Rommel Was Murdered On Hitler's Orders.

Chronicle (Levin), 3 November 1948, Page 5

Rommel Was Murdered On Hitler's Orders.

(N.Z.P.A.-

—Reuterj

Copyright)

Received Tuesdav, 7 p.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 1. A former Nazi, General Wilhelm Keitel, confessed to American investigators that lie arranged the murder of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel on Hitler's orders, according to tlie Army publication "Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, " released today. The volume, which is the last of a series, contains the documents and eviuence submitted in the Nuremberg war crimes trials. General Keitel said the official German annouricement that Field Marsl\al Rommel suicided, was a lie. Field Mar.shal Rommel 's death was a planned murder by the or ler of Hitler who considered the Afrika Korps command er a defeatist. General Keitel contended that the hypocrisy of giving Field Marshal Rommel a State funeral was a protection for his honour. General Keitel said that in Oetober, 1944, Hitler suiumoned him and to)d him Field ilarshal Rommel was involved in a plot to assassinate the Fulirer. Hitler ordered General Keitei to inrorm Field .Marshal Rommel that he had the choice of suicide or faeing a court martial. General Keitel decided to send General Burgdorf, chief of the German Army personpel, to Field Marshal Rommel with Hitler''s orders. General Burgdorf took with him a bottle of poison and a pistol, faced Field jMarshal Rommel with the charges aud then left the poison and pistoi with liim. General Burgdorf later reported to •General Keitel that Field Marshal. Rommel yas dead. He gave no details. General Keitel said he did not want to know the details.