The "Desert Fox" more famously and officially known as Erwin Rommel was a decorated veteran of the First World War. He became a hero in Germany after his victories in France and North Africa.
Erich von Manstein, a decorated veteran of World War I, was shattered by the German surrender of 1918. He is famous worldwide for his brilliant "Sickle Cut" plan that led to the fall of France in 1940.
Friedrich Paulus, an aristocratic veteran, played a key role in the German rearmament. He led the 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad, but was declared a "traitor" after surrendering, and was held in Russian captivity until 1954.
Ernst Udet, the second-highest scoring German flying ace of World War I, played a key role with Göring in rebuilding the Luftwaffe, and rose to the rank of colonel general.
Wilhelm Canaris became chief of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service in 1935, a post he would hold until 1944. He was among the military officers involved in the clandestine opposition to Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Wilhelm Keitel, an intelligence officer and adjutant of the First World War, secretly organized the German rearmament. After Hitler came to power, he became a field marshal and chief of the supreme armed forces high command.
