In 1944, as World War II drew to a close, Nazi Germany was in an increasingly difficult situation. The Allied landings in Normandy had successfully broken through the German defenses, the pressure on the Soviet Red Army on the Eastern Front was increasing, and Hitler's Nazi Reich was gradually being compressed. In this grim strategic situation, the contradictions and discontents within Germany reached a climax. On July 20 of that year, an assassination of Hitler - known as "Operation Wolf's Lair" shocked the whole of Germany, and the failure of the event not only intensified Hitler's suspicion and brutality, but also led to a series of purges, including the German war hero - Erwin Rommel.
One day in July 1944, the sun did not bring much warmth to wartime Germany. Rommel, the famous "desert fox" on the battlefield, is recovering from a wound sustained in Normandy in the hospital. The pain and drugs made him sleepy from time to time, but the deep uneasiness in his heart could not be soothed by even a moment of peace.
The bomb explosion on July 20 nearly killed Hitler. Rommel was shocked when the news came, he never thought that there would be German officers going down against the Führer. Despite his many different views from Hitler, he never thought of solving the problem in this way. Rommel's loyalty, and his military talents, were once the object of Hitler's admiration. History is cruel, and it does not change the course of tragedy because of individual heroism.
Shortly after the attack, Hitler's purges began, and anyone suspected of being involved in the assassination was ruthlessly suppressed. Rommel's name, because of his influence in the military and indirect connections with some of the participants, unfortunately appeared on the investigation list. Hitler's suspicions were not unfounded, and Rommel was indeed angry and frustrated by the Nazis' war policy and the way they treated civilians.
In October 1944, a black Mercedes stopped in front of Rommel's house. Two SS officers stepped out of the car, their faces grim and their eyes cold. Rommel knew that they were not coming well.
"Marshal, we are ordered to give you a choice. One officer calmly said, "You can choose to end your life on your own, which preserves your honor and protects your family from being implicated." Otherwise, we will have a public trial, and the outcome will affect every member of the Rommel family. ”
Rommel's inner struggle tore at almost every nerve in him. He looked at his family, his wife's eyes were full of tears, and his son looked incredulous. Rommel took a deep breath and nodded slowly. He chooses not only for himself, but more for the future of the people he loves.
On that cold afternoon, Rommel had a brief farewell to his family. His words were not many, but every word was as heavy as a thousand pounds. He admonished his son to be strong and to protect his mother. Rommel's wife wept silently, knowing that this was the final farewell.
Rommel took poison and ended his legendary and tragic life. His death was declared to be due to complications from war wounds, and the truth was known only to a few.
The death of Erwin Rommel symbolized the end of an era. The trajectory of his life is like that of the tanks he once commanded, which once swept thousands of troops on the battlefield, but was finally ruthlessly swallowed up in the undercurrent of politics. His death not only marked the fall of a military genius, but also the deepening of the rift within Nazi Germany. Rommel's loyalty and valor, in stark contrast to his tragic end, became an indelible memory in history.
Rommel's life and death is a symphony of bravery and tragedy. His life is full of the smoke of war and the aura of honor, but it is also full of pain and torment of choices. In the torrent of history, Rommel crossed the sky like a meteor, short but brilliant. His fate reminds us that in the game of power, individual heroism is often fragile, and true courage may not only be about charging into battle on the battlefield, but also about making the right choices in the face of morality and conscience. Rommel's story is a profound inspiration to all those who struggle between power and morality, reminding us that although history is far away, it is always worth pondering.