Erwin Rommel is considered one of the best German generals of the Second World War, but also the only one whose name was not tarnished by war crimes of the forces under him. But for one British officer, Rommel was also a savior.
Captain Roy Wooldridge served in the Engineer. Prior to the Normandy landings Wooldridge had been sent to France to reconnoitre the landing beaches. The mission was secret and the captain wore civilian clothes and did not bring any military documents with him. In the event that he was caught, his fate was predetermined, since, rightly, he would be branded a spy and executed.
And indeed it happened. A German patrol discovered the British captain and arrested him. During the interrogation, the Germans made it clear to the prisoner that if he did not reveal the purpose of his mission, he would be executed. Wooldridge did not speak, sealing his fate. However his story reached the ears of Marshal Rommel , who was in charge of the German forces in that sector.
Indeed the British captain introduced himself to the marshal. Rommel looked at him for a moment and then asked him politely if he wished for anything. The phlegmatic Briton, with nothing to lose, asked for a good meal, beer and a pack of cigarettes, assuming it would be the last time he would taste all of these. Rommel smiled and ordered the prisoner's wish to be granted. , as he described him, essentially saving his life.
Hitler had issued a clear order that even captured Allied commandos, let alone a man in plainclothes, were to be executed . Rommel, for the second time, ignored this order. The first time he had given his life to a British commando, a member of a team sent to kill him, in North Africa.
Now he did this, wishing to preserve as much humanity as the savagery of war would allow. Wooldridge kept the pack of cigarettes Rommel gave him, despite having too many offers to sell it, for a very high price. But his constant answer is "Not for sale". The lucky Briton died of old age in 2016, much later than the savior who was murdered, essentially, on Hitler's orders.