A university in England apologized after a quote from a Nazi war general was used to inspire students.

Careers services at the University of Exeter quoted Erwin Rommel, a World War II Nazi general known as “Desert Fox,” in an email blast to staff and students with a scenic sunset background, Sky News reported.

The controversial email quoted the senior member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi war machine as saying: “One cannot permit unique opportunities to slip by for the sake of trifles.”

The National Union of Students said in a statement that Jewish students have been feeling “increasingly unsafe” at universities, and often avoid applying to certain campuses due to “fears of anti-Semitism.”

“Exeter must take appropriate action to rectify the damage caused and provide sufficient reassurances that something like this will never happen again,” the group added in a statement.

The University of Exeter had to apologize after a careers services staff member accidentally sent out a quote from a Nazi war general to inspire students. (Google maps)

A university spokesman said the staff member who picked the quote did not know who Rommel was, and the information was taken from a random quote generator.

“This was a genuine error and in no way intentional, however we apologise unreservedly for any offence it may have caused, and have put additional processes in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” the statement said.

BBC reported that Rommel’s quote was from a campaign against British troops in North Africa, when he was commanding the German Afrika Korps.

While historians debate how closely Rommel supported the Nazi regime, the student newspaper, “The Falmouth Anchor,” reported that he served as commander of Hitler’s personal bodyguard, however, he died after being accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler when it was clear the war had been lost.

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Rommel had some other good quotes Exeter might use:
"It will be the longest day".
"Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, brains save both".
All in all, a pretty savvy dude, German or not.

Ironically, Rommel tried to kill hitler and was at best lukewarm about the nazi party.

He WAS however a very intelligent general officer.

Sure, he fought with the nazi army there's no getting around that, but he wasn't philosophically a nazi, like many others of rank in the German Army at the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Snapping Twig:


Sure, he fought with the nazi army there's no getting around that, but he wasn't philosophically a nazi, like many others of rank in the German Army at the time.

It might be more accurate to say that he fought for Germany, his country.

Not all Germans were Nazis and not all Nazis were German. Rommel was not a member of the Nazi Party, and to refer to him as a “Nazi general” because he served in the Wehrmacht is like calling Stanley McChrystal a “Democrat general” because he served in the US Army under the Obamanation.

That doesn’t excuse whatever Rommel may have done, including serving a murderous regime, but Nazi is not an accurate term to describe all Germans in World War II.

And none of that distracts from a good quote, or justifies revulsion of positive idea just because it came from Rommel.

What is anti semetic about the Quote?

Good grief!

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
Good grief!

Indeed.

Only an institute of higher learning could make such a stupid mistake of subject identification.

Yes, you can quote me on that one.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
And none of that distracts from a good quote, or justifies revulsion of positive idea just because it came from Rommel.

The Brits could have benefited greatly from emulating Rommel's thoughts and ideas during the war.

I've read Rommel's book going over his battles as a junior officer in WWI, "Infantry Attacks", and there is a lot of good, solid military thinking in it. If they don't study that in our (and Brit) military academies, they are missing out.

If Jewish students in the UK are indeed

quote:

feeling “increasingly unsafe” at universities

I would be very surprised if imperfectly-sourced aphorisms was found to be the cause.

I wonder what might be higher on the list of possible causes of Jewish folks in the UK feeling a bit insecure. Could it be anti-Semitism in the UK's immigrant groups' reinforced by ineffectual (but politically-correct) policing?

Nah, what was I thinking. They can't point fingers at immigrants without reinforcing the correctness of the UK regaining controls of their borders via Brexit, and it goes without saying that the students will not be allowed to arm themselves....so 'virtue signaling' is about all that's left.

So, rejoice, Jewish students in the UK. You may have to go to school in an increasingly hostile environment, defenseless, but at least you won't have to listen to Erwin Rommel.

During the height of Rommel’s success in North Africa, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sang his praises before the House of Commons. “We have a very daring and skillful opponent against us,” Churchill declared, “and, may I say across the havoc of war, a great general.” George Patton, Bernard Montgomery and other top Allied generals likewise expressed their respect for him, and Rommel responded in kind, saying of Patton that “we saw the most astonishing achievement in mobile warfare,” and that “Montgomery never made a serious strategic mistake.” Rommel was no Nazi and is in fact, still celebrated in Germany today...

Gesichtpalme

I am sure they would be more comfortable with quotes from Marx. Or perhaps even Stalin...

Truth is truth regardless of the source.

This is stupid. Rommel was one of the greatest generals in history. As someone said truth is truth...and, yeah not material to the issue but he tried to kill Hitler and paid with his life.

" You magnificent bastard! I read your book!"

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Truth is truth regardless of the source.

Right on. Beat me to it.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
" You magnificent bastard! I read your book!"

Exactly what I was going to post, haha.

Hitler liked Wagner, so anyone who listens to Wagner is a Nazi, right?

Yet werner von braun a known SS officer took pictures besides walt disney and all is fine....

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
Hitler liked Wagner, so anyone who listens to Wagner is a Nazi, right?

Hey, don’t be knockng Wagner’s music.

It’s not as bad as it sounds, you know.