Cave museum celebrating Nazi Erwin Rommel re-opens

A cave museum in honour of Nazi general Erwin Rommel featuring his weapons and uniforms has re-opened to the public after seven years.

The Desert Fox is held in high regard in Egypt, because of his commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the land while commanding troops there.

He was one of the most decorated Nazi soldiers, until he was implicated in a plot to kill Hitler – Rommel then voluntarily committed suicide to spare his family the persecution they would have faced had he faced trial.

A cave museum in honour of Nazi general Erwin Rommel featuring his weapons and uniforms has re-opened to the public after seven years

His old uniform and weaponry have now been restored to the museum, following the completion of the re-construction works that began in 2010

His old uniform and weaponry have now been restored to the museum, following the completion of the re-construction works that began in 2010.

Residents from the town of Matrouh, where the museum is located, feel a particular affiliation to Rommel because of the way he governed his troops during the Second World War.

He ordered soldiers to remain 2km away from the homes of locals at all times, and refused to contaminate the Allies’ water supply for fear of poisoning the natives.

Rommel was actually honoured by having a beach near Matrouh named in his honour.

His son, Manfred, a former mayor of Stuttgart, donated some of his old uniform and weaponry

He was one of the most decorated Nazi soldiers, until he was implicated in a plot to kill Hitler

The museum’s director Mohamed el-Sharkawy told Al-Monitor, ‘The museum will boost tourism and create archaeological awareness among Matrouh residents.’

A museum dedicated to Rommel was first planned jointly by Egyptian and German officials in 1977 and opened 11 years later, close to where he carried out much of his work in the war.

DESERT FOX ERWIN ROMMEL: A MILITARY LEGEND

Erwin Rommel, who was also known as Desert Fox, was one of Germany’s most respected military leaders in World War Two.

He played a part in two very significant battles during the war – at El Alamein in North Africa and at D-Day.

It was his leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign that established the legend of the Desert Fox, a name given to him by the British.

Rommel is regarded as having been a humane and professional officer. His Afrikakorps was never accused of war crimes.

He also ignored orders to kill captured commandos, Jewish soldiers and civilians in all theaters of his command, according to reports.

Coming to the end of World War Two, Rommel was accused of conspiring to kill Adolf Hitler.

Hitler was keen to avoid the public show trial of his most famous general and it seems that a ‘deal’ was done in order to eliminate Rommel quietly.

Rommel died ‘of his wounds’ on October 14, 1944. He was given a state funeral. But it was later revealed he committed suicide.

He agreed to kill himself by taking a cyanide pill, in return for assurances his family would not be punished.

Work was needed to fix cracks that had appeared in the cave, which was previously used for storing grain for trade ships.

His son, Manfred, a former mayor of Stuttgart, donated some of his old uniform and weaponry.

Hundreds of Germans and Italians come to Martrouh every year to remember the battle of El-Alamein and lay flowers at relatives’ graves.

Residents from the town of Matrouh, where the museum is located, feel a particular affiliation to Rommel because of the way he governed his troops during the Second World War

A museum dedicated to Rommel was first planned jointly by Egyptian and German officials in 1977 and opened 11 years later

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