Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (November 15th, 1891 - October 14th, 1944) was a German field marshal during World War II. Popularly known as the "Desert Fox", he served in the Wehrmacht (armed forces) of Nazi Germany, as well as serving in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, and the army of Imperial Germany. Rommel was injured multiple times in both world wars.

Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded the Pour le Merite for his actions on the Italian Front. In 1937, he published his classic book on military tactics, Infantry Attacks, drawing on his experiences in that war.

In World War II, he commanded the 7th Panzer Division during the 1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war, and earned him the nickname der Westenfuchs, "the Desert Fox". Among his British adversaries he had a reputation for chivalry, and his phrase "war without hate" has been uncritically used to describe the North African campaign. A number of historians have since rejected the phrase as myth and uncovered numerous examples of German war crimes and abuses towards both enemy soldiers and native populations in Africa during the conflict. Other historians note that there is no clear evidence Rommel was involved or aware of these crimes, with some pointing out that the war in the desert, as fought by Rommel and his opponents, still came as close to a clean fight as there was in World War II. He later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

Pictured here is a 1:6 scale figurine of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel clutching his field marshal's baton. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Height: 12-inches

Release Date: July 2023

Historical Account: "After Tobruk" - Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel earned his infamous moniker the "Desert Fox" in the sands of North Africa, where he served as commander of the German 5th Light Division (later re-designated the 21st Panzer Division) as well as the Deutsches Afrika Korps. On June 21st, 1942, Rommel laid siege to British-held Tobruk, which was strategically important for its inland harbor. Its geography made it ideal for defense, although the British failure to stave off the German onslaught would suggest otherwise. It was for Rommel's success in taking Tobruk that Hitler personally awarded him the title and symbolic baton that came with the rank of Field Marshal. Tens of thousands of Allied prisoners were taken, but more importantly, so were thousands of tons of supplies including the liquid gold of war -- gasoline.

Rommel attempted to replace the might of his tank corps with an aerial bombardment carried out by the Luftwaffe, with the intention of preserving his tanks for a further drive east once Tobruk was secure in German hands. This goal wasn't reached, however, and the battle to take Tobruk cost Rommel dearly in terms of men and armor, ultimately denying him the ability to secure victory at El Alamein in the following months.