The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

A celebrated German commander of the Afrika Korps who is torn between his duty and moral restraint. The film shows his discomfort with Hitler's directives, his consideration of joining a dissident plot, and his ultimate fate as he confronts a forced choice that ends in suicide to avoid public disgrace.

The dictator whose orders and beliefs drive the regime’s strategic decisions. His insistence on holding fast, coupled with his detachment from battlefield realities, shapes Rommel’s fate and the wider course of the war.

Rommel's superior and a senior commander who embodies the High Command under Hitler. He shares in the strategic pressures and the limitations imposed by the regime’s leadership, influencing whether to pursue aggressive action or caution.

Old family friend and Lord Mayor of Stuttgart who seeks Rommel's involvement in a dissident plot. He embodies the tension between public duty and private conscience that pervades the circle around Rommel.

A key conspirator in the anti-Hitler plot. The film places him within the broader circle considering how to challenge the regime from within, highlighting the peril and moral complexity of rebellion.

Hitler's staff officer involved in the regime's internal security and the pursuit of dissent. He represents the apparatus that clamps down on perceived traitors after attempts on Hitler’s life.

Head of the German High Command, a central figure in the conflict between battlefield realities and Hitler's unpredictable directives. He embodies the institutional obstacle to flexible strategic thinking.

Rommel's fellow general and ally in the field. He represents the professional camaraderie and shared military outlook within Rommel’s circle against the regime's demands.

Rommel's wife, who supports him through personal turmoil and promises to explain his choices to their son. She provides a human perspective on the general’s burdens and priorities beyond the battlefield.

A medical officer encountered during Rommel’s hospital period, representing the human cost of war and the medical care that frames Rommel’s return to duty.