Rommel killed at Arras, (1940)

[Lord Brisbane]

I was watching some program on the History Channel the other day (about British Infantry tanks I recall) and it mentioned off hand that Rommel was nearly killed in the British counter attack at Arras in May 1940.

So, what if he had been killed during the battle? The causes some pretty major butterflies, and how does the War in the Desert and the invasion of Europe go?

[Axeman]

Well it depends on who takes his place. Hitler may have less faith in Mussolini and with no star general it truly becomes an even more of a side show then OTL. Therefore the Itallians may get out while the getting is good *though the Royal Navy will certainly be a problem*. This means more men will be there to defend Sicily and Italy, and while the Axis may not have killed as many allied soldiers in Africa they will have lost far less.

In an ironic twist of fate the death of Rommel may have given the Axis a better chance, or it could go very differently. Hitler may still send a force about the size of the DAK and Italy could stay there, and with a less daring general you may have had a complete Axis failure in Africa.