Sir Claude Auchinleck

Sir Claude Auchinleck (born June 21, 1884, Aldershot, England—died March 23, 1980, Marrakesh, Morocco) was a British field marshal best known for his victory against Gen. Erwin Rommel in North Africa.

Auchinleck was educated at Sandhurst military academy. He served in India and performed with distinction in the Middle East in World War I. He returned to India to command the Peshawar Brigade against the Upper Mohmands in 1933 and by the outbreak of World War II had been appointed deputy chief of the general staff at army headquarters. He commanded British forces in Norway and India until his 1941 appointment to the Middle East, where he replaced Sir Archibald Wavell as commander in chief. Auchinleck defeated Rommel’s better-armed forces at Cyrenaica, Libya, in 1941 and, though he was subsequently forced to retreat, helped to minimize British losses and pave the way for victory against the Germans in North Africa. After his defeat of Rommel, Auchinleck was replaced because of his questionable defensive strategy. It was not until 1943 that he was given his next major command, again as commander in chief in India. He was promoted to field marshal in 1946 and as supreme commander in India administered the splitting of the Indian army following the creation of Pakistan. In November 1947 he resigned in open disagreement with the Indian leaders. He frequently returned to the country after his retirement, however, to maintain business connections.