Rommel ordered many thousands of his men to their deaths, and trained his men to be good soldiers, who went on to kill thousands more, that's war. What stood Rommel apart was the care he had for his men, that is, he trained them relentlessly and diligently which gave them a better chance at survival, and ultimate success.
His men respected what he did for them, despite them having to work incredibly hard to reach the standards he set; but they respected and worshipped him as their leader and went into battle equipped and ready to do what they must.
I think it's a good example and lesson, on how important preparation is in the pursuit of positive results, and the sacrifices people need to make to attain their goals.