Website #1: New World Encyclopedia |
This website is credible because it (1) has a list of references, (2) has at least three hyperlinks, and (3) is a ".org".
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Focusing primarily on the Africa/World War 2 section of this article, it begins by explaining that "Rommel's campaign in Africa earned him the nickname 'The Desert Fox'," (Website 1). Germany had sent Rommel's troops to Africa in order to aid the Italian forces who "had suffered a string of defeats at the hands of the British commonwealth" (Website 1). Over the course of the next two years, Rommel and his troops achieved temporary victory through a string of massive offensives and counterattacks against the Allies. These attacks "mauled the Allied forces" (Website 1), and proved Rommel to be one of the most highly skilled militants in the war. Many other important generals and political figures commend him for his successes and his tactics. Although defeat did eventually come, Rommel was still highly regarded throughout the Third Reich. Not only was he a skilled tactician, but he was known for his "chivalry towards his adversaries," (Website 1). His achievements in Africa against the allies earned him one of the coolest nicknames of the war, and proved that he played important role in the war. It is especially important because much of history is very euro-centric, so studying Rommel's Africa campaign sheds more light on how not all the fighting had occurred in Europe, and truly affected the world globally. Also, this chivalry to his adversaries that not many of the Axis soldiers showed leads to Rommel standing as proof that not every Nazi was inherently evil, and when studying a military that killed so many people, it is easy to forget that.
Website #2: Military History Now |
This website is credible because it (1) has a list of references, (2) has at least three working hyperlinks, and (3) was updated within the last three years (9/1/2014).
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This credible article portrays Erwin Rommel and his accomplishments in a positive light, showing how he seemed to be an all-around "good" person. For example, one of his 12 remarkable facts is how he was a loving father, and "the plaid scarf Rommel famously wore during his Africa campaign was knitted especially for him by Gertrud (his daughter)," (Website 2). Facts such as these show a lighter side to the military figure, and show that he was a person, more of one than we'd think, and not a dehumanized Nazi. The article actually shares, in one fact, that Rommel never supported the Nazi Party, and when one propaganda newspaper portrayed him as an eccentric, loyal Nazi, he "badgered the publishers to retract it," (Website 2). This was not a favorable move in terms of his publicity, but it seems Rommel valued his own ethics and ideals more than the public's opinion of him. In fact, he was "blatantly disloyal" to Hitler and the rest of the party, and "confronted the Nazi dictator personally (...) over atrocities committed by the SS against civilians," (Website 2). Rommel's importance in the German military was most likely the reason why Hitler never removed him. The article also includes how Rommel's strained relationship with Nazi ideals lead to him becoming part of a plot to overthrow Hitler, lead by The Black Orchestra: "a shadowy German society devoted to bringing down Hitler and ending the war," (Website 2). Although their plans failed and it cost him his life, Rommel went down in history as a man who realized the faults of his nation, and sought to correct them.
Website #3: Mirror |
This website is credible because it (1) lists the author and a way to contact him, (2) has at least three working hyperlinks, and (3) was updated within the last three years (11/20/2014).
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This article features the story of Captain Roy Wooldridge, who was captured on a "night mission to examine submerged mines along the French beaches before D-Day in 1944," (Website 3). Once captured, the Germans treated him as a spy while interrogating him and asking him about his mission. He ended up in the hands of Erwin Rommel, but still refused to answer any questions. Rommel soon asked if he needed anything, and Wooldridge replied, "a single ticket back to the UK, a pint of beer, a pack of cigarettes, and a really good meal," (Website 3). Soon enough, he was taken to the officers' dining hall where a Nazi waitress served him exactly as he ordered, except for the ticket to the UK. Wooldridge was stunned at the idea of such a gesture, which showed a great deal of respect from Rommel. He was then transferred to a prisoner of war camp where he stayed until the end of the war. Wooldridge says, "if it wasn't for Rommel, I'd have been executed. He was my foe, but he was an officer and a gentleman," (Website 3). Such a man made great history, and nonetheless deserves to continue living through it. His feats, his downfalls, and his actions changed the war and even changed some lives forever.