A truly honourable man in a dishonourable world.

Rommel was born in in November 1891, wanted to be an engineer and then,

Because his father disapproved, joined the German army in 1910.

He served on the Western Front and won the Iron Cross in World War One,

At this stage his military career had barely even begun…

He served on the Italian Front then became a first-rate teacher,

Then wrote a book which Hitler read, in which tactics were the feature.

Hitler, mightily impressed put his Austrian HQ in his care,

Then sent him to Czechoslovakia and Poland to sort out problems there.

Next he took command of the Panzers that invaded France and got promoted once again,

Because he conquered the whole of the country, from the Channel down to Spain.

Benito Mussolini asked for help in North Africa, so Rommel was duly sent,

The Desert Fox drove the British out, so his time there was really well spent.

He was sent back to France to head the army there and prepare for the Allied invasion,

Close to defeat he warned Hitler to end the war, but he wouldn’t countenance this persuasion.

He wanted to bring Hitler to account for his crimes, but the Fuhrer heard about this scheme,

And dispatched two generals with cyanide and a proposal quite extreme.

Either submit to a trial for treason, or swallow a cyanide pill,

If he did, his family and men would be spared and he’d be lauded for military skill.

He swallowed that pill to save them all and won a great deal of respect,

From the allies, his soldiers and his family, he fought so hard to protect.