WI- Rommel Allowed to Live

Lets say that Hitler has a change in heart, or the Nazis ignore the part of the Valkyrie Plot with Rommel in it, what would happen to Germany if Rommel was still leading an army, would he have led the Germans into a more successful Battle of the Bulge, or what of his Post-War career.

At Nuremberg, maybe Patton would vouch for Rommel, as well as other Generals since he treated POW's very well, and as far as I know, didn't commit any war crimes.

What if people find out about his Anti-Nazi involvement, could he have led a political career in West Germany?
 
Rommel would not still lead the army... he was having a number of serious command differences with the OKW and with Hitler himself. Even before Valkeryie he was well on his way for being relieved for defeatism.

He would be sent home and would stay home except for the occassional round of publicity photos... he was widely admired in the west and didn't have any notable war crimes or atrocities to his record (certainly less of a villan than Guderian or Manstein who were only given minor sentances)

One could see him being given command of the west german army or a prominent role in nato as the years went on perhaps even a shot at being chancellor... his memoirs would be worldwide best sellers
 
Well, Adenauer did keep Hitler's Soviet expert on as one of his top intel advisers IOTL, so it's possible. I don't know if Adenauer's denazification policies would mesh well with Army CoS Rommel or Defence Minister Rommel.
 

CalBear

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It is questionable if Rommel would have been physically able to participate in the planning or command of the Ardennes Offensive given his injuries of July 17, 1944 (which included multiple skull fractures).

Rommel's role in the July 20 Plot is also open to more than minor speculation.

As late as July 14 he is quoted by some sources to have said:

...Well, I'm convinced this is going to be the ultimate solution, but I am also certain of one thing: the Führer is a genius and a man of sound political instincts, so he ought to be able to hit on the right decision himself."

This was said SIX DAYS before the bomb plot (again, this quote is not in, nor agreed to, by all sources, but his general ambivalence regarding the Plot is fairly clear). Rommel was not a Nazi true believer, but he is not without blood on his hands.
 
Well, Adenauer did keep Hitler's Soviet expert on as one of his top intel advisers IOTL, so it's possible. I don't know if Adenauer's denazification policies would mesh well with Army CoS Rommel or Defence Minister Rommel.


Rommel wasn't a party member and from 42 on was pretty outspoken against nazi practices against the church and jews. He did benefit from serving in a theater where civilians wheren't really involved but he did treat pow's with high levels of courtesy (german legionaires at bir hachim was well documented) and fought an "honorable" war.

the fact that he didn't have any field commands in Poland or in Russia would insulate him from the black marks that would hurt fellows like Guderian and Manstein in a post war world (note that those two fellows were given important advisory positions to the bonn government)

Like his son did many years later Erwin Rommel could have been an eloquent voice for "decent" Germans who were caught up in the horror of war and who disliked the SS and the Einsatzgruppen... he could turn into a very Ike like postwar figure
 
It is questionable if Rommel would have been physically able to participate in the planning or command of the Ardennes Offensive given his injuries of July 17, 1944 (which included multiple skull fractures).

Rommel's role in the July 20 Plot is also open to more than minor speculation.

As late as July 14 he is quoted by some sources to have said:



This was said SIX DAYS before the bomb plot (again, this quote is not in, nor agreed to, by all sources, but his general ambivalence regarding the Plot is fairly clear). Rommel was not a Nazi true believer, but he is not without blood on his hands.

That quote has always been confusing for me Calbear because Dietrich and Speidel attributed quotes of the exact opposite nature around the same period... Dennis Showalter's book went beyond the Bayerlin and Speidel accounts (not the best ones to trust because they benefitted from painting Rommel in a more anti nazi light) he focused on Gause's memoirs (Chief of staff to Rommel from Africa through Italy) and Gause paints a picture of Rommel becomming extremely bitter and stubborn after the hold fast order at aleimein and even suicidal (given his later actions a very accurate description) with his faith only restored at intervals when Hitler sided with him... "I had always though the Fuhrer admired me and respected my judgement but he was willing to throw away the Panzer Army Africa like so much sand on a mere whim against my recommendations. I became convinced from that point on he was a madman hell bent on the destruction of Germany"
 

The Vulture

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I doubt Rommel would be given a command again. After the war he might serve a short sentence, then be a poster boy for the denazification movement. I can see him being a military adviser for West Germany, but probably in an unofficial capacity.
 

CalBear

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That is why I made sure to note that it isn't universally accepted. The quote itself is one thing, but Rommel was, at best, a latecomer to the party. Even then he was more "parlor pink" than "RED" in his support.
That quote has always been confusing for me Calbear because Dietrich and Speidel attributed quotes of the exact opposite nature around the same period... Dennis Showalter's book went beyond the Bayerlin and Speidel accounts (not the best ones to trust because they benefitted from painting Rommel in a more anti nazi light) he focused on Gause's memoirs (Chief of staff to Rommel from Africa through Italy) and Gause paints a picture of Rommel becomming extremely bitter and stubborn after the hold fast order at aleimein and even suicidal (given his later actions a very accurate description) with his faith only restored at intervals when Hitler sided with him... "I had always though the Fuhrer admired me and respected my judgement but he was willing to throw away the Panzer Army Africa like so much sand on a mere whim against my recommendations. I became convinced from that point on he was a madman hell bent on the destruction of Germany"
 
I doubt Rommel would be given a command again. After the war he might serve a short sentence, then be a poster boy for the denazification movement. I can see him being a military adviser for West Germany, but probably in an unofficial capacity.

Guderian and Manstein were rehabilitated and given such roles and they committed serious war crimes in Russia (Guderian wasn't even charged) Rommel would probably escape prosecution based on reputation and since he lived in Wurtemberg he would be in the hands of the western allies who would probably treat him rather well.

Given his high standing in the west a run for office might be seen in a positive light (not much unlike Hindenberg)
 
That is why I made sure to note that it isn't universally accepted. The quote itself is one thing, but Rommel was, at best, a latecomer to the party. Even then he was more "parlor pink" than "RED" in his support.

Based on what I have read about it... his staff was in on it... he knew about it and he was conflicted between his oath of loyalty-personal loyalty to Hitler (Hitler had after all given him intense fame and a marshal's baton) and what he saw as the obvious inevitable defeat and destruction of the German army. He wasn't a ringleader but I think would fall into the category of a lot of other German generals... if realeased from his oath he would have been friendly to a new government that would keep the Heer generals in charge and seek peace before the Russians could overrun Germany.

Rommel stood above his peers not apart from them - Hoth
 
One could see him being given command of the west german army or a prominent role in nato as the years went on perhaps even a shot at being chancellor... his memoirs would be worldwide best sellers

I bet. If his autobiography is sufficiently successful, I could see him co-authoring a history of the war, maybe with Eisenhower or Churchill.
 
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