What was Rommel role in the plot to murder Hitler?

Answer 1

"On 17 July 1944, Rommel's staff car was strafed by an RCAF Spitfire piloted by Charley Fox; he was hospitalized with major head injuries. (Although the Americans claimed to have hit the vehicle as well, many German reports specifically mentioned a Canadian Spitfire as the sole attacker). In the meantime, after the failed July 20 Plot against Adolf Hitler a widespread investigation was conducted to identify possible participants in the plot. Rommel was identified in some of the coup ringleaders’ documentation as a potential supporter and an acceptable military leader to be placed in a position of responsibility should their coup succeed. No evidence was found that directly linked Rommel to the plot, nor that he had been contacted by any of the plot ringleaders. At the same time, local Nazi party officials reported on Rommel's extensive and scornful criticism of Nazi incompetent leadership during the time he was hospitalized. Bormann was certain of Rommel's involvement, Goebbels was not. .


The only real evidence against him came from General Carl-Heinrich von Stuelpnagel, who had repeatedly called out Rommel's name under torture from the Gestapo. That Rommel's chief of staff Hans Speidel was a linchpin of the conspiracy further implicated him in Hitler's eyes.

The true extent of Rommel's knowledge of or involvement with the plot is still unclear. After the war, however, his wife maintained that Rommel had been against the plot. It has been stated that Rommel wanted to avoid giving future generations of Germans the perception that the war was lost because of backstabbing, the infamous Dolchstoßlegende, as was commonly believed by some Germans of World War I.

Because of Rommel's popularity with the German people, Hitler gave him the option of committing suicide with cyanide or facing a trial before Roland Freisler's "People's Court" and the murder of his family and staff. Rommel ended his own life on 14 October 1944, and was buried with full military honours. After the war, an edited version of his diary was published as The Rommel Papers. He is the only member of the Third Reich establishment to have a museum dedicated to him. His grave can be found in Herrlingen, a short distance west of Ulm."

Answer 2

Rommel in the most recent book about him was closer to Hitler than some might think.

It is a fact that Rommel had special privileges and used them quite frequently to "get what he wanted by talking to Hitler personally".

In June 5th 1944 Rommel left for Germany to visit his wife and to attend a meeting he had arranged with Adolf Hitler. That meeting was primarily so he could force Field Marshal Von Rundstedt to release the 709th Anti Aircraft Division for use on the beaches of Normandy. It was a freak coincidence that we attacked the following morning at 0300 hrs.

Answer 3

It is unknown. However, his closets aides and senior staff were all implicitly involved and executed. It is highly likely he was approached or that he was shielded from the knowledge of the plot by his junior officers for his protection. Most will agree that the common consensus was for Rommel to take over if the assassination were successful.

Quite simply I believe he did not know. Rommel was far too proficient. If Rommel were in charge of or devised an assassination plot, that person would have been executed.

Rommel was executed (forced suicide) for the crime without trial whether he did it or not.

Answer 4

He was the one to place the bomb...he then left the meeting but unfortunatly so did Hitler!

Answer 5

Go to: www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Rommel.html
You will find all the answers here.

Answer 6

None. He just knew of it.