Ranking All Generals

He was the main man of the "Sickle Cut" during the Fall Gelb Operations, and he was the primary defender of France during Overlord

He was never fired per se, he remained active duty for the entire war. He broke ranks and left a *literal* hole in the front during Fall Gelb, penetrating far into French lines and causing a great deal of the strategic and tactical inflexibility experienced by French forces. This caused a deep rift between him and others like him and German High Command (OKH/OKW) because he left the German Army completely vulnerable to flanking, which angered his superiors and caused as much chaos for his allies as his enemies. Luckily for him and his allies, he was changing the situation so quickly that by the time a formation would be ready to act on the orders that were given, which at the time required the French ~1 day from conception to action, the orders were outdated. Units were being ordered to reinforce an area already under enemy control, or attack a position now deep behind enemy limes.

This behavior of taking initiative and achieving objectives in a way not necessarily to given orders was actually encouraged overall by the German Army school, but Rommel was WAY far ahead of the other units and resisted communicating with his commanders. He was recognized as ultimately performing well and achieving the tactical and strategic dominance of the operation almost by himself, but also relieved of command because his commanders felt he took too many risks. He went from the major theater in France *immediately* to Africa in 1941. In Africa, he was given complete command and it suited him well, but was also considered a secondary front by the OKH. After the loss in Africa he became the commander of forces in Italy, but because of the proximity to Germany was watched over intently by OKH/OKW directly this time.

He was relieved in Italy because he disagreed with Hitler and High Command (OKW, at this point Hitler controlled OKW and OKH). They favored a less defensible position south of Rome that Rommel though would fall in a few weeks, but lasted almost a year. Hitler had Rommel put in charge of the Atlantic Wall as a trump card (this was political, because most of the units there were SS consisting of prisoners or turncoats from the East; having a regular army general in charge of these politically motivated units reduced the political power posed by their presence).

Rommel again caused a disagreement because he postulated that Germany's only defence against an Allied landing would be to repel it on the beaches. OKW wanted to let the Allies land and then encircle them, causing a loss of equipment and manpower similar to the Fall of France. Rommel was allowed to remain in command from 1943 to 1944, when shortly after the Allies landed (and he CONSTANTLY argued with Hitler over his plans to attack the Allies) he was found to be included in the Valkrie plot on Hitler's life. He was asked to kill himself for his family and a few months later his death announced to the public.

He was never fired, he was just extremely polarizing within the German Army. He spoke his mind too much for Hitler's taste, but was also generally correct in his evaluations which made it hard for even Hitler to argue against him given his history of success. His death was as much politically motivated as it was true (there is not much evidence that remains *and* suggests he had a part in the plot). I can understand *why* he isn't there in the game because in 1939-1941 he was a division commander, not a group commander yet.

He was kinda fired, he was sent to the most indecisive front of the entire war, N. Africa, while the main thing was going on the east.

He was kinda fired, he was sent to the most indecisive front of the entire war, N. Africa, while the main thing was going on the east. [/quote]

I mean, he was sent immediately to Africa so in a way I can agree he was fired, but more like the military type "I just want him out of my unit" type thing. Africa was definitely important to Italy, and therefore Germany so Italy didn't lose. Remember that at the time of Rommel's change of command Operation Barbarossa was still just an idea, and Rommel was sent to the only combat theater active under OKH (the Army High Command) at the time. Not a bad gig, in my opinion.

for heavy arty movement is the best imo and then damage. Especially for leeb, he is very slow.

I get what you mean with Rommel. At the end of the day he is a super-divisive legacy because he didn't live to the end of the war and so most of his thoughts have to be supposed or interpreted. He was super successful *because* he didn't listen, which is itself a problem. None of that gets into the Rommel myths, like his chivalry and charm and so on.