The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Page #3

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- Come early, will you?

- He's a good-looking boy, isn't he?

- And a very nice boy, too.

- But were you entirely truthful with him?

- About what?

When you told him that

he would never put you up against a wall.

Of course.

Has it ever occurred to you

that he might turn on you?

- Why should he?

- He's turned on others.

He'll never turn on me.

What about those round him that don't like

you - Himmler, Bormann and that crowd?

- Don't they ever influence him?

- Very often, indeed.

You don't think they might

influence him against you?

It's possible, yes, but...

I don't see that it's very likely.

But in the remote possibility that they did,

have you ever considered what

might become of Lucy and Manfred?

I've never thought about it.

But what on earth are you getting at anyway?

I think you should, that's all.

You haven't changed a bit, Doctor.

You always were something of an odd fish.

But there's no need to worry this time.

We're in no danger, none of us.

And if you'd take some advice from a friend,

you'd better not talk like that to everybody.

I don't.

Only to those I know very well

and am very fond of.

- Goodbye, Rommel.

- Goodbye, Strolin. Come again if you can.

I'll try.

An invasion of Hitler's European fortress

was now clearly but a matter of time.

And in November of 1943, Rommel made

a tour of inspection of the Atlantic defences,

preparatory to taking command

of the Nazi forces

that were gathering to resist the assault.

A month later, Rommel reported

to Field Marshal von Rundstedt,

supreme commander in the west,

at the latter's headquarters

in the Pompadour's Palace

at Fontainebleau outside Paris.

Field Marshal von Rundstedt, gentlemen.

- Ruge.

- Field Marshal.

Gentlemen.

- Good to see you, Rommel.

- Field Marshal.

Well, now that you've examined it closely,

what do you think of our Atlantic Wall?

I'm afraid I haven't quite

completed my report yet, but...

Then we'll discuss it whenever you're ready.

I don't imagine the mighty Eisenhower

will be on us for another day or so anyway.

- Wasn't too much a tax on you, I hope.

- Not in the least. I'm entirely recovered.

- I'm delighted. You're well taken care of?

- Yes, sir.

Bauer, would you divert our friends

while Field Marshal Rommel and I

have a few moments of privacy?

Yes, sir.

Appalling, wasn't it?

I can't even see why it's called a wall.

The big ports like Havre and Ostend

and Cherbourg are protected,

but the enemy's not coming in

on the Queen Mary

Nothing's been done about the beaches.

I saw 50 places where

an army of children could come ashore.

The trouble is labour. We have the plans

for fortifications the devil couldn't breach -

solid steel and concrete

from Denmark to Spain.

But I'm afraid our French friends aren't

being as cooperative as they might be.

Even when driven to the job,

they move like snails.

Either we break it up while they're still

wading ashore or we're in trouble.

- Is that how you'd meet it?

- On the beaches.

Crowd the water

with mines and traps and tricks

and hit 'em while they're trying

to keep themselves from drowning.

Here. Down here.

And here.

I don't agree with you.

As it happens, neither you nor I will

determine the tactics in this operation.

Not above the regimental level anyway.

You mean Berlin?

I mean the Bohemian corporal himself is

assuming sole command of this operation.

You and I will function simply as instruments

of his astrological inspirations.

And in case you're afflicted with scepticism,

this is official.

- But that's an impossible situation.

- Then you should explain that to him.

You've made no protest yourself?

After you've interfered a dozen times or so

with a man's enthusiastic determination

to cut his own throat, there comes a moment

when you're inclined to stand back

and view it with a certain detachment.

No objection to my pointing this out to him?

On the contrary. I bestow my blessings

on your courage and optimism.

I'm told you once referred to me as a clown,

a clown of Hitler's circus.

Oh, did I?

If so, I think you should know I've been

more explicit about you many times.

That's quite all right, Field Marshal.

I find it almost impossible to keep my mind

on anything harsh said about me.

Did you say it?

Whoever said it, you've given him

ample reason to regret such a foolish remark.

- Thank you, Field Marshal.

- Not at all.

- Is there anything else?

- I don't believe so, at the moment.

One suggestion, perhaps...

in view of our cordiality.

If I were you, I wouldn't be

altogether unguarded

about what I had to say about

this new strategic arrangement.

You should know that from now on you'll be

under more or less constant observation.

- From Berlin?

- Friends of the management, I believe.

Have you any information

as to why I should be singled out?

Oh, but you're not. We all are.

Apparently, you didn't have it in Africa,

but here on the Continent

it's an honour that goes with staff rank.

- You, too?

- My dear fellow, I'm the commander in chief.

Two months after that, in February of 1944,

during one of Rommel's

rare absences from the Atlantic frontier,

his old friend Dr Karl Strolin

sought him out again.

- Good afternoon, sir.

- Good afternoon.

Dr Strolin to see

the field marshal and Frau Rommel.

Come in, sir.

Eisenhower won't try it

until spring, of course.

- I doubt if I'll get home again before then.

- Are we ready for it?

We will be, I hope.

To your very good health, Doctor.

How do you know this room isn't wired?

Wired? Why should it be wired?

Does Himmler have to have

a reason for wiring a room?

No, I don't suppose he does.

But I don't think you have

to worry about this one. Why?

Cos I want to talk to you

without being overheard.

- About what?

- About the Hitler situation.

If this is politics, Strolin,

I don't want to hear it.

You'd rather see Germany destroyed?

It's not a matter I want to discuss, I tell you.

And I'm surprised at you.

That's a communist position.

Oh? Is it?

Defeat, against him, all that sort of thing.

You know it is.

Would you call General Beck a communist?

- Of course not.

- Or Carl Goerdeler, Lord Mayor of Leipzig?

- I've never heard that he was.

- What about Falkenhausen?

- No, but...

- What about Heinrich von Stulpnagel?

Von Neurath, von Hassel,

are they communists?

Are you trying to tell me seriously that

men like that are questioning his leadership?

Not just questioning it. They intend to end it.

- You mean you've talked to those fellows?

- To them and many others. Not only soldiers.

Churchmen, labour leaders, lawyers, doctors.

Members of the government, even. Not too

many of them, but sound men every one.

How long has this been going on?

Since '38.

And what exactly are you after?

One:
We want to get rid

of Hitler and his gang.

If we are to be defeated, then we prefer to be

defeated as human beings, not as barbarians.

Two:
Whether we win or lose,

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