Erwin Rommel in the Second World War

Erwin Rommel (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944), known as The Desert Fox was a military officer who had served in the Imperial German Army, the Reichswehr and the German Army of the 1935–1945 period. While his record in World War I was also notable and has recently gained new attention, he is particularly known for his actions in World War II, especially for his role in the campaign in Africa. David Mitchelhill-Green writes that Rommel was "a legend — on both sides — during his own lifetime. Today he remains the most well-known German general of the Second World War." The book West Point History of World War II notes that "Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was the most famous and well-regarded German general during World War II [...]." Kaushik Roy opines that initially, historians hyped up Rommel and the German army, but today, new criticisms have arisen, creating a many-sided picture. Roy writes that the pendulum should not be swung too far, stressing that Rommel was not an ordinary general and he was able to run rings around the Allied forces for two years despite having never enjoyed material superiority in Africa, but gradually the combat effectiveness of the Allies was raised through material superiority as well as innovative doctrines and tactics.