Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel

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Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel Page 73

by Butler, Daniel Allen


  Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth), 132, 137, 142, 320

  von Hofacker, Lt. Col. Cäsar, 528, 530, 531, 532, 538, 540, 541

  Husky, Operation, 454

  Indian forces, 182, 183, 208, 221, 231, 266, 279, 300, 301, 303. 336, 339, 350, 372; 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, 209, 325; 4th Indian (Motorised) Division, 263, 270, 375; 5th Indian Division, 322, 348; 7th Indian Brigade, 301; 11th Indian Infantry Division, 334; 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, 350

  Infanterie Greift an (Infantry in the Attack), 133, 152

  Isonzo River, 39, 65, 67, 77

  Isonzo, Twelfth Battle of—see Caporetto, Battle of

  Italian Army (and Italian forces), 39, 65, 177, 182, 183,185–186, 189, 198, 200, 214, 218, 221, 224, 226, 232, 237, 245, 247, 250–251, 257, 268, 295, 298, 302, 305, 332, 352, 370, 388, 392, 394; in Brevity, 250–251, 252, 253; in Battleaxe, 265, 266, 268, 269–270, 271, 274, 286, 287, 288, 289; in Crusader, 294, 296, 297, 298, 301, 306; at El Alamein..378, 379, 380, 385, 388; at Gazala, 323–325, 330; Commando Supremo, 183, 190, 191, 206, 237, 257, 258, 259, 281, 305, 310, 372, 377, 386, 414, 423, 426, 427, 430, 434, 438, 442, 448; Bersaglieri, 73, 246, 251, 252; XX Armored Corps, 283; XXI Corps, 283; Ariete Division, 192, 203, 221, 223, 230, 232, 283, 295, 296, 299, 305, 324, 325, 326, 327, 331, 333, 338, 339, 349, 360, 378, 388; Bersaglieri Division, 246, 379; Bologna Division, 296, 387–388; Brescia Division, 204, 219–220, 331, 334, 339, 352; Centauro Armored Division, 431, 432; Folgore Division, 384, 387–388, 388; Littorio Armored Division, 349, 354, 360, 378, 379, 388; Pavia Division, 219–220, 331, 334, 352, 387–388; Sabratha Division, 351; Trento Division, 192, 232, 246, 339, 352, 387–388; Trieste Division, 283, 299, 324, 331, 333, 349, 352, 379, 388; Tenth Army, 182, 183, 189, 191; quality of Italian soldiers, 191, 274–275, 352–353; quality of Italian officers, 191, 353

  Japan, 18, 308, 309, 383

  Jodl, Col. Gen. Alfred, 318, 447, 449, 450, 452, 482–483, 487, 500, 535

  Kaltenbrunner, Ernst, 530–531, 532, 538

  Kasserine Pass, 428, 430, 433, 434, 437 Battle of, 431–433

  Keitel, Gen. Bodewin, 276

  Keitel, Fld. M. Wilhelm, 318, 376, 441, 499, 500, 538, 539, 540

  Kesselring, Fld. M. Albert, 191, 285, 320–321, 323, 335, 341, 349–350, 355, 356, 364, 366, 378, 390, 392, 407, 430, 441, 448, 449–451, 471, 531; at the Battle of Gazala, 328–329; difficulties with Rommel, 342, 388, 394, 400, 404, 411, 413, 414, 423, 424–425, 430, 434, 435

  Kirchheim, Lt. Gen. Heinrich, 242, 276, 538

  Klopper, Maj. Gen. Hendrik, 334–335

  von Kluge, Fld. M. Günther, 500, 501, 502, 504, 519, 527, 534; and July 20 conspiracy, 527, 531, 532,

  Kolovrat Ridge, 67, 69–72, 75, 77, 81

  Königliche Kriegschule (Royal Cadet Academy), 31

  Krieg ohne Hass (War without Hate), 440

  La Roche Guyon, 469, 477, 479, 480, 483, 487, 504, 519, 538

  Landrecies, 158, 161, 231

  Lane, Lt. George, 477–478

  Lang, Capt. Helmut, 477, 479, 483, 504, 505, 525, 526

  Lavarack, Maj. Gen. John, 219

  Laycock, Lt. Col. Robert, 293

  Le Havre, 174

  Leibknecht, Karl, 90

  Lille, 169–171

  Longarone, capture of, 77, 78–80, 103, 191

  von Luck, Col. Hans..213, 392, 393.

  Ludendorf, Gen. Erich, 66, 67, 83, 84, 85

  Luftwaffe, 134, 141, 147, 154, 177, 235, 263, 310, 329, 342, 370, 381, 394, 404, 420, 441, 453, 471, 550; X Flieger-korps, 189, 221, 341; 17th Division, 503; ground divisions, 401, 420; Hermann Göring Panzer Division, 401; and France 1940, 164, 176; in Normandy, 489; in North Africa, 196, 237, 262, 265, 288, 293, 294, 329, 335, 363, 378, 407

  Luxembourg, 44, 86

  Luxemburg, Rosa, 90

  MacArthur, Gen. Douglas, 18, 451

  Maisel, Lt. Gen. Ernst, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544

  Malta, 319, 321, 323, 335, 341, 342–343, 349

  von Manstein, Fld. M. Erich, 149, 154, 157, 158, 556

  Mareth Line, 402–403, 404, 406, 407, 408, 411, 414, 416, 422, 424, 425, 428–430, 434, 437–438,

  Mechili, 203, 207, 208, 209, 217, 228, 246, 265, 315, 319, 330,

  von Mellenthin, Maj. Friedrich, 290, 305, 350, 365

  Mersa el Brega, 194–195, 196, 197, 198–199, 200, 204, 205, 210, 216, 218, 225, 390–392, 394, 400, 402, 404–405, 411–412, 416, 420

  Mersa Matruh, 237, 294, 334, 338, 339, 341, 343, 344, 345, 348, 384, 389

  Messe, Gen. Giovanni, 426, 435, 437

  von Metternich, Klemens, 24, 127

  Meuse River, 150, 154–155, 157, 161, 164, 167, 170

  Model, Fld. M. Walter, 531, 533–534, 535, 544

  von Moltke, Fld. M. Marshal Helmuth (the Elder), 24, 60, 98

  Monte Matajur, capture of, 67, 71, 72–73, 74–77, 80, 81, 274

  Montgomery, Fld. M. Bernard, .218, 279, 355, 361, 368–370, 371–372, 375, 417, 418, 426, 430, 437–438, 451, 463–464, 490, 546; and Battle of El Alamein, 359, 376, 385, 388, 389; and pursuit of Afrika Korps, 391–392, 394, 402, 411–412, 420; and invasion of Italy, 446; and invasion of Normandy, 484, 485, 492

  Morshead, Maj. Gen. Leslie, 219, 225–226

  Most, Lt., 165, 166, 169

  Mount Cosna, capture of, 57, 60–63, 64, 67

  Munich Crisis, 141, 143, 180

  Mussolini, Benito, 180, 258, 310, 341, 362, 395, 402, 405, 415, 424, 438, 441, 450; deposed, 441, 444–445; and Hitler, 115. 180, 185, 186, 190, 198, 405; military adventurism of, 175, 180–181, 185–186; orders Italian offensive into Egypt, 181, 182; and Rommel, 289, 313, 372–373, 403, 414, 419, 423–424, 450

  National Socialism (Nazism), 115, 116, 117, 128, 131, 139, 141, 173, 240, 320, 404, 507, 510, 511, 515, 517, 522, 530, 536

  National Socialist German Workers’ Party (N.S.D.A.P, Nazis), 111, 113, 115, 116–119, 121, 124, 126, 127–129, 132, 147–148, 382, 393, 402, 407, 507, 509, 511, 513, 517–518, 519–520, 521, 522, 530, 545, 554–555; Rommel and, 9, 111, 131–132, 138, 139, 173–174, 239–240, 318, 404, 410, 443, 513–514, 556

  Neame, Lt. Gen. Phillip, 200, 207, 210, 219

  Nehring, Gen. Walter, 352, 376, 406, 408, 411, 412, 413

  Neumann-Silkow, Maj. Gen. Walter, 262, 269, 270

  New Zealand forces, 284, 299, 300, 302, 339, 352, 361, 372; 2nd New Zealand Division, 186, 198, 343–344, 348, 359, 437

  Night of the Long Knives, 115, 119–120, 121, 506, 513, 537

  Normandy, Battle of, 20, 487–488, 489, 517, 524, 525, 526, 535, 540; Allied landings, 480, 481, 485, 486–487; Juno Beach, 484; Omaha Beach, 484–485, 485; Sword Beach, 484; Utah Beach, 484–485

  Norrie, Lt. Gen. Willoughby, 293

  O.K.H. (Oberkommando des Heeres)—see German Army, Wehrmacht

  O.K.W. (Oberkommando des Wehrmacht)—see German Army, Wehrmacht

  O’Connor, Maj. Gen. Richard, 182

  Olbricht, Lt. Col. Herbert, 207, 209, 228. 229–230, 232, 233, 262, 276

  Ottoman Empire, 38, 96, 180

  Oxhead, Operation, 446, 446–447, 448

  Pan, Josef, 104

  Pas de Calais, 463, 467, 475–476, 477, 480, 482, 488, 489, 496,

  Patton, Gen. George S. Jr., 263, 409, 451, 463, 546, 551

  Paulus, Fld. M. Marshal Friedrich, 241–242, 244–245, 249, 260, 569n

  People’s Court, 115, 528, 529, 540, 541

  Philippeville, 158, 159–160, 167, 168

  “Plan Orient,” 285, 286, 368

  Poland, 115, 127, 138, 141, 143–144, 240, 507; 1939 German campaign in, 144–145; German occupation of, 147, 148, 510, 515

  Ponath, Maj. Gustav, 209, 227–228, 229,233

  Prague, 141, 142, 143

  Prince Maximillian of Baden, 84, 85

  Princzip, Gavrillo, 34

  von Prittwitz und Gaffron, Maj. Gen. Heinrich, 220, 222, 226, 227, 228, 231, 275

  Prussia, Kingdom of, 18,22, 23, 24–25, 27, 34, 84

  Qattara Depression, 343, 348, 365

  Räder, Gd. Adm. Erich
, 285, 342

  Ras el Madauar, 242–243

  von Ravenstein, Lt. Gen. Johann, 261, 270, 295

  Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), 180, 181, 210, 221, 263, 288, 293, 310, 378, 407

  Regia Marina (Italian Navy), 257, 258, 373, 443–444, 446

  Riccardi, Adm. Arturo, 258

  Ritchie, Maj. Gen. Neal, 300, 321–322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 330–331, 333, 338, 339, 349

  von Rönne, Col. Alexander, 464

  Röhm, Ernst, 117, 122, 123, 402; as leader of SA, 117; execution of, 119, 121; plans for SA to replace Reichswehr, 118; plots to replace Hitler, 119

  Romania, Kingdom of, 38, 52, 56, 57, 59, 60

  Romanian Army, 52–53, 54–56, 57, 60

  Rommel, Erwin Jr., admiration of Hitler, 128, 138, 283, 289; and Adolf Hitler, 17, 111–112, 115, 124–125, 132–133, 141–142, 147, 151, 193, 288–289, 318, 399–400, 439, 441, 442, 443, 459, 496–497, 511, 531, 539, 540–541, 542; and Allied airpower, 363–364, 456, 471, 488–490; and Allied landing in Normandy, 480, 490–492; at Arras, 164–166; at Battleaxe, 266–271; at Battle of Gazala, 324–333; at Battle of Kasserine Pass, 431–433; and Battle of Medenine, 437–438; burial, 547–548; character of, 409–410; childhood of, 26–29; and command of 7th Panzer Division, 150, 152–153; command style of, 146–147, 153, 158, 161–162, 177, 329; as commandant of Theresian War Academy, 137–138; as commander of Führerbegleitbrigade, 145–146, 147, 151; and construction of Atlantic Wall, 452, 455, 459–461, 464–466, 467–469; at Crusader, 295–303; and “Dash to the Wire,” 301–302; death of, 541–544; and defense of Atlantic Wall, 470–473, 475, 487; defiance of orders from Hitler, 367–368, 388, 402; demands that Hitler make peace with Allies, 499, 502–503, 504; as depicted in Allied propaganda, 238; as depicted in Nazi propaganda, 239–240; as “Desert Fox,” 17, 240, 248, 274, 314, 319, 370, 374, 432; and Diamonds to Knight’s Cross, 439, 440; disdain for aristocratic officers, 19, 69, 106, 118, 142, 150, 393; disillusionment with Hitler, 386–387, 393, 400, 404, 409–410, 414–415, 459, 494–496, 514–518, 533, 536, 537; fame and popularity of, 317–318, 319, 517, 523, 539; and fatherhood, 104–105, 131, 292, 319, 408, 466–467, 534; first attack in North Africa, 194–210, 219–221; at First Battle of El Alamein, 360, 361; and First World War, 104, 106, 131, 147, 159; in France (1914–15), 44–51; and Gen. Franz Halder, 193–194, 196, 206, 241, 259, 260, 281 259, 281, 283; funeral of, 544–546; and General Staff officers, 20, 131, 234, 260; and Gold Wound Badge, 526; health issues of, 46, 289–290, 357–358, 372, 415–416, 425, 447; and Hermann Göring, 401, 403; and Hitler’s entry into Prague, 142; and Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend), 132, 137, 142; ingenuity of, 28–29, 460–461; as instructor at Dresden, .105–106, 113, 131, 133, 393; as instructor at Potsdam, 130, 134, 137; and Iron Cross First Class, 50; and Iron Cross Second Class, 48; and Italian High Command (Comando Supremo), 191, 206; and Italian senior officers, 191, 204, 244, 256–257, 258, 288, 305; 353; and Italian soldiers, 191, 244, 274–275, 296, 305, 313; 352–353; and “Italian treachery,” 256–257, 362, 381, 441, 447, 448; in Italy—see also Monte Matajur, capture of and Longarone, capture of, 65–81; and Josef Göbbels, 239–240, 283, 318, 337, 451; and July 20 conspiracy, 508, 509–512, 513, 518, 532; and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 168; and knowledge of Nazi atrocities, 173–174, 458–459, 515; at La Bassée Canal, 169; and Longarone, capture of, 77, 78–80, 103, 191; at Lille, 169–170; and marriage, .57, 65, 101–102, 112, 131, 141–142; at Meuse River crossing, 155–157; as military engineer, 460–461; and Monte Matajur, capture of, 67, 71, 72–73, 74–77, 80, 81, 274; and Mount Cosna, capture of, 57, 60–63, 64, 67; and Nazis, 111, 115, 130, 132, 138, 404; and “Night of the Long Knives,” 122; offered command in Italy, 449–450; patriotism of, 17, 113, 409–410, 518, 557; plans for separate peace with Allies, 504, 518–522; political opinions of, 112; and Pour le Mérite, 81; and prisoners of war, 328, 332; promoted to oberst (colonel), 137; promoted to general der panzertruppe, 283; promoted to generalfeldmarschall, 337; promoted to major (major), 113; publishes Infanterie Greift an, 133–134; in Reichswehr, 102–104, 106–107, 113–115; religious views of, 27; in retreat from El Alamein, 391–393, 416, 451; in Romania—see also Mount Cosna, capture of, 52–59, 60–65; at Second Battle of El Alamein, 20, 377–378, 379–380, 384, 385–386, 389 552; at siege of Tobruk, 226–231, 232, 237, 239, 242–244, 287–288, 291; and SS, 458; and Silver Wound Badge, 134; as strategist, 285–286, 345–346, 396–399; and subordinates, 207, 217, 230–231, 257, 260–261, 262, 275–276, 282, 290, 316, 422; suppresses uprisings in Italy, 447; vanity of, 77, 106, 134, 255, 276–277, 317, 337, 345, 410, 440, 517, 547; withdrawal into Tunisia, 402–403, 404, 408–409, 411–412, 414–415, 416–419, 423–426, 428–429; wounded in Africa, 319; wounded in France (1914), 47–48, 50; wounded in Romania, 62, 63–64, 65; wounded in France (1944), 505, 524–525; in Württemberg army, 31–33

  Rommel, Erwin Sr. (father), 27, 27–28

  Rommel, Gerhard (brother), 27, 28

  Rommel, Helene Lutz(mother), 27

  Rommel, Helene (sister), 27, 28, 422, 544

  Rommel, Karl (brother), 27, 28

  Rommel, Lucia Maria “Lucie” (nee Molin), 31, 33, 81, 103, 104, 148, 233, 292, 319, 331, 403, 409, 439, 440, 447, 469, 479, 480, 483, 495, 497, 511–512, 533, 539, 540, 547–548; courted by Rommel, 31–32, 33; death of, 547; married life with Rommel, 57, 65, 101–102, 112, 131, 141–142; marries Rommel, 57; and Nazis, 113, 403–404; and Rommel’s death, 541–542, 543, 544, 545, 546

  Rommel, Manfred (son of Erwin Jr.), 104, 131, 287, 319, 320, 439, 440, 520, 521, 534, 539, 540, 542, 546–547, 557;death of, 547; and father’s death, 542, 543, 544, 546; forbidden to join SS, 458–459; military service of, 458, 466, 533, 539, 546; relationship with father, 104–105, 131, 292, 319, 408, 466–467, 534

  Rommel, Manfred (infant son of Erwin Sr.), 27

  Roosevelt, Franklin, 309, 407, 522

  Rotefrontkämpferbund (Red Frontline Soldiers’ League), 116

  Royal Air Force (RAF), 179, 181, 208, 210, 222, 223, 235, 236, 265, 271, 321, 341, 349, 350, 363, 364, 378, 407, 447, 463, 490, 505, 535

  Royal Navy (RN), 135, 198, 262, 285, 287, 321, 335, 381; blockade of Germany in First World War, 40, 41, 82–83

  von Rundstedt, Fld. M. Marshal Gerd, 452, 466, 465, 471, 473–475, 482–483, 488, 489, 494, 496, 498–499, 538, 545

  Rüge, Adm. Friedrich, 457, 524, 525–526, 539, 545–546

  Russian Army (First World War)

  Saint-Valery-en-Caux, 175–176

  von Salmuth, Co. Gen. Hans, 467

  Sambre River, 161, 167, 170

  Sarajevo, 34

  Sbeitla, 428

  von Schleicher, Maj. Gen. Kurt, 93, 108, 109, 119

  Schleiffen Plan, 35, 36, 44, 47, 149, 154, 157

  Schmundt, Col. Rudolf, 151, 179, 436, 469

  Schörner, Fld. M. Marshal Ferdinand, 72–73142, 556n

  von Schräpler, Major Hans-Joachim, 169

  von Schwerin, Lt. Col. Gerhard, 203, 207, 217, 220, 276

  Schutzstaffel (SS), 318, 512, 527, 534, 536, 537–538, 545

  Scobie, Sir Ronald, 287, 298

  Seebohm, Capt. Alfred, 203, 249, 268, 269, 352

  von Seeckt, Gen. Hans, 96, 98, 99, 474; organizes Reichswehr, 95, 96, 96–97; and clandestine rearmament, 97–98, 107–108, 109; and loyalty to Weimar Republic, 93–94,

  Serbia, 34, 38

  Sfax, 407, 427

  Sichelschnitt—see Fall Gelb

  Sicherheitsdienst (SD)—see Gestapo

  Sicily, 189, 399, 406, 413, 441, 442–443, 444–445, 454–455, 478, 553

  Sidi Aziez, 264

  Sidi Rezegh, 294, 295, 296, 297–299 300–302, 324,

  Siret River, 57, 60

  Sirte, 189, 192, 411, 414, 418, 420

  Social Democratic Party, 85, 112

  Sollum, 221, 224, 236, 245–247, 249, 256, 264, 289, 307, 348, 390, 394;capture of during, 306; defense of in Brevity, 250–252; defense of in Battleaxe, 272; defense of in Crusader, 293–294,
297, 298, 302

  Sommernachtstraum, Operation, 290–291

  Sonderkommando R (Special Unit R), 108–109

  Sonnenblume, Operation, 178, 188, 383

  South African forces, 231, 300, 333, 336, 349, 372. 390; South African Division (later 1st South African Division, 294, 299, 322, 330, 333, 348, 349; 2nd South African Division, 306, 322, 334, 336

  Soviet Union, 108, 143, 144, 186, 383, 384, 397, 405, 509, 520, 521, 522, 566n; cooperation with Weimar Republic, 108, 109; invasion of Poland by, 145; war with the Third Reich, 241, 272. 275, 286, 382, 474, 476, 552

  “Spartacist Uprising,” 85, 90, 92

  Spartacist League, 85, 90

  Speer, Albert, 382, 453, 454, 476, 547

  Speidel, Maj. Gen. Hans, 469, 480, 481, 483–484, 511, 524, 526, 540, 541; and July 20 conspiracy, 469–470, 509, 519, 530, 531, 532, 536, 537–538; exploitation of Rommel, 509–511

  Sprösser, Major Theodor, 51, 56, 58, 60, 63, 69–70, 73, 75, 79–80, 81

  Stalingrad, 260, 363, 366, 368, 399, 441, 449, 451, 515

  von Stauffenberg, Col. Klaus, 506–507, 508, 510 512, 518; and July 20 conspiracy, 507, 510, 511, 513, 528, 536, 541; and Rommel, 508–509, 519, 521, 523

  Stemmer, Gertrude, 32, 33, 101, 104, 422

  Stemmer, Walburga, 31–33, 57, 101–102, 104, 422

  Streich, Maj. Gen. Johannes, 192, 193, 194, 197, 207, 208, 217, 220, 228, 230–231, 233, 242, 260–261, 262, 275–276

  Strölin, Karl, 511–512, 536

  von Stülpnagel, Gen. Karl-Heinrich, 527–528, 530, 540, 541

  Sturmabteilung (SA), 115, 116–117, 118–119, 122, 125, 402; and Night of the Long Knives, 119–121

 

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