Death mask of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, 1945

A death mask is a mold taken from a person's face after they die. Death masks may be mementos of the dead or may be used for the manufacture of paintings. Wounded in France three months before his death, Rommel's death mask shows evidence of injuries, most notably the indentation of the left temple.

The "tears" under her eyes are air bubbles that were trapped in her eyelids when the cast was removed. Some observers have commented on the Field Marshal's expression of fatigue, resignation and despair. His son Manfred regarded the expression as contemptuous.

Rommel was associated with the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler, although he did not advocate for Hitler to be killed, he was in support of the overthrow of the Nazi regime and establishing a government that would negotiate peace with the Allies.

After the failure of the plot, the Nazi regime gave him two options. He would either face the People's Court - which would amount to the death penalty - or choose a sober suicide. I

In the former case, his family would have suffered before the all-but-certain punishment and execution, and his employees were also arrested. In the latter case, the government would claim that he died a hero and was buried with full military honours, and that his family would receive full pension payments.

On 14 October 1944, General Wilhelm Bergdorf, accompanied by General Ernst Maisel, arrived in the Rommel family. Bergdorf was instructed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel to give Rommel a choice - take the poison, receive a state funeral, and obtain immunity for his family and employees, or face a trial for treason.

As Rommel considered the matter, an SS detachment surrounded his village, leading him to conclude that if he agreed to face the People's Court, he would not reach Berlin alive. With this in mind, Rommel chose to commit suicide and told his wife and son about his decision.

Wearing his Africa Corps jacket and carrying his field marshal's baton, Rommel went to General Wilhelm Bergdorf's opal, commanded by SS Master Sergeant Heinrich Doze, and was driven out of the village. After stopping, Dosz and Maisel drove away by car, leaving Rommel with Bergdorf.

Five minutes later, Bergdorff signaled the two men to return to the car, and Dodge saw Rommel fall down after taking a cyanide shot. Ten minutes later the group called Rommel's wife and reported Rommel's death.

The official story of Rommel's death, as reported to the public, stated that Rommel had died of either a heart attack or a cerebral embolism—a complication of a skull fracture he had taken in his staff car. Had suffered in earlier strafing. To further cement the story, Hitler ordered an official mourning day in commemoration.

After the failure of the plot, the Nazi regime gave him two options. He would either face the People's Court - which would amount to the death penalty - or choose a sober suicide. I

In the former case, his family would have suffered before the all-but-certain punishment and execution, and his employees were also arrested. In the latter case, the government would claim that he died a hero and was buried with full military honours, and that his family would receive full pension payments.

On 14 October 1944, General Wilhelm Bergdorf, accompanied by General Ernst Maisel, arrived in the Rommel family. Bergdorf was instructed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel to give Rommel a choice - take the poison, receive a state funeral, and obtain immunity for his family and employees, or face a trial for treason.

As Rommel considered the matter, an SS detachment surrounded his village, leading him to conclude that if he agreed to face the People's Court, he would not reach Berlin alive. With this in mind, Rommel chose to commit suicide and told his wife and son about his decision.

Wearing his Africa Corps jacket and carrying his field marshal's baton, Rommel went to General Wilhelm Bergdorf's opal, commanded by SS Master Sergeant Heinrich Doze, and was driven out of the village. After stopping, Dosz and Maisel drove away by car, leaving Rommel with Bergdorf.

Five minutes later, Bergdorff signaled the two men to return to the car, and Dodge saw Rommel fall down after taking a cyanide shot. Ten minutes later the group called Rommel's wife and reported Rommel's death.

The official story of Rommel's death, as reported to the public, stated that Rommel had died of either a heart attack or a cerebral embolism—a complication of a skull fracture he had taken in his staff car. Had suffered in earlier strafing. To further cement the story, Hitler ordered an official mourning day in commemoration.

As promised earlier, Rommel was given a state funeral. Rommel specified that no political material would be displayed on his corpse, but the Nazis ensured that his coffin was decorated with a swastika.

The truth behind Rommel's death was revealed to the Allies when intelligence officer Charles Marshall interviewed Rommel's widow, Lucia Rommel, as well as a letter from Rommel's son Manfred in April 1945.