14 Facts About Manfred Rommel

Manfred Rommel was a German politician belonging to the Christian Democratic Union, who served as mayor of Stuttgart from 1974 until 1996.

Manfred Rommel was the only son of Wehrmacht Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and his wife Lucia Maria Mollin, and contributed to the establishment of museums in his father's honour.

Manfred Rommel was known for his friendship with George Patton IV and David Montgomery, the sons of his father's two principal military adversaries.

Manfred Rommel was born in Stuttgart and entered service as a Luftwaffenhelfer in 1943 at age 14, serving in an anti-aircraft battery.

Manfred Rommel considered joining the Waffen SS, but his father opposed it.

In February 1945, Manfred Rommel was dismissed from air force service and in March was conscripted into the paramilitary Reichsarbeitsdienst service.

Manfred Rommel was taken prisoner of war, was interrogated by general Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, and disclosed the truth about his father's death.

Manfred Rommel married Liselotte in 1954 and had a daughter named Catherine.

Manfred Rommel risked his popularity when he stood out for the fair treatment of foreign immigrants, who were being drawn to Stuttgart by its booming economy.

Manfred Rommel was known for his down-to-earth and often funny sayings and quotations.

Manfred Rommel collaborated with Basil Liddell-Hart in the publication of The Manfred Rommel Papers, a collection of diaries, letters and notes that his father wrote during and after his military campaigns.

Manfred Rommel was awarded several foreign awards including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the French Legion d'honneur, the US Medal of Freedom and the highest grade of the German federal order of merit.

Manfred Rommel died on 7 November 2013, survived by his wife Lieselotte and his daughter Catherine.

Additionally, interviews with Manfred concerning his father are featured in the 2021 documentary Rommel: The Soldier, The Son, and Hitler narrated by Greg Kinnear.