If Rommel appeared next to you right now...

[Wing]

Yeah, I think I'd go for the hugging routine...I'd be so happy to see him. Of course, he'd probably pull out a Walther and shoot me, but I'd die happy.

[Qualerei]

lol... I tried to imagine him appearing next to my computer right now, and I know almost for sure I would have been gaping and making... uh, what was that ? ah, yes. make strange choking noises for several minutes. Either that or stare blankly at him, but the former seemed more fun.

[Wing]

Oh, most definitely. Hm...I contemplated voting for "It happens all the time"...yes, I get regular visits from him as well as a very good psychologist...I wish. (For the former) I'm having this recurring fantasy that I'm going to run into Manfred Rommel when we visit Germany this summer, but meeting his dad would be even better.

[Qualerei]

Maybe if you go visit his grave in Herrlingen... you're going to Germany this summer ? Lucky you ! (I'd love to go to Germany myself, only I'll be in Australia and New Caledonia this summer so I won't be able to). If you meet Manfred, at any rate, make sure you get an autograph for me (with a photograph of his father). What, one can always dream...

[Wing]

I am DETERMINED to go to his grave. Lucie's too. That's number one on my list, I crossed out Berlin on my mom's list and made sure of it.

[Qualerei]

Make sure to take photographs then, and to post them on the net ! *green with envy*

[Desert Stallion]

Die happy? Maybe you'd better take the gun away before you hug him.

Me? I'd probably, truthfully, either scream or faint quietly onto the floor.

You get to visit Germany? Lucky you. Do bring back pictures.

[ErwiiRommie]

Me... Id be too shocked to react appropriately so I chose staring at him blankly which is what i do when Im too shocked. Then once the shock is over... I'd probably spout a thousand questions at him at once that would make him feel like he's being interrogated. He'd probably tell me to shut up and look at me strangely or humorously.

Of course, I'd definately would ask him "How can you be alive!?"

[Qualerei]

Be careful, if you ask too many questions he might think you're a gestapo agent in disguise, trying to incriminate him because of the plot
And when you ask him "how can you be alive ?!" my bet is he'd answer something like : "sprechen sie deutsch ?"
And no making fun of my poor skills in German !

[ErwiiRommie]

Okay okay... after you both get over the initial shock of him being in the 21st Century and alive... What will you do with him? Would you tell Manfred? Would you update him on what happened to his country?

Me, I'd probably tell Manfred somehow but I doubt he would believe me until I put his father on the phone. Heh. And since Manfred speaks English, Id put them on speaker phone so I can be part of the conversation! Then I'd have to figure out how to get him out of the US without the FBI breaking down my door. Cause I'm certain that despite the fact that Rommel is considered a hero among his people and was abdicated at the Nuremburg Trials, the FBI would still arrest him.

[Qualerei]

Heck, they probably would. I mean, the man's mind is a danger. Such a brilliant tactician, no wonder the FBI would be fretting, ha. No FBI where I live though, so he'd be rather safe with me. Not to mention that, since it's Europe, he could go home whenever he'd want, as long as he'd have an ID card. But an ID card with his birth date might prove a problem. He was born in 1894, wasn't he ? 189 something, I don't remember the exact year. Shame on me.

At any rate, I don't think Rommel would give us much choice. He'd demand to know where he is, and to be explained what he's doing there, and then he'd probably read history books to know all about what happened while he wasn't there. And then he'd go home and run for chancellor... ha, just kidding. I think he didn't like politicians very much...

[ErwiiRommie]

He hated politics but still played the game.

He was born 1891.

It's not his mind that is a danger. It's the fact that he has yet to be "denazified" and therefore is a political danger. Especially if he were to return to Germany. I'm not saying he believes in the nazi ideology, its just his political views come from the time of the Kaiser and are outdated and a threat to democracy. Democracy, which to him failed his country twice. Once in not stablizing the country and twice in producing the Nazis.

Once he learns what happened the last 60 years I doubt he's going to sit around and accept things as they are. He may want to try and change things back to the way they were before the Nazis.

[Qualerei]

1891, that's right. A lot of important people in WW2 were born in the 1890s, so it gets confusing after a while.

I don't know if he'd try to change things. I believe he didn't approve of a democracy, don't remember where I read that, but would he try to change sixty years of history ? Not to mention, is there even an heir to the late Kaiser Guillaume II ? (that might be Wilhelm/William for you)

[ErwiiRommie]

Whether directly or indirectly, there is an heir to the German Throne.

No I dont think he would try to change sixty years of history. I think he would try to set things straight in his country, at least where he would see faults that might not be faults to us.

[Qualerei]

Well, I disagree. I don't remember where I read that, but I've read he was very respectful of the law and the authority. Since democracy is the wish of the German people, he wouldn't interfere with that...
Then again, that's only how I see him. Rommel himself is the only one who would know for sure, I guess.