the "afrika korps" was never accused of any war crimes, and rommel himself referred to the fighting in north africa as "krieg ohne hass" — war without hate. numerous examples exist of this such as his refusal to carry out an order from hitler to execute jewish prisoners. during rommel's time in france, hitler ordered him to deport the jews in france; rommel did not. several times he wrote letters protesting the treatment of the jews. when british major geoffrey keyes was killed during a failed commando raid to kill or capture rommel behind german lines, rommel ordered him buried with full military honours. also, during the construction of the atlantic wall, rommel directed that french workers were not to be used as slaves but were to be paid for their labour.