Manfred Rommel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manfred Rommel
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Rommel in 2004
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| Mayor of Stuttgart | |
| In office 1974–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Arnulf Klett |
| Succeeded by | Wolfgang Schuster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1928 Stuttgart, Germany |
| Died | 7 November 2013 (aged 84) Stuttgart, Germany |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union |
| Spouse |
Liselotte Daiber
(m. 1954) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Germany |
| Branch/service | Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Luftwaffenhelfer |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Manfred Rommel (born December 24, 1928 – died November 7, 2013) was an important German politician. He was a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. From 1974 to 1996, he served as the mayor of Stuttgart, a major German city.
People described Rommel's way of leading as open-minded and fair. He was one of the most liked local politicians in Germany. He received many awards from other countries. Manfred was the only son of Erwin Rommel, a famous German military leader from World War II. He also helped create museums to honor his father. He was known for being friends with George Patton IV and David Montgomery. These were the sons of his father's main military rivals.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Manfred Rommel was born in Stuttgart, Germany. When he was 14, in 1943, he joined the air force as an assistant. He served in a unit that operated anti-aircraft guns. In February 1945, he left the air force. The next month, he joined the Reichsarbeitsdienst, a service group.
He was stationed in Riedlingen when the French First Army entered the town. He left his post just before they arrived. He was then taken as a prisoner of war. During his questioning, he shared the truth about how his father had died.
Becoming a Leader
After the war, in 1947, Manfred Rommel finished his high school exams. He then studied law at the University of Tübingen. In 1954, he married Liselotte, and they had a daughter named Catherine.
After working as a lawyer for a short time, Rommel joined the civil service in 1956. He later became a state secretary in the government of Baden-Württemberg.
In 1974, Rommel became the Oberbürgermeister (which is like a mayor) of Stuttgart. He won the election with 58.5% of the votes. He was re-elected easily in 1982 with 69.8% of the votes. He won again in 1990 with 71.7% of the votes.
Mayor of Stuttgart
As mayor of Stuttgart, Rommel became good friends with U.S. Army Major General George Patton IV. He was the son of General George S. Patton, who was one of Manfred's father's opponents in World War II. General Patton IV was stationed near Stuttgart.
Manfred Rommel was also friends with David Montgomery, 2nd Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. David was the son of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, another major rival of Rommel's father. Many people saw this friendship as a sign of peace between Britain and Germany after the war. It also showed West Germany joining NATO.
In 1996, Manfred Rommel received Germany's highest civilian award, the Bundesverdienstkreuz. Helmut Kohl, a former German Chancellor, praised Rommel for improving relations between France and Germany. A few days later, the city of Stuttgart gave him the Honorary Citizen Award.
Rommel was also known for supporting fair treatment for immigrants. Many immigrants were coming to Stuttgart because of its strong economy. As mayor, he managed the city's money carefully. He reduced its debt and improved roads and public transport. He also worked hard to strengthen ties between France and Germany.
Life After Politics
Manfred Rommel retired from politics in 1996. Even though he had Parkinson's disease, he was still a popular author and speaker. He wrote many books, some serious and some funny. He was known for his down-to-earth and often humorous sayings. He also wrote articles for the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper sometimes.
Rommel helped publish The Rommel Papers. This book was a collection of his father's diaries, letters, and notes from his military campaigns. Manfred Rommel received several awards from other countries. These included the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from the UK. He also received the French Légion d'honneur and the US Medal of Freedom. He passed away on November 7, 2013. His wife Lieselotte and daughter Catherine survived him.
Movies About His Father
Manfred Rommel was shown as a character in several movies about his father during World War II:
- 1951: The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (played by William Reynolds)
- 1962: The Longest Day (played by Michael Hinz)
- 1989: War and Remembrance (TV-Series, played by Matthias Hinze)
- 2012: Rommel (played by Patrick Mölleken)
Manfred also appeared in interviews for the 2021 documentary Rommel: The Soldier, The Son, and Hitler.
Awards and Honors
Manfred Rommel once made a funny comment about his many awards. He said, "The number of honors seems to be endless. The inscription on my gravestone will read: Please turn over!"
Here are some of the honors he received:
- 1979: Honorary citizen of Cairo
- 1982: Orden wider den tierischen Ernst, for his sense of humor
- 1982: Grand Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Netherlands
- 1985: Knight of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic
- 1990: Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1996: Honorary Citizen of the City of Stuttgart
- 1996: Great Cross of Merit with star and sash *Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 1996: Appointed Professor
- 1997: Price of the Entente Franco-Allemande for German-French friendship
Places Named After Him
After his death, Stuttgart Airport added "Manfred Rommel" to its official name. Also, a central square in Stuttgart will be named after him. This square is part of the Stuttgart 21 project.
See also
In Spanish: Manfred Rommel para niños
