Career advisers send students ‘inspiring’ quote – by Rommel!

A UNIvERSITy has apologised after it sent an email to students with a motivational quote from Erwin Rommel – one of Hitler’s most senior generals.

The message from the University of Exeter’s careers advice team included a picture and quote from the notorious Second World War commander known as the Desert Fox.

Exeter, which is part of the Russell Group of the country’s most prestigious universities, admitted a member of staff had chosen the quote – ‘One cannot permit unique opportunities to slip by for the sake of trifles’ – after searching for an inspirational message on Google and ‘did not recognise the name’.

Rommel, pictured, who was given a state funeral after his death in 1944, was widely viewed as Hitler’s finest general. He commanded the Fuhrer’s forces in North Africa, known as the Afrika Korps, and later led defences in Normandy. He also headed Hitler’s bodyguard battalion in 1939.

After a student highlighted the error on Facebook, a member of staff replied: ‘We have spoken with our careers team. We understand that this quote was chosen from a website and the person who selected it did not recognise the name.

‘We apologise unreservedly and will put processes in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again.’

The University of Exeter has fallen into disrepute before. Last year a Nazi swastika symbol was found carved in the walls of halls of residence while students were also rebuked for wearing swastikas for a fancy dress event.

A university spokesman added: ‘ This was a genuine error and in no way intentional. We apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.’