Popularly known as the desert fox, he served as field marshal in the wehrmacht armed forces of nazi germany during world war ii, as well as serving in the reichswehr of the weimar republic, and the army of imperial germany. Although rommel would later become known for his bold battlefield tactics, his sister described him as a gentle and docile child. It was an incredibly rare thing to see it awarded to anyone below a general. His book infantry attacks, however, which detailed his extraordinary feats of. Written by german field marshal erwin rommel, it was first published in 1937 as a journalesque chronicle of the author s experiences in world war i and the lessons he learned there. Lee to win the civil warwhich one can only hope is a parody. Rommel s classic book about infantry tactics is essential reading for the military enthusiast. It is really a book with two themes, one about the war itself and the other about the man behind the battles, erwin rommel. There is no evidence that rommel ever studied jackson s campaigns. Huge dust waves made his adversaries think that rommel was gunning for big attacks soon while truth was that on many occasions rommel commanded a military arsenal often half the size of montgomery s military muscle.
Rommel s book, infantry attacks, which he used as a textbook teaching between the wars, was based on his own experiences mountain fighting during wwi and makes no mention of. Erwin rommel, german field marshal who became the most popular general at home and gained the open respect of his enemies with his spectacular victories as commander of the afrika korps in world war ii. This is a well written objective account of rommel s ability as a commander and his tactics. You can buy it at, it is unlikely that rommel would have found the time to write a book after returning from africa. Had the powers that be thoughtfully listened to and followed the input of rommel, it is quite possible that ww ii may have ended with a different winner.
Rommels interest arose from the fact that his position in the german. The book was first published in 1937 when rommel s rank was lieutenant colonel. Rommel s gold maggie davis published 1971 out of print try used books. Buy infantry attacks by erwin rommel from waterstones today. Of course, i am biased because i trained under robert. Being awarded to a lowly lieutenant in the field was outright amazing. Suppliy lines cut of and most of the german army in starlingrad and south of russia and the fact people forget the german s were fighting england, america, france, poland, serbia, australia, new zealand, canada and virtually all of europe and only just lost due to winter.
I am frequently invited to lecture on hannibals intelligence gathering in venues like the u. Infantry attacks is a classic book on military tactics written by german field marshal erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i. Ospreypublishing gazala 1942 rommel s greatest ospcam196. This book is a summation of his involvement in the learning of warfare, phase of his life in wwi. This article was published by the mcalvany intelligence advisor on wednesday, april 15, 2020 early in the movie patton, u. Rommel was to subsequently advance through the ranks to the high command in the second world war. For those who enjoy military history, erwin rommel s infantry attacks is wellwritten and sometimes inspiring book about a german officer who, despite fighting on the losing side, seemed to have won far more than he lost. Written by ronald lewin, once an artillery officer who served in the british 8th army opposite rommel, it examines rommel through the lens of military analysis of operations and the impact that. Rommel s war in africa wolf hechmann published 1981 out of print try used books. List of books and articles about erwin rommel online.
This 11th hardcover edition of infanterie greift an measures 5 x 738 inches, has 400 pages with 80 maps and illustrations. This enabled the enemy to think big of rommel 7th panzer division s misconceived military strengths. An essential collection of the wartime writings and diary of world war ii german field marshal erwin rommel, edited with commentary by one of the great military theorists of our time when erwin rommel diedby forced suicide at hitler s commandhe left behind in various ingenious hiding places the papers that recorded the story of his dramatic career and the exact details of his masterly campaigns. Every military academy today offers detailed classes and seminars on hannibal s tactics. He published a book on military tactics and infantry attacks using his experiences in both wwi and wwii. Johannes erwin eugen rommel 15 november 1891 14 october 1944 was a german general and military theorist. Us soldier vs afrikakorps soldier osprey publishing. Infanterie greift an known as infantry attacks in english, is a classic book on military tactics written by german field marshal erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i.
At one website, erwin rommel is credited with helping robert e. A good insight on rommels rise as an officer and a good book on tactics to help. If you join the military, you will be taught tactics and strategy at your level, and then especially as an officer are expected to continue your education throughout your career, expected to do your own reading and study, and will be required to. Rommel was to subsequently advance through the ranks to the high command in world war ii. We are open, but orders may be delayed unexpectedly. In this classic study of the art of war, rommel analyzes the tactics that lay behind. Tactics implement strategy by shortterm decisions on the movement of troops and employment of weapons on the field of battle. Which are the best books to read on military tactics and. Mitcham published 1987 out of print try used books. Robert is a crack researcher and storyteller he has a profound ability to explain timeless. General rommel lectures on military stradegy and tactics. Rommel was an exceptional commandernot only for his skills, but for the integrity with which he carried himself. The book exploring the small towns of virginia and maryland places rommel in monterey, va.
Infantry attacks is a classic text in the field of military strategy. Rommel showed great success in the axis push through france and belgium. Patton who had read erwin rommel s book, infantry attacks sees that, by following rommel s tactics, he is crushing his forces in an epic tank battle in tunisia and exclaims rommel, you magnificent bastard, i read your book. I think the clearest thing that will come to light is that most of the generals will be quite dismissive of washington s record as a commander. Mitcham published 1991 out of print try used books. Buy infantry attacks by manfred rommel, erwin rommel online at alibris. An essential collection of the wartime writings and diary of world war ii german field marshal erwin rommel, edited with commentary by one of the great military theorists of our time when erwin rommel diedby forced suicide at hitler s commandhe left behind in various ingenious hiding places the papers that recorded the story of his dramatic career and the exact details of his masterly.
As rommel s success waned, so did his relations with the fuhrer. Rommel as military commander is an abbreviated look at the field marshal focusing on primarily on africa and to a lesser degree france 1940 and 1944. Huge dust waves made his adversaries think that rommel was gunning for big attacks soon while truth was that on many occasions rommel commanded a military arsenal often half the size of montgomerys military muscle. What rommel did in africa was nothing short of a miracle. Impressed with rommels excellent reputation as an instructor, adolf hitler assigned him in 1937 as the war ministry liaison officer to the hitler youth, tasked with their military training. Dec 10, 2017 every military academy today offers detailed classes and seminars on hannibals tactics. Throughout the book, rommel reports assigning small. Erwin rommel roots of victory, seeds of defeat armchair. This book may be about war, but it is, like most of these books, mostly about people. A life of field marshall erwin rommel by david fraser. In this classic study of the art of war, rommel analyzes the tactics that lay behind his success.
Rommel s intelligence in the desert campaign 19411943. He committed suicide in 1944 after his role in a failed plot to assassinate hitler became known to the fuhrer. It will stand alongside, challenging and correcting, liddell harts rommel papers. In other words, rommel could execute a classic example of the central position. For those who could care less about battlefield exploits, rommel s book is an excellent example of honest selfcriticism. First published in 1937 it quickly became a highly regarded military textbook, and also brought its author to the attention of adolph hitler. Rommels desert war waging world war ii north africa 19411943. This is experiences in wwi and shows how he thought and fought in wwi. During world war i he served as an infantry lieutenant with the german army in italy, romania and france.
The book is a biography of what he did during the great war with commentary for each engagement. It is a typical problem that major technological jumps in warfare give soldiers great new equipment, but many of them dont adopt new strategies and tactics to make the best use of it. If julius caesar, george washington, george patton, erwin. Erwin johannes rommel was born in 1891 and he joined the german army as a cadet in 1910. Panzer greift an exists only in the form of scattered manuscripts and notes, but due to the fame of its author, it has achieved legendary status as a work of military literature. He was set up against general bernard montgomery of britain and later general patton. Strategy and tactics, military scholastic books for kids. Rommel brilliantly commanded an armored division in the attack 1940 on france. Interesting personal account of world war i conditions and tactics. Men of war of the twentieth century were unorthodox. History has smiled kindly on erwin rommel praised by both his enemies and his own side but while there is much evidence for his tactical skills as a general, he was not really in a position to practice wide strategic control, and when he was.
Field marshal erwin rommel exerted an almost hypnotic influence n. The book presents an objective, vivid, and graphic picture of rommel s operations and methods of command. Infanterie greift an infantry attacks is a classic german language book on military tactics written by erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i. There are a myriad of books that you can read about warfare, battles and strategy. The us army was powerfully well armoured and equipped, but fresh to war, and it showed. Feb 17, 2011 the german field marshal erwin rommel achieved a rare feat for any military commander he became a legend in his own lifetime and he remains the best known german general of world war two in. The book starts with a short overview of rommel s actions in world war i. In this classic study of the art of war rommel analyses the tactics that lay behind his success. Suppliy lines cut of and most of the german army in starlingrad and south of russia and the fact people forget the germans were fighting england, america, france, poland, serbia, australia, new zealand, canada and virtually all of europe and only just lost due to winter. Infantry attacks by manfred rommel, erwin rommel alibris. You need to get down the basics of how an army on the move operates and thinks.
In the previous video of this series, we covered the introduction. First published in 1937, it quickly became a highly regarded military textbook and also brought its author to the attention of adolph hitler. In his book infantrie greift an infantry attacks9, rommel recounts. It s going to feel weird reading a book about a german general in wwii but for rommel we must make an exception. Infanterie greift an is a classic book on military tactics written by field marshal erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i. Why do so many consider erwin rommel to be such a great.
Feb 03, 2011 the west always judge the naziz and rommel and losers. At the time of the book s writing in the mid1930s, rommel s rank was lieutenant colonel. Rommel, the desert fox, was the ultimate military tactician as well as consummate leader of men. Ospreypublishing gazala 1942 rommels greatest military. The rommel papers is a definite read for those who have interest in world war ii.
Infanterie greift an is a classic book on military tactics written by erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i. There is even a myth that rommel visited the us in the 30s to study jackson, also not true. Feb 16, 2012 in this classic study of the art of war rommel analyses the tactics that lay behind his success. Military strategy and tactics are essential to the conduct of warfare. Please enjoy listening to, or reading along with my. Broadly stated, strategy is the planning, coordination, and general direction of military operations to meet overall political and military objectives. Infantry attacks chapter 1 by field marshal erwin rommel. Rommel had planned to write a successor called panzer greift an in english. I recommend this book to historians, military historians, military enthusiasts and the general public looking for a military adventure book, except this one was real. Today, rommel is remembered and praised as the man who almost succeeded in stopping the alliance and its offensive in north africa. This integrity, admired even by his adversaries, proved fatal. But if i had not, these books still would have given me a priceless education as they have for millions of other people. Hitler s blatant disregard of proper military strategy against an enemy that was more mobile and better equipped, combined with his disillusionment as to the situation facing rommel s poorly equipped divisions, had later consequences for rommel s command and his ability to effectively counterattack the allies once they had landed.
Tank attacks about tank warfare, and gathered much material during the north. Rommels war in africa is a vivid and detailed account of the fighting between the german afrika korps and the british 8th army during wwii. Then rommel could turn back, combining his forces with the 5th panzer army in tunisia, and either destroy montgomerys 8th army or drive it into precipitate retreat. The 33 strategies of war, the 48 laws of power by robert greene. Patton might try to defend the first president, but the others would be quite critical of his record as. Jul 20, 2018 infantry attacks, by field marshall erwin rommel. He entered the army in 1910 and rose slowly through the ranks. What is the best way to learn military tactics and. The west always judge the naziz and rommel and losers. Then takes us to his command of 7 panzer in france and going right through the creation and command of the africa korps and the desert campaign. He was an excellent tank commander, which earned him the title of desert fox. Unafraid to voice his objections to hitler s military decisions, rommel was associated with the 1944. Apr 05, 2017 this enabled the enemy to think big of rommel 7th panzer divisions misconceived military strengths. Which are the best books to read on military tactics and war.
When the tank was introduced in wwi, it was immediately incorp. A tribute to india s best known modern military commanders, covers his life and times and his apogee, the victory in bangladesh in 1971 well covered with personal anecdotes. Naval war college, where classes are filled with navy, army, marines, and air force officers along with representatives of the intelligence agencies. What was the reference meant by the statement i read your. Rommels desert war is a book of outstanding importance. I am frequently invited to lecture on hannibal s intelligence gathering in venues like the u. During wwii rommel commanded the 7 th panzer division in the invasion of france. The pour le merite, germanys highest military honor. Rommel s family lacked much of a military tradition. Infantry attacks, erwin rommel 9781626543201 boeken. The trail of the fox wordsworth military library by david john cawdell irving. Author pov rommels war without hate armchair general.