08/09/2026
In the autumn of 1942, amidst the vast sands of the Western Desert and the fierce battles of World War II, history penned a fleeting chapter in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa, when the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, known as the "Desert Fox," arrived in that beautiful, secluded oasis.
Rommel's forces and convoy reached the oasis on September 21, 1942, during his field movements and the Axis leadership's search for a foothold and the securing of supply routes in that remote region.
When the chieftains of the Siwan tribes learned of the German commander's arrival, they treated him with the chivalry and authentic hospitality for which the oasis is renowned. Rather than leaving him in the open or among military camps, they allocated one of the most picturesque gardens for his rest: the garden of Hajj Muhammad Saeed Saleh Abu Draa, the chieftain of the Hammoudat tribe, located in the "Al-Saboukha" area east of central Siwa.
The visit was merely a warrior's respite lasting just a day, during which the leadership caught its breath amidst the shade and springs, far from the tumult of the frontlines, before Rommel resumed his decisive desert tours.
Rommel left a profound impression on the people of the oasis due to his discipline and respect, and in return, he showed his appreciation by leaving them large chests of the finest tea—which was precious and rare during wartime—and distributing sums of money amounting to about 10,000 Italian Lira to the oasis chieftains to assist them in meeting their daily needs.
That day remained deeply etched in the memory of the oasis and its people, standing as a testament to a moment where the chill of war met the wisdom of the desert and the grandeur of human history in its simplest details.
~ Joseph Ernst ~
