African korps and met him once or twice and he said he was decent man . My uncle was captured in Al emayne and then shipped to Canada 🇨🇦 after the war he was shipped to England to work the land and help after the war before he was released, it was in England that he met his wife a English girl from Leicestershire and he ended up staying in England as he had nothing to go back to his home was now part of Poland.

[@alitlweird]

The more I learn about Rommel, the more I respect and admire him. But that Hitler guy… now _THAT_ guy was a real jerk. (RIP, Norm MacDonald)

[@CatskillsGrrl]

💯👏

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

My grandfather fought against Rommel in North Africa, he had a great deal of respect for him.

[@gmandersonjr]

He hated Hitler

[@glockfanboy4927]

The desert 🦊🏝️

[@kendodd8734]

Rommel was first and foremost a soldier from everything I’ve seen and read about him he just unfortunately for him had a man at the helm that was embittered egotistical bigoted non negotiable leader that had no respect for life including his own German people the day he did the only option open to him for me says everything about the substance of the man he fought hard in that war but shouldn’t all soldiers reguardless of what side ur on but like I said before from what I’ve read he fought fair ( not easy in a war ) where revenge is ever lingering in the background for me he seems to have been an honourable man that would have been an asset to any army of any nation in a conflict he cared for his own men and pows which tells me the was no malice in him he was just a soldier soldering

[@maxsmith3894]

@@kendodd8734 very good Statement, I agree 200%. to bad there were not more like him!

[@najdaraj9420]

My old man did as well.....Libya and Egypt 1939 through '45. He had huge respect for Rommel but ironically wasn't too keen on Montgomery! :)

[@donl1846]

General George Patton also had much respect for Rommel as well. The information contain in this video by Professor Felton is the best and most accurate regarding the end of Rommel.

[@rohiths3554]

Obviously. He was the one who said 'we fought the wrong enemy' .

[@СапарбайКыдырбаев-к5и]

Рускийязыкдпвайдааайдавай за не

[@jshepard152]

Rommel had been close to Hitler, but grew disaffected during the Normandy campaign. In June and July of '44, Rommel saw the buildup of Allied troops in France and knew there was no way to stem the tide. He told Admiral Ruge that Hitler "will fight without the least regard for the German people until there isn't a house left standing in Germany". When you look at Hitler's conduct in the last months of the war, and his rantings in the Führerbunker in the last days of his life, Rommel was exactly correct.

[@stewartmackay]

Fantastic video. I had an older father (although when young I didn't realise that). He fought Rommel's men in the North African campaign. In 1947 he left the army & joined the police in Scotland. He was a serious man, with a lot on his mind. Now that I'm in my 50's I can completely understand why, although again, I didn't understand these things as a kid. All i have to do is watch footage of the battle of El Alamein & his seriousness in life becomes clear to me. incidentally, he said "Montgomery was an arrogant, self-centered git" - I remember that. I think my father had more admiration for Rommel than he did for Monty. Thank you for your work on this video.

[@user-njyzcip]

Grass is always greener on the other side...

[@colintalbot3787]

Rommel was admired and respected by many allied troop who did not have the same respect for Monty.

[@stewartmackay]

@@user-njyzcip Meaning what?

[@watching99134]

Perhaps your father had a Scottish antipathy towards the English, as part of it?

[@stewartmackay]

@@watching99134 So you are assuming that because he was Scottish he was anti-English? If you are, you're wrong. He was in the British Army & proud of it.

[@Janszler]

"Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel" has to be the most german of german generals' names...

[@11Kralle]

There are some names from WW1 that are hilariously more german...

[@glaslynx123]

Enter stage right , General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen

[@neveniusvondubowatz7705]

@@glaslynx123 KLAP!

[@bgtcsjm]

He might not be a general, but there's this guy named Baron Helmut Schnitzelnazi.

[@GopaiCheems]

@@bgtcsjm got that reference🤣

[@sm25550]

“It is always a bad sign … when scapegoats are habitually sought out and brought to sacrifice for every conceivable mistake. It usually shows something is wrong in the very highest command. It completely inhibits the willingness of junior commanders to make decisions, for they will always try to get chapter and verse for every thing they do, finishing up with a miserable piece.” - Erwin Rommel

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Brilliant!

[@josephsuperfisky2605]

rommel was a soldiers soldier and understood honor and respect.

[@davidgrainger5994]

I knew Charlie before he was killed in a car accident a few years ago on his way to go flying in a Harvard. He was definitely the one who hit Rommel. He didn’t brag about it, he just described to me that day and his fortuitous attack. Wonderful guy, he has been missed in the aviation community in Canada.

[@johnstirling9358]

Hi David, agree, it was Charlie Fox who hit the Staff car carrying Field Marshall Erwin Rommel . Manfred Rommel, Field Marshall Rommel's son some years later recounted the event as told to him by his father during his father's recovery period in hospital following the attack. Regards, John Stirling

[@Prophetofthe8thLegion]

I don’t mean to be rude all respects to the guy but isn’t that death a little…ironic?

[@mattstorm6568]

Well gee lets all thank Charlie for taking out the guy who possibly could've saved millions of lives on all sides.

[@juliuscaesar564]

@@mattstorm6568 he couldnt have saved anyone lets be honest, he might have been an absolute military genius but he was still a nazi

[@RtB68]

Ohhh, please. That's a bit rich. @@mattstorm6568

[@jimmcdonald7863]

After years of reading the history of World War II and the life of Field Marshall Rommel, I want to add a thought here regarding his death. I agree with with Dr. Felton conclusions here. Rommel agreed with those who felt Hitler had made bad decisions during the war. He agreed to take poision to end his life and to protect and save his family. What a gallant decision he made.

[@tomloft2000]

you might call it "heroic" in the true sense of the word.

[@Kodakcompactdisc]

Imagine Rommels reaction when he heard about operation Barbarossa. The war was lost that day.

[@ramakrishnannatarajan6047]

When you r with Hitler you have no other option

[@texaswunderkind]

The so-called "choice" offered to Rommel was: 1) take suicide pill, be celebrated as hero, and know that his family would be allowed to live, or 2) refuse, go through a show trial, at which point both he and his family will be tortured and murdered as traitors, with all property seized.

[@roryobrien4401]

@@Kodakcompactdisc I think you're being a bit simplistic. You can't bring 2022 reasoning to 1941. Rommel was first and foremost a soldier, a loyal German soldier who depite his misgivings concluded that Hitler's management of the war in the West in 1940 was the work of genius. I imagine as time went on he became more aware of what Germany was going to be up against if the Russia and the United States came into the war and might have been a bit more circumspect in 1941 but he never saw the German army as a beaten docket by any means. The video makes it clear that Rommel questioned Hitler's handling of the war, not the war itself.

[@lsq7833]

The photograph from the place where Rommel's staff car was shot up isn't entirely accurate. I lived VERY close to this place. In the background of the road you can see a glimpse of the red brick guardian house where first aid was first administered. His car was traveling toward the camera and crashed at the very limit of the border between Ornes and Calvados. While he was indeed on land belonging to the small commune of Ste Foy de Montgomery, it was actually closest to the town of Vimoutiers which had been razed to the ground by allied bombings apparently as a mistake (zero german presence in town). You can see the town exit roadsign on the photograph in fact. For that reason they had to double back from where they came from to a pharmacy in Livarot about a dozen kilometers away. Funfact, the pharmacy where he was given emergency treatment still has the table on which he was laid.

[@barrysheridan9186]

Thanks for that information, it is often surprising what these channels prompt.

[@kiickinballistics]

Ste Foy de Montgomery fits the story better of course. As with Flight Lieutenant Charley Fox.

[@AgencyIsland]

Imagine in 80 years how much the table will be worth

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Aha, a grand table fit for a feast no less.

[@hannah2278]

This is why you read comments on a Mark Felton video

[@TheAnglingOracle]

As per David Irving's book "The Trail of the Fox" - Speidel is the key to the ultimate price that Rommel paid. Speidel spun a story to the jury of generals mentioned that he found out about the plot (which he of course was one of the main players) and reported to his superior Rommel - ergo he did his duty while Rommel did not. The jury of generals had to either believe Speidel's story was true (and thus Rommel guilty by not providing a warning) or false, and thus Rommel absolved and Speidel was lying. Because the generals had their own grudges with Rommel overall they chose to believe Speidel - according to Irving's narrative. Rommel dies, Speidel lives. Speidel somehow avoided the fate of the other plotters - most of the main players in the plot had major connections with Speidel by serviing on staff or similar units. It is very odd that Speidel, a confirmed plotter and likely pointed out by the others under torture, survives somehow. Convenient for Rommel's General staff competitors perhaps . Speidel avoided being executed, survived the war, built up the myth of Rommel in order to build himself up, and somehow became the head of the post-war German military and NATO commander. Particularly egregious from a "traitor" point of view was some of the delayed movements of some of the panzer units to assist in Normandy - in particular Schwerin's 116th Panzer Div. - delayed by Speidel by the courier Holtermann. While Speidel was a German general, his actions/inactions were directly attempting to cause German defeat and causing German casualties- a coup is one thing, but that is something else , yet he became a post war NATO leader. Interesting and one wonders where the Allies fit into this part of the story. We'll likely never know - but certainly someone does.

[@josephaddington4082]

@@RichardM333 The Americans disliked them, the British and French hated them, but the Russians wanted them all dead

[@allysonh6410]

Good comment. Interesting

[@sussy_6998]

This is the type of history channel that should be on the "History" channel.

[@denisegore1884]

The "History" channel is for simple folk who want entertainment, not education.

[@DaytonaStation]

@@denisegore1884 the History Channel is a joke.

[@montbrehain]

100% !

[@TheHeartlessFour]

Rommel: "Your plan is bad." Rundstedt: "No. Your plan is bad." Hitler: "Hold my Beer stein"

[@fearofmusic1312]

Hitler was abstainer (and vegetarian).

[@SonicPoetryIII]

@@fearofmusic1312 but was drugged up by his doctor daily. ''Hold my syringe''

[@archstanton6102]

@@fearofmusic1312 What point are you making? He also caused one of the largest genocides

[@dxcpt]

@@archstanton6102 You just answered a fact, with another fact, which had no relevance at all xD

[@archstanton6102]

@@dxcpt I know that. I am trying to work out his 1st point, as to some they may be seen as him stating Hitler had good points.

[@Hugh-Glass]

This is the Mark Felton production I have been most wishing for. Much thanks

[@barbh1]

My father was a soldier in WW2 and was awarded a medal for being in five battles. He didn't talk much about the war, but he did tell us he was in N. Africa and mentioned Field Marshal Rommel, the Desert Fox, with respect, for his ability as a military leader. My father made it home from the war, but suffered from chronic malaria that he contracted during his service.

[@RetningNord]

No, he wasn’t. Unless you back it up with his and your name and historical references, you are a nobody desperately trying to live on the deeds of far greater men and times.

[@drewizkoollikeicecre]

Felton productions outshine 95% of the “professionally” made documentaries. History nuts like myself could watch these all day. Wait…I do!!

[@white_heat.truth76]

With one exception concerning Rommel's story. A lesser known Appalachian country boy named Jerry Skinner.

[@drewizkoollikeicecre]

@@white_heat.truth76 I’ll look him up. Thanks.

[@annalisette5897]

My husband, who was much older than me, knew one of General Rommel's drivers who had moved to Southern California. My husband had some driving lessons with him and passed some of those lessons on to me. I have always had the idea that General Rommel was a decent human being much admired by his troops and by the people.

[@rooseveltdarbey9493]

Wow the stories he must have

[@flitsertheo]

One of the lessons must have been "how to avoid strafing airplanes".

[@TheDudiest3Dude]

So in a way, you were trained by the Desert fox!

[@annalisette5897]

@@TheDudiest3Dude Yes!

[@biz4twobiz463]

a decent human being?? He was a Nazi Field Marshal during WW2. No such thing as decent.

[@jeffblacky]

My great grand uncles served with Afrika Corps. One was a loader on a anti aircraft gun and the other was a officer in a transport company shipping supplies to all the combat units

[@Ko.Wi.]

Sind die noch am leben ?

[@prodeepghosh5169]

Rommel was a master tactician. His ability to anticipate enemy movement was uncanny. He realised that the D Day invasion had to be stopped on the beaches of Normandy which is why he fortified and strengthened the defences along the Atlantic wall as best as he could. HIs camouflaged bunkers survived both air and sea bombings to wreak havoc on the beached, particularly Omaha. That is why he needed the Panzers on the coast and not inland. He had clearly said that the war would be won or lost on the beaches. Ironically he was not at Normandy in person on D Day and gone off for a day to be with his wife on her birthday. He was a true soldiers soldier.

[@steveroush4147]

I’ve heard this story many times but never in this detail... great job Mark. 🤔🤗🇺🇸❤️

[@rjwintl]

My Dad had seen elements of captured Panzers from Rommel’s Afrika Corps while at flight school in Texas during WW2 and said that those German prisoners were so disciplined and honorable that model prisoners were given a jail pass to attend dinner outside the camp with trusted Texas families and always returned to prison camp at the scheduled time … Washington DC never knew !!! … true story

[@justincase01]

Many of those same pow's remained in the states after the war.

[@johnhildebrand3253]

My father told me a similar story. My grandfather had a farm in Manitoba and the German POWs worked the fields (hoeing beets) while their one guard napped in the barn.

[@fredgarv79]

yes I had read about this in camps in Atlanta,they were let out to do farmwork, and many of them wanted to stay after the war and did. Lucky lucky germans who were captured and sent to america. the ones captured and sent to russia, only like 1 out of 10 survived. you know it's funny, I talked to a woman who lived under the occupation of norway as a little girl, and asked her what was it like? and she said the germans were totally fine to them, it was the british who came in after who were undisciplined and drunk all the time. she actually liked the germans under the occupation more than the british when they were liberated. strange. course it was an entirely different story in the east..

[@cmmguy99]

Most Germans didnt want the war and were happy it was over.

[@freibier]

@@cmmguy99 Nobody wants war, except for the weapons industry.

[@DarkMatterX1]

An educated man with a posh-ish British accent say "Rub him out" has got to be one of the greatest things I've ever heard.

[@moarliekmirite]

No one: Mark Felton: Rommel's brilliance peaked when he killed the elusive General Erwin Rommel

[@vonfragesq7145]

In Edward G. Robinsons voice "We're gonna rub him out.......See!"

[@thomasmarciano6133]

Read the book The Desert Fox by Brigadier Desmond Young, who was captured by the Afrika Korps in North Africa. Tragic on so many levels...

[@DarkMatterX1]

@@vonfragesq7145 Dude, _EXACTLY!_

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

@@vonfragesq7145 N'yeah!

[@ikechukwuamaku1144]

So explicit and accurate in details, Mark Felton you are the best.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

I know for a fact my family hold Rommel in high esteem, my great uncle died at El Alamein. In a German hospital bed, the few records we could tack down showed that despite being an Australian soldier, he was given adequate treatment but war wounds were to significant. Perhaps the fact his name was Bauer helped him. But either way. Rommels desert corps medical team treated my great uncle well and he died that’s all we can ask for. Certainly spared him going to fight the Japanese where if he was wounded his best hope is a bayonet to the guts by enemy soldiers.

[@tb7771]

Been a more than avid ww2 buff for 40 years. I've known all of this information, yet Dr. Felton had me mesmerized and glued to my screen.

[@historywithhilbert]

Great video as always!

[@smiley.6534]

U maakt zeer goede videos! :)

[@beggar1415]

@Prince Harambe so true

[@borleyboo5613]

A man of honour and bravery. He was respected by his own men and the allies. Even Winston Churchill paid tribute to him on his (Rommel’s) death. Rommel is one of my heroes. The film, ‘The Desert Fox’ with James Mason as Field Marshal Rommel is very good.

[@csaint6780]

I just watched " The Desert Fox’ with James Mason, a very good film!!

[@Nate-fh7fh]

There's a monument to Charlie Fox at a roundabout in my town of London, Ontario. He was killed in a car crash in 2008.

[@Lerxstification]

Ironic.

[@adrielsebastian5216]

@Andy Man I remember too that James Jabara, the first US jet ace, also died in a car wreck.

[@MyDogmatix]

Canada wins again. Punching above our weight! First the Red Baron then Rommel. Too bad no one tasked a Canadian to take out the Ol’nosestacio’d one himself. It would’ve been a classic “pack yer bags fella’s, wars over” situation.

[@SWATT101]

@Andy Man Trudy or Trudope... actually

[@calvinmcbride8562]

The best line from the movie Patton. "Rommel you beautiful brilliant bastard , I have read your book"...

[@marksimpson5767]

Rommel was brilliant and had empathy. Another amazing historical video by Mark Felton.

[@bartolomediazsahagun472]

As always, a superb Felton documentary, concise, balanced and extremely well delivered. Bravo! Rommel was an extraordinary military and human figure.

[@uio890138]

3:38 We should be able to agree Rommel was right, Allied air power tore hell outta the panzers as they moved forward from far away.

[@lewphelps9890]

Another thoughtful and classy historical analysis. Thank you, Mark Felton.

[@AdolfTrumpler]

Bearded Epstein

[@FuriousKnob]

I swear every time I watch a Mark Felton Production, I learn something new and interesting that just fascinates me!

[@bobbym4811]

Man I love the videos this guy does. Everything is top notch, and there's always historical facts that I've never heard of before. Thanks Mr. Felton

[@chinacatsunflower8054]

Field Marshal Earl Archibald P. Wavell "Rommel was a military phenomenon that can occur only at rare intervals; men of such bravery and daring survive only with exceptional fortune. He was as brave on the battlefield as Ney, with much better brains; as dashing as Murat, with more balance; as cool and quick a tactician as Wellington. Anyone studying the facts . . . will recognizehim as a fine character and great soldier: Among the chosen few, Among the very brave, the very true."

[@xwormwood]

I wonder is these kind of statements didn't have a hidden purpose: to bolster the own success, or to silence critics about the own failures.

[@sharpsvilleBill]

@Byron Manza Come on man, nothing he said would indicate Nazi sympathy. He simply noted how brilliant Rommel was as a general and tactician. You don't have to sympathize with a man's cause to recognize his capability as a warrior.

[@brendencrypto9264]

@@sharpsvilleBill amen!

[@afriendlycadian9857]

@Byron Manza anyone who knows rommel he was no nazi he was just patriotic to his country as any man would be and had fought for germany during ww1 as a stormtrooper officer and by the time of hitler been in the army for i think 22 years

[@vaxrvaxr]

@Byron Manza I guess everyone who didn't kill themselves after Hitler came to power was a Nazi.

[@chrismacdonald2160]

Best History Channel on KZbin! Not bothered by adverts, just well written narrating, clear videos and informative info! What more can you ask for! Well done Mark

[@josephlininger4947]

I consider myself a military historian but I'm truly blessed to savor every episode.Thank you

[@nkohanowski]

My old man, an American vet, told me of all the nazi german war elements, Rommel was a pure warrior and one to be respected with honor.

[@robertmurphy440]

I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT, THE TERM USED FOR YOUR FATHER I FIND INAPPROPRIATE...PEACE

[@nkohanowski]

@@robertmurphy440 no offense, “old man” is what we called the plant manager, colonel or dad as a term of endearment but of course not in front of them 🙂

[@hasnicktir5310]

​​@@robertmurphy440mfg that is his FATHER shut up

[@privatepilot4064]

Master tactician. Remarkable general. I have to give the man his credit. He loved his family and his country.

[@TioDeive]

You know Dr Felton produces outstanding material, what surprised me in this video is that he is able to surpass himself in quality and details of his videos. Again. Simply superb.

[@JAG8691]

I still have a copy of The Rommel Papers published in 1953 which my mother gave me . This video has stimulated me to go and read it again.

[@Zebred2001]

I have a copy of that too but haven't read it yet.

[@Barabel22]

@Byron Manza oh, I’m sure he already has a copy or two. It’s a pretty famous book.👍

[@marcioreis2648]

Thank you Mark for such an enlightening part of History. It's unfortunately that we don't see this kind of Honor and respect nowadays .

[@thomasmarciano6133]

As many here may already know, General Hans Speidel, Rommel's Chief-of-Staff, went on to command the post-war West German Bundeswehr...

[@RockmasterVideos]

Didn't know that, thought hitlers henchmen killed him.

[@LemonToGo]

@ that "treason" you are talking about is the reason you can be a free individual today. Have some respect.

[@vegitoblue5000]

​@ First of all you say no respect for traitors. Do you mean just German traitors or all traitors, because I know you hate people who betrayed Hitler and his army but the second I mention the Soviet Union, then you start praising the traitors who willing fought under the Nazi Flag committing atrocities against their own people. Also, it was people like him which constructed the legend that is Erwin Rommel the Desert Fox, without General Hans Speidel he may not have his war time and post-war praise like any other German general.

[@Sercer25]

@@LemonToGo Free to get brainwashed by marxist ideas. Yeah, great freedom. I'll take the NatSoc future over what we have.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

@@Sercer25 Get brainwashed by different crap, same method? I don't know which is worse...

[@DidivsIvlianvs]

If Stauffenberg had put both bombs in the bag, even with only one armed, we wouldn't be talking about this.

[@mortalclown3812]

I've thought of this very thing on many occasions. And for it to have happened much sooner. While I'm imagining what could have been, where in blazes was Stalin's assassin'? Here's to a better world... before it's too late. Paz y luz.

[@erich2432]

@@mortalclown3812 Too late. Wouldn't make it any difference even if they succeded. By Tehran, it was already decided what would happen to Germany. For the Germans, WW2 was either victory or death. FDR already gave green signal to Morgenthau Plan by 44 which would result in the death of 20 million Germans as well as break up of Germany. The failure of July plot turned out to be good in the long run.

[@jshepard152]

@@mortalclown3812 Stalin's assassin had already been assassinated before he could assassinate Stalin.

[@davidmurphy8364]

A 16 minute deep dive on Rommel, what a treat for a Friday night! Cheers Mark :D

[@robingrey9944]

a decent man. When David Sterling of the SAS was captured during a raid North Africa , Rommel wrote to his wife in Scotland informing her of his capture!

[@brencelt]

Stirling was very likely far to the right of Rommel politically. The myth of the good war continues.

[@MrDwarfpitcher]

@@brencelt that may be true But war is hellish enough, and when the fighting is over then a lot of men and women usually continue to treat their prisoners as punching bags. If not worse. Having a man like Rommel on the scene made both sides fight much more honourably

[@johnstirling9358]

According to Manfred Rommel that Hitler, upon hearing of Col. David Stirlings capture, sent orders to have him executed. Field Marshall Rommell apparently ran interference and the order was never carried out. Monty's son befriended Manfred Rommel years after the war, sadly, David Stirling never met Manfred Rommel in the years following. Regards John Stirling

[@johnkidd1226]

Some stuffed shirt British generals disliked the SAS long range desert patrol tactics as being 'not cricket' but Rommel respected them and their bravery, even though they were such a thorn in his butt many times.

[@johnstirling9358]

@@johnkidd1226 Hi John. David Stirling faced considerable resistance from many quaters within the military establishment, primarily because he was unorthodox in his tactics and also because of his risk taking. The results, as history has shown, that David Stirling, Jock Lewes, Paddy Mayne, Johnny Cooper, Graham Rose and their colleagues, inflicted considerable damage upon Field Marshall Rommel's forces. It is true to say that due to the efforts of the SAS turned the tide of war in North Africa. Rommel's son Manfred retold the story of his fathers frustration with the SAS and with David Stirling in particular. He named David Stirling 'The Phantom Major' initially out of annoyance but apparently his view quickly softened to that of respect. It was apparently this change of position that initiated Field Marshal Rommels intervention blocking Hitler's order to have 'The Phantom Major' executed when he (David Stirling) was captured. Hope this is helpful. Kind regards John stirling

[@Scottirulez]

Rommel one of those dudes who can really rock a visor cap

[@johnsmith1474]

He looks like a weasel.

[@captainpinky8307]

@@johnsmith1474 weasels are dangerous creatures.

[@Ulvetann]

@@johnsmith1474 Never underestimate a weasel. They get in where people say it is impossible to get in.

[@cl570]

@@johnsmith1474 Weasels kill for fun, like they murder dozens of rodents.. for fun. lol.

[@jamesagnew929]

Fascinating insights Mark, as both my parents grew up during WW2 these extremely well researched and presented programs continue to inform and give some sense of closure on the horrors of this dark period of history. Thank you

[@geoffbell166]

Australian soldiers had more respect for him than General Blamey,he forbade any mistreatment of captured Allied soldiers...

[@Giveme1goodreason]

I have literally never heard a positive thing about Blamey. It’s a shame general moorehead wasn’t the main man.

[@KiwiFilmAIRCCS]

Too Right Skippy!

[@roostersbays95]

@@Giveme1goodreason Monash regarded Blamey as a "good attack dog" keeping in line the various factions of French, English and US officers jockeying for position in Monash's planning...

[@barriebaldwinclod8974]

Always pleasant to watch your videos with your sane, well explained and unsensational commentry - rather rare these days.

[@dannymcnamara2554]

General Rommel trying to find a way out of the war for Germany … and the German people loved him for this.Hitler the coward was not even close to this level of popularity and endearment.If we were to talk with the relatives of German veterans who served under General Rommel,surely they would hold him in high esteem.The passage of time has redeemed his memory.Thanks Doctor Felton.👍🏻

[@MrYorickJenkins]

The passage of time has as you say redeemed his memory. Not so with Hitler, and the time is coming that people are also beginning to see through that drunken butcher and war-monger Winston Chruchill the self promoting glory boy who made the people think the war was all about the nasty Germans and not about the ruling elites of all nations. Hitler did not visit one bombed city. The only leading member of the Germany government to do so was Goebbels. Hitler and Churchill thought they were mighty fine people but they sat in comfort but caused and encouraged unspeakable misery. About Hitler that is known, but it is true of Chruchill too, ordering the masacre of women and children to "teach the Germans a lesson". Mankind has been hoodwinked for thousands of years by such "great men".

[@dickvarga6908]

@@MrYorickJenkins WC never claimed to be a nice person, he was of the "you must break eggs to make an omelette" school, "War is Hell", "Make war so terrible the enemy will be afraid to continue." ( Did he read WT Sherman's memoirs?) "Jaw-Jaw is better than War-War" he said in the HofC but he was a pragmatist and prepared for War-War . He was loyal to his King & Country, class and to his party- when it suited/benefitted him. He was sexist by today's "standards", racist,elitist as any Imperialist Army officer and member of the minor aristocracy and as bloody-handed and bloody-minded as politicians of all stripes are allowed/expected to be then and now. Who today would have preferred a well-meaning but duped appeaser like Chamberlin or a political deal maker as Halifax is portrayed to have been as wartime PM? And how many German/Japanese children did kindly FDR condemn to death to teach the "Hun" and "Japanese menace" a lesson?

[@abrahamgideon]

@@dickvarga6908 Revisionist "historians" want to belittle the contributions of Churchill and brand him as a racist and bigot and elitist. Problem is they are using today's snowflake politically correct standards to judge a turn of the century British aristocrat. Churchill was a product of his time and social standing. Was he perfect? No. Was he the best person for the job at that time? Absolutely. However painting Churchill and Hitler with the same brush is just absurd to the point of being nonsensical.

[@paulritchie5868]

He was a committed Nazi...not a good guy but a Nazi..

[@MrYorickJenkins]

@@dickvarga6908 I prefer Chamberlain any day of the week whats more Chamberlain was not so naive that he didnt approve a rearmaments programme. The spitfires didnt come out of thin air. We need a new Nuremberg trial preferrably to be held in Kingali, with all of them in the dock, the whole bunch of murderers of 1939-1945, the whole lot of them.

[@larryyeadeke2953]

Rommel was right. Good thing the Panzers were held back or we would have had an even worse time on the beaches.

[@questionreality6003]

not really; allies brought in overwhelming numbers of tanks (and Montgomery, whom was talented, a strict advance-only general, and there to wrap it up) , though much lighter they didn't get stuck in sand and were fast - heavies needed hard ground to effect their strength, and in far greater numbers than hitler could provide at the time.

[@allmightywhale]

@@questionreality6003 Better than holding them back so they could be destroyed by allied air power. In reality there was no “good” option. They would’ve lost the war either way. But a swift counterattack to the coast was the only minuscule chance the Germans had to defeat the landings

[@deeperthantheabyss624]

Not really, remember how a few MGS were able to hold down entire Battalions in Normandy Imagine if a Panzer Battalion was near and had reinforcements, landing on the beaches would then become suicide though even if the Normandy landings failed the Soviets would still push to Berlin and still Win

[@roostersbays95]

Australian 2/ 48 th Battalion held infantry versus Panzers engagements ....Russians copied the tactics in eastern front

[@petervanbavel7119]

Tanks forward or back? The air corps and particularly the navies would have shredded any tanks approaching the coast. This is proven by several examples including the destroyers off Utah. Only problem was the lousy radio communications. Various reasons but it’s really a mystery. Probably not at the British beaches.

[@davidpeters6536]

What a great video. Cleared up several things I have wondered about for years. Rommel was an honorable man and I think History respects that.

[@James-rj4oi]

Rommel showed real German class. Hitler was a coward and an idiot in comparison... as a strategic leader Rommel was brilliant... Hitler completely ignorant!!!!

[@condedooku9750]

Why do you respect a war criminal???

[@whitezombie10]

@@condedooku9750 he wasn't

[@ryan-pf9ud]

You’re a gift to the internet. Thank you Mark.

[@Padderrss]

I can’t tell you how much that intro tune gets me in the mood for some hard hitting WW2 factoids

[@furioussherman7265]

As a Canadian, I have to thank you so much for mentioning Charley Fox. He's a bit of a legend where I come from, especially since he was closely linked to a high school that my dad used to teach at. Apparently, Fox was actually officially credited in 2004 as definitively the pilot who attacked Rommel on July 17, 1944.

[@johnarmstrong472]

Where is the high school? I never knew about him...

[@furioussherman7265]

@@johnarmstrong472 Clarke Road Secondary School in London, Ontario, Canada.

[@johnstirling9358]

Manfred Rommel, Field Marshall Rommel's son, confirmed that his father's Staff car was attacked front on by a Spitfire, which is consistant with Charley Fox's reporting of the attack and consistant with the injuries received to Field Marshall Rommel's face as a result of a 303 bullet shattering the windscreen of the Staff car. Rommel sat in the front seat next to his trusted driver. All the evidence thus far supports the arguement for Charley Fox as the one responsible for the attack on Field Marshall Rommel's vehicle. Regards, John Stirling

[@mrmartin215]

You sir are "The Human Time Machine" Thank you 4 all your hard work and lesson you've taught this far! One of my favorite channels all time!!

[@danwhitesell2056]

Rommel was a soldier's soldier he always had conversations with captured British officer's. He did not ask them where his unit is or how many were in his battalion. He asked where he was from in England and told the office where he was from. After the raid on Dieppe Rommel told his soldier's to give first aid to the wounded and water and food.