On this day in 1944, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel died by suicide after being linked to a failed plot to kill Adolf Hitler, according to Britannica and History.com.

Rommel was known as the "Desert Fox" for his surprise attacks as commander of the Afrika Korps in North Africa during World War II, both sources say. The nickname was used by both his own side and his enemies, Britannica says.

He was born in 1891 in Heidenheim, Germany, the son of a teacher, Britannica says. He fought in World War I and later taught at military schools. In 1940 he took command of a tank division and led a raid on France's Channel coast.

In 1944, Rommel was put in charge of defending France's coast against an Allied invasion, both sources say. He began to doubt that Germany could win the war, History.com says.

Friends who opposed Hitler asked him to lead the government if Hitler were removed, History.com says. He agreed, though there was no open talk of killing Hitler, which he found horrible.

In July 1944, Rommel was badly hurt when British planes attacked his car, both sources say. After the failed attempt on Hitler's life on July 20, his contact with the plotters came out.

On Oct. 14, two generals came to his home in Herrlingen and offered him a choice: face a public trial for treason or take poison, History.com says. Rommel told his wife and son, then chose cyanide.

"To die at the hands of one's own people is hard," Rommel told his 15-year-old son, Manfred, before leaving the house, HistoryNet reports.

The German government gave Rommel a state funeral and said his death was caused by war wounds, History.com says. He was buried with full military honors, Britannica says.

What we know: Rommel took poison on Oct. 14, 1944, under pressure from Hitler.
What we don't: Exactly how much Rommel knew about the plan to kill Hitler.