Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States and a five-star general during World War II, had a profound respect for Erwin Rommel, the famed German Field Marshal, despite the two being on opposing sides during the war. Eisenhower’s admiration for Rommel, often called the “Desert Fox” for his tactical brilliance in North Africa, was rooted in a recognition of Rommel's skill and military leadership.
In the years following World War II, Eisenhower reflected on his encounters with Rommel, particularly their indirect "battle" during the North African Campaign. Eisenhower respected Rommel as one of the most capable and talented commanders the Germans had. He once referred to Rommel as "a great general" and acknowledged that his strategic abilities in the field were formidable. Rommel’s tactics in North Africa, marked by bold and unexpected maneuvers, earned him Eisenhower’s recognition, even though they were fierce adversaries on the battlefield.
Interestingly, Eisenhower also admired Rommel's character and integrity. According to various accounts, Eisenhower considered Rommel a man who, although loyal to Hitler, did not share the dictator's brutal ideology. He believed that Rommel's sense of honor and decency was evident in the way he treated prisoners of war and his efforts to minimize civilian casualties during his campaigns.
However, Eisenhower also acknowledged the harsh reality of war and the necessity of defeating Rommel’s forces. The mutual respect between the two men became even more evident after the war, particularly when Eisenhower learned that Rommel had been implicated in a plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944. Rommel was forced to commit suicide to avoid his family’s execution, which Eisenhower later expressed sorrow over.
In summary, Dwight Eisenhower viewed Erwin Rommel with a mixture of respect for his military prowess and empathy for his personal integrity, even as they fought on opposite sides of the war.