Field Marshal Erwin Rommel [1891-1944] commits suicide on this date in 1944. Implicated in the 20th of July Plot, Rommel "escaped" being tried in the People's Court, and being hanged with piano wire, because of his immense popularity with the German people. Hitler didn't want them wondering why his most popular general would be on trial for trying to overthrow him. Instead, two Army generals, Burgdorf and Maisel were dispatched to Rommel's home at Herrlingen where Rommel was recuperating from severe wounds received in Normandy on July 17th. They gave Rommel a choice: trial before the People's Court, with a guaranteed execution, AND the transfer of his family to a Concentration Camp under the Sippenhaft decree, OR a suicide by cyanide with a State funeral, with his death attributed to his wounds, and a guarantee of safety for his family. Informing his wife, son and aide about what had transpired, Rommel left with the two generals. He was dead 20 minutes later.

Rommel was, at the time of his promotion to the rank, the youngest Field Marshal in the German Army. He had commanded Hitler's HQ during the Polish campaign as a Brigadier General [Generalmajor], commanded the 7th Panzer Division in France in 1940, the Deutsches Afrika Korps, and Panzer Armee Afrika [1941-1943], Army Group B in Italy [1943], and France [1943-1944]. He was the holder of the Iron Cross 1st and 2d class, the Pour le Merite, the Knights Cross with Swords and Oakleaves, the tank assault badge, and the Wounds Badge. Rommel was 53 when he died.

He picked the wrong end path. It was short sighted. Now he is just another Jew hating dead Kraut that should burn in hell. Dying after the Hitler show trial would have made a hero today.