ROMMEL’S DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25672, 21 October 1944, Page 7

ROMMEL’S DEATH

CAR ATTACKED BY FIGHTERS MARSHAL’S SKULL FRACTURED (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20. “The German News Agency has admitted that Marshal Rommel died as the result of injuries received when his car was attacked by two British fighter-bombers on the Western Front. The Agency said that Rommel was returning to his headquarters in France when the spotter in his car sighted two planes approaching. Rommel ordered the driver to go at full speed, but the first plane attacked immediately and a burst of machine-gun fire smashed the arm of the driver and Rommel was wounded in the face by splinters. The car became out of control, and Rommel tried to jump to safety, but was thrown out on the road. He was left lving unconscious with a fractured skull until the planes finished the attack and then .was picked up and rushed to hospital. At first it was thought that he would recover, and he was sent home, but, said the Agency, fate decided otherwise. • The German News Agency also stated that Rommel was buried at Wurtemburc on Wednesday. Von Rundstedt represented Hitler. An order of the day stated that Rommel died on October 14, and that he had been posthumously awarded the oak leaves with swords and diamonds to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.