On October 13, 1944, in Heringen, Germany, the marshal Rommel received a call from the Stuttgart War Zone Command, informing Marshal Rommel: at noon tomorrow, Bugdorf and General Messel will come to visit the Marshal. Rommel was not at home at that time. After he came back and heard the news, he asked the adjutant Hermann . Ardinger said tomorrow's visitors could bring a new appointment or discuss a new combat plan with him.
However, Rommel did not expect that this was the last day of his life.
14 at noon, Bugdorf rang the doorbell of Rommel's house. Messel was walking with him. Behind them were Defense Forces Major Allenberg. Aldinger noticed that the driver of this group was a SS.
Rommel shook hands with the two generals, and then introduced his wife Lucy and son Manfred. After saying hello, Bugdorf politely told everyone that he hoped to talk to Marshal Rommel alone. Lucy and her son went upstairs, and Rommel and Bougdolph walked to the study downstairs, with Messel following behind.
When he was about to enter the study door, Rommel suddenly turned around and ordered Aldinger to organize all the orders and combat reports he issued during the Battle of Normandy. Innocent Rommel might also think that these two imperial envoys should ask the reasons for the failure of the Battle of Normandy. He would know immediately that these two people were actually the bull-headed and horse-faced sent by Hitler to take his life.
People don’t know that bad luck is coming, Manfred is quietly reading a book upstairs, and Aldinger carefully organizes the documents for the superior. Rommel had not been talking to Bugdorf for too long, and then he went upstairs to his wife's room, telling Lucy that he must now die due to being involved in the assassination of Hitler, either to be sentenced to hanging in court or to choose to commit suicide with decent preference. If you choose to commit suicide, you can retain your reputation, enjoy state funeral benefits and pensions, and you can be buried in Herringen's home, so that your family will not be implicated.
Rommel's family
Manfred hurried to his mother's room and saw his father standing in the middle of the room with a pale face, "Go out with me," Rommel said to his son nervously. They came to Manfred's room, and Rommel said to his son in a gentle tone: "I tell your mother that I will die in a quarter of an hour. It's hard to believe that I will be killed by my own people, but the house was surrounded, and Hitler accused me of treason. Considering my experience in serving in Africa, they would give me a chance to commit suicide, and the two generals with poison will be fatal within three seconds. If I accept it, there will be no other measures against you and your mother."
"Do you believe it?" Manfred interrupted Rommel.
"Yes, I think it's more in their interest to not disclose this matter. No matter what, it's better for a person to die than everyone being killed in a riot. Also, you have to remain silent, which is the condition they keep their promises."
Rommel said goodbye to his son and asked him to call Aldinger to notify Aldinger. Aldinger, who learned the truth, was furious. He tried his best to dissuade Rommel: "Sir, you must run away, we can shoot out together. We have been to many dangerous and bad places, but we all came out alive. "
"Not this time, my friend." Rommel calmly answered the loyal subordinate, "Our house has been surrounded by Gestapo , all the streets have been blocked, and the phone has been cut off. I can't even call my command or go back to the army. "
" At least, we can kill Bugdorf and Messer," Aldinger said angrily.
"Don't do this Aldinger," Rommel said. "They have their orders, and I, must consider the safety of Lucy and Manfred."
"I have made up my mind that I will never let myself be hanged by that man, Hitler, I have no plans to murder him.I just tried to serve my country, just like I have been sticking with my whole life, but for now, I can only make such a choice. About half an hour later, there will be an ulm calling and saying that I had an accident and was dead. "
After saying that, Rommel and his son went downstairs with Aldinger. Bugdorf and Messel were waiting in the garden. Major Alanberg had already left early to arrange a "accident".
Manfred helped Rommel put on a leather coat, and Rommel touched his wallet, "Should I bring my wallet with me?" "It's useless, Mr. Marshal," Aldinger was sad. As he walked to the hall, Rommel's dog raised happily pounced on its owner, "Manfred, locked the dog in the office. "This is the last sentence Rommel left to his son.
Rommel sat in the back seat of the car, and the two generals also sat in. The car raised dust and smoke and left Rommel's home.
25 minutes later, Aldinger received a call, which was called by Major Alanberg, and the other party performed in an exaggerated and false tone: "It's so terrible, Field Marshal Rommel suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in the car, and he was dead! Have you heard it? "Yes, I heard it. "Aldinger silently put down the phone, turned to the stairs, and reported to Mrs. Rommel. Facing Lucy, Aldinger didn't speak, but just nodded sadly. Lucy couldn't help sobbing. They all knew that Rommel would never come back.
s a few days later, Hitler hypocritically held a state funeral ceremony for Marshal Rommel.
1 Romer Cemetery
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