The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel Page #7

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as early this evening as we can make it.

Death by strangulation.

The drug I have brought with me

is effective in three seconds and painless.

Tell him for me

that in spite of the disadvantages

you've been kind enough to point out,

I'll take the trial.

It may be, as you say, a futile defence,

but I think it should be heard nevertheless.

There might be some value in it

for those who hear it.

It might even move some to stop and think

for a moment or two, as finally I did,

though unfortunately too late.

In any case, it's my life, and that's my choice.

I confess my disappointment

with your choice, sir.

My heart, of course, bleeds for you.

The unfortunate part of it is

that if you insist on a trial,

I have no authority to offer any guarantees

for the safety and comfort of your son...

and widow.

They're coming out now.

- All over, sir?

- I believe so.

- We'll wait outside, sir.

- I won't be long.

Well, we hardly expected such a...

- Over already?

- Wait there. I'll be down in a few moments.

What is it, Erwin?

I want you to be strong, darling.

I want you to be very strong and very brave.

Do you understand?

Yes.

I've got to go away now, and I won't be back.

Do you want me to tell you any more?

There's no way out?

No. But it won't be too terrible.

They're giving me a drug.

It's painless and effective immediately.

We're leaving now

and I'll do it as quickly as possible.

We've got guns. Can't we make a break for it?

No. There's nothing that can be done.

They've thought of everything.

Well, at least we could get them.

There's nothing to be done, I tell you.

I've got to do exactly as they say.

Yes, sir.

Are you going to be brave now?

I don't know.

You and Manfred will be all right.

They've assured me of that.

And nobody's to know about this but us.

Are you sure there's no other way?

No other, darling.

- Have you told Manfred yet?

- I'll tell him when I go down.

No. Let me tell him.

I can tell him so much better.

If you wish.

I'll get my coat now.

It's cold and I don't want to shiver.

The field marshal's coming out now.

- You're going now?

- Why not?

But are you well enough?

Of course. I've just been taking it easy

on you and your mother.

Is it Russia?

Goodbye, Aldinger, old dear friend.

Goodbye, sir.

Take care of them.

Yes, sir.

Can't you tell me?

Don't ask so many questions.

You know better than to talk like that.

- But when will we know?

- Before very long.

- Goodbye, son. Be a good boy.

- Goodbye, Father.

You'll stop them, won't you?

We'll see.

Goodbye, darling.

Goodbye, dear.

During that last short ride,

what may Rommel's thoughts have been?

were they bitter - that he had learned

too slowly and struck too late?

Or did they go back to the desert, where his

military genius had first electrified the world?

First at Mechili.

Then Tobruk.

Yes, and even El Alamein.

In any case, his life and fate have best

been summed up, ironically enough,

in the words of Nazi Germany's

sternest enemy,

the Honourable Winston Churchill.

His ardour and daring

inflicted grievous disasters upon us,

but he deserves the salute which

I made him in the House of Commons

in January 1942.

He also deserves our respect

because, although a loyal German soldier,

he came to hate Hitler and all his works,

and took part in the conspiracy

to rescue Germany

by displacing the maniac and tyrant.

For this, he paid the forfeit of his life.

In the sombre wars of modern democracy,

there is little place for chivalry.

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