ROMMEL’S DEATH

Grey River Argus, 15 November 1948, Page 7

ROMMEL’S DEATH

WASHINGTON, Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel nas confessed to American investigators that he arranged the murder of Field-Mai’shal Erwin Rommel, on Hitler’s orders. This is stated in an Army publication, “Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression,” released to-day. The volume, which is the last of a series contains documents and evidence submitted in the Nuremberg war crimes trials. Field-Marshal Keitel said that the official German announcement that

Field-Marshal Rommel committed suicide was a lie. His death was a planned mdrder by order of Hitler, who considered the Afrika Korps commander was a defeatist. FieldMarshal Keitel contended that the hypocrisy of giving Field-Marshal Rommel a State funeral was protection for his honour. Field-Marshal Keitel said that in October, 1944, Hitler summoned him and told him that Field-Marshal Rommel was involved in a plot to assassinate the Fuehrer. Hitler then ordered Marshal Keitel to inform Field-Marshal Rommel that he had

the choice! of suicide, or a courtmartial.

Field-Marshal Keitel decided to send General Bergdorf, Chief of German Army Personnel, to FieldMarshal Rommel with Hitler’s orders. General Burgdorf took with him a bottle of poison and a pistol. He faced Field-Marshal Rommel with the charges and then left the poison and the pistol with him. General Burgdorf later reported to Field-Marshal Keitel that Field-Marshal Rommel was dead. He gave no details. FieldMarshal Keitel said that he did not want to know the details.