Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel (Erwin Rommel), who was born on November 15, 1891 and died on October 14, 1944 and popularly known as the Desert Fox, was a senior German Army officer during World War II. He was nicknamed the Desert Fox by both his friends and enemies, because he constantly improvised and used tricks in order to outsmart his enemies.

Rommel was born in Heidenheim an der Brentz near Ulm in the state of Wurttemberg. His father was a schoolteacher and his mother was a daughter of a former president of the government of Wurttemberg. He initially planned to be an engineer; but, he joined the army in July of 1910. He enlisted with his local infantry unit as an officer cadet. After 3 months, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and after six months to sergeant. In March of 1911, he went to the officers’ military school in Danzig (Gdansk). In January of 1912, Rommel was commissioned as an officer into the army.

During the height of Rommel’s success in North Africa in World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sang his praises before the House of Commons. “We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us,” Churchill declared, “and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general.” George Patton, Bernard Montgomery and other generals likewise stated their respect for him, and Rommel responded in kind. So, he has been called one of Hitler's most successful generals and one of Germany's most popular military leaders.

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