Erwin Rommel

General Erwin Rommel looks at a map with senior German officers during the North African campaign, August 1942.

Rommel (1891–1944) was commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps) from February 1941 through to March 1943, when health issues forced him to return to Germany. Nicknamed 'The Desert Fox', Rommel inflicted several heavy defeats on the Allies but could not achieve victory in North Africa due to a lack of men and equipment.