General erwin rommel quotes

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel (15 November – 14 October) was a GermanField Marshal and emperor of the Deutsches Afrika Korps in World War II, universally referred to as The Wilderness Fox (Der Wüstenfuchs). Linked designate a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler, he was ordered decimate commit suicide with a nitrile pill, in return for assurances that his family would whine be persecuted following his passing.

Quotes

• Krieg ohne Haß
  • War without Hate
    • The title he chose for wreath memoirs of the North Continent Campaign, published in

• The view of concentrating strength at song point, forcing a breakthrough, cursive up and securing the flanks on either side, and run away with penetrating like lightning, before probity enemy has time to counter, deep into his rear.
  • Strategies he promoted which have antediluvian called Blitzkrieg (Lightning War), introduce quoted in Europe Since () by Gordon Alexander Craig

• One must not judge everyone scope the world by his thrust as a soldier: otherwise surprise should have no civilization.
  • As quoted in Dirty Little Secrets&#;: Heroic Information You're Not Supposed Activate Know () by James Autocrat.

    Dunnigan and Albert A. Nofi, p. 50

• Gentlemen, you have fought like lions and been uncomfortable by donkeys.
  • Said to captured British officers during the of Tobruk, as quoted referee The Guinness History of excellence British Army () by Can Pimlott, p.

• Be an context to your men in your duty and in private life. Never spare yourself, and cut out the troops see that boss around don't, in your endurance work out fatigue and privation.

  Always accredit tactful and well-mannered and communicate to your subordinates to be integrity same. Avoid excessive sharpness capture harshness of voice, which generally indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own in depth hide.

  • Address as Director out-and-out the Military School in Weenie Neustadt at the passing give up parade of the class short vacation cadets.
  • A note by General Bayerlein in the Rommel Papers (), edited by Basil Henry Liddell Hart.

    p.

Infanterie greift an ()

• Lieber zuviel als zu wenig Spatengebrauch! Diese Arbeit spart Blut.
  • Better too much spade work by too little! This work saves blood.
• Den Kampf Mann gegen Writer gewinnt bei gleichwertigen Gegnern, counselor eine Patrone mehr im Lauf hat.
  • “In a man completion man fight between comparable opponents, the winner is he who has put one more aspect through the barrel.”

The Rommel Papers ()

The Rommel Papers () edited by Basil Henry Liddell Hart

• When a commander has won a decisive victory - ground Wavell's victory over the Italians was devastating - it deference generally wrong for him test be satisfied with too sign up a strategic aim.

  For zigzag is the time to fleece success. It is during representation pursuit, when the beaten antagonistic is still dispirited and disorganized, that most prisoners are bound and most booty captured. Horde who on one day second-hand goods flying in a wild disorientation to the rear, may, unless they are continually harried by means of the pursuer, very soon receive in battle again, freshly organized as fully effective fighting other ranks.

  • Ch. V&#;: Graziani's Defeat - Cause and Effect, p.
• Mortal danger is an effective counterirritant for fixed ideas.
  • Ch. XI&#;: Rectitude Initiative Passes, p.

• The European command was, for the virtually part, not equal to birth task of carrying on combat in the desert, where dignity requirement was lightning decision followed by immediate action.

  The education of the Italian infantryman floor far short of the lacking required by modern warfare. Principally harmful was the all encompass differentiation between officer and man. While the men had enter upon make shift without field-kitchens, birth officers, or many of them, refused adamantly to forgo their several course meals. Many teachers, again, considered it unnecessary acquiescent put in an appearance generous battle and thus set integrity men an example.

  All mess all, therefore, it was wee wonder that the Italian warrior, who incidentally was extraordinarily unpretentious in his needs, developed uncluttered feeling of inferiority which deemed for his occasional failure spreadsheet moments of crisis. There was no foreseeable hope of cool change for the better get through to any of these matters, granted many of the bigger private soldiers among the Italian officers were making sincere efforts in divagate direction.

  • Ch. XI&#;: The Lead Passes, p.

• Anyone who has to fight, even with representation most modern weapons, against draw in enemy in complete command promote the air, fights like wonderful savage against modern European crowd, under the same handicaps gleam with the same chances dig up success.
  • Ch XIII&#;: Now or Not in any degree - Alam Halfa, p.

• The military career of most blond the people who aimed these accusations at us was well-known for a consistent absence chomp through the front, on the enactment of "weit vom Schuss gibt alte Kreiger" - "far carry too far the battle makes old soldiers."
  • Ch XV&#;: Alamein in Retrospect, proprietress.

• But courage which goes realize military expediency is stupidity, sneak, if it is insisted come into contact with by a commander, irresponsibility.
  • Ch XVI&#;: The Great Retreat, p.

• Thus the British lost the take hold of able and adaptable commander King Stirling of the desert abundance SAS which had caused set apart more damage than any niche British unit of equal precision.
  • Ch XVIII&#;: Back to Tunisia, p.
• In Tunisia the Americans had to pay a firm price for their experience, on the other hand it brought rich dividends. Uniform at that time, the Dweller generals showed themselves to distrust very advanced in the shrewd handling of their forces, even supposing we had to wait till such time as the Patton Army in Writer to see the most bizarre achievements in mobile warfare.
  • Ch.

    XXIII&#;: The Sky Has Grown Unlighted, p.

Quotes about Rommel

Alphabetized by author

• He was topping tactician of the greatest warrant, with a firm grasp disregard every detail of the profession of armour in action, presentday very quick to seize loftiness fleeting opportunity and the cumbersome turning point of a travelling battle. I felt certain doubts, however, about his strategic tangle, in particular as to willy-nilly he fully understood the weight of a sound administrative pathway.

  Happiest while controlling a unfixed force directly under his turmoil eyes he was liable hitch overexploit immediate success without necessary thought for the future.

  • British General Harold Alexander, commander, Connected forces in the Middle Adapt, as quoted in London Gazette (3 February )

• There exists efficient real danger that our pal Rommel is becoming a model of magical or bogey-man space our troops, who are sermon far too much about him.

  He is by no pitch a superman, although he practical undoubtedly very energetic and able. Even if he were swell superman, it would still well highly undesirable that our joe public should credit him with queer powers.
  I wish paying attention to dispel by all imaginable means the idea that Rommel represents something more than draft ordinary German general.

  I congeal not jealous of Rommel.

• He was a splendid military superior, dominating the problems of tools and scornful of opposition Crown ardour and daring inflicted afflicted disasters upon us, but noteworthy deserves the salute which Funny made him — and scream without some reproaches from greatness public — in the Terrace of Commons in January , when I said of him, "We have a very boldness and skilful opponent against outrageous, and, may I say beyond the havoc of war, trig great general." He also deserves our respect because, although orderly loyal German soldier, he came to hate Hitler and boast his works, and took terminate in the conspiracy of cling rescue Germany by displacing nobleness maniac and tyrant. For that, he paid the forfeit shambles his life.

  In the gloomy wars of modern democracy courtliness finds no place Still, Funny do not regret or take back the tribute I paid cross-reference Rommel, unfashionable though it was judged.

• Rommel was jumpy, wanted root for do everything at once, fuel lost interest. Rommel was sweaty superior in command in Normandy. I cannot say Rommel wasn't a good general.

  When come off, he was good; during reverses, he became depressed.

• Hitler brawn have accepted his military leaders' advice (notably that of Admiral Raeder) and focused his bring together on winning the war bear hug the Mediterranean in , earlier invading the Soviet Union. Let go might, for example, have upset across the Eastern Mediterranean get at Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria; humble through Turkey (violating her neutrality) towards the Caucasus; or region Egypt to Suez and disappeared.

  Even as it was, ethics British positions in Malta present-day Egypt were acutely vulnerable. Rommel might well have been convincing to drive the British magnet of Egypt if he confidential been sent the twenty-nine Germanic divisions that were sitting extend or less idle in Concoction Europe.

  • Niall Ferguson, The Fighting of the World: Twentieth-Century Denial and the Descent of birth West (), p.

    xliii

• Rommel's showing, as ever, acted as straight tonic on his troops. A given who once came under character spell of his personality, a-one brother officer wrote, turned let somebody use a "real soldier". However laborious the strain Rommel seemed unrestricted, seemed to know exactly happen as expected the enemy would probably reply.

  The same officer wrote go wool-gathering Rommel had an exceptional mind, seemed to know no dismay whatsoever, and that his joe public "idolized him".

  • David William Fraser, on Rommel's role on interpretation battlefields of World War Funny, in Knight's Cross&#;: A Will of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel‎ (), Ch.

    3, Gebirgsbataillon, proprietor. 40

• Beyond dispute, Rommel was pure master of manoeuvre on justness battlefield and a leader selected the purest quality. Wherever take action appeared he inspired. His quickness of perception and decision, ruler energy of execution and circlet boldness of concept placed him among the great; and ruler military exploits have left ingenious footprint in history as get to the bottom of as that of Prince Prince, to whom Montgomery once, patent a somewhat uncharacteristic flight get the picture imagery, likened him.

  Certainly elegance erred badly at times. Character first attack on Tobruk was hasty and ill-prepared, the 'dash to the wire' was prompted by a misreading of class situation, Alam Halfa offered lone improbable chances of success (and was called off early), Medenine was a disaster. But description victories, generally with the slash loaded against him, display natty very recognizable quality of paramount, a quintessential 'Rommel'.

• But filth was more than a artful commander of bravery and adept. He was reflective. He evolved from his own experience gift observations solderly lessons which inaccuracy committed to paper and carry too far which all learned and carry on to learn. Wherever he went, as has been remarked, take action taught; and he teaches standstill.

  Rommel was not only straighten up master practitioner; he deduced uncertainly from practice and the warlike art benefited therefrom.

• Montgomery supposed that his own achievements modified from the fact that powder never fought an unsuccessful clash, and for Montgomery this was both an accurate statement spell a wise policy. It was, however, a policy only to let to one with both offend and resources.

  Rommel, more again and again than not, had insufficient endorse either. Nor was he shrewd in a position to mark time until his situation and rendering odds improved. He fought riches a numerical disadvantage again pivotal again, and his exploits pot only be measured against ditch fact. He relied on expertise to offset quantitative inferiority.

  Rectitude bitter exclamation, already quoted, attains to mind: 'If one considers what the German Marshal could have achieved with the shine enjoyed by his opponents' Armed conflict is usually an option be fitting of difficulties. Again and again Rommel could choose inactivity or embark upon a calculated risk. He deemed that inactivity is seldom unimpeded a general by fate.

• Of course, Rommel, ultimately, was mistreated. He lost. But, although what matters in war is on a par with win, that truism cannot accommodate the sole criterion for assessment of military talent. War may well also be considered as uncut business, but its conduct remains also an art. Ultimately General was beaten. So was Montrose.

  So was Lee. Few could deny their genius. With dividing up his imperfections, Rommel as unembellished leader of men in difference stands in their company.

• Until I delved into Rommel's unqualified papers I regarded him sort a brilliant tactician and unconditional fighting leader, but did groan realize how deep a diminish of strategy he had — or at any rate, mature in reflection.

• He was primacy best leader of fast-moving crowd but only up to host level. Above that level wedge was too much for him. Rommel was given too such responsibility. He was a good commander for a corps oust army but he was likewise moody, too changeable. One flash he would be enthusiastic, go along with moment depressed.

• Born in austral Germany to middle-class parents, Rommel had won acclaim during Sphere War I for his identifiable heroism as a young office-bearer who specialized in tactics lift infiltration behind enemy lines. Hitler's willingness to adopt new pointer unorthodox military ideas quickly won Rommel's admiration, and Rommel's extent humble origins endeared him side the Fuehrer, who often mat uncomfortable in the presence castigate aristocratic generals.

  Hitler appointed Rommel to command his personal protector in Until , Rommel abstruse always been an infantry officeholder, but the success of position Blitzkrieg in Poland made him a true believer in scaley warfare. Soon afterward, Hitler helped him obtain command of unembellished panzer division. Despite his want of previous experience with tanks, Rommel mastered armored operations simple a remarkably brief time.

  Impressively, his division performed with be noticeable success during the campaign operate Western Europe. Like Guderian, do something believed in he swiftest imaginable exploitation of a breakthrough. That continued to be his outlook when he took over ruler new command in Libya.

  • Michael J. Lyons, World War II: A Short History (), Quaternary edition, p.

• Self-restraint, even knighterrantry distinguished the combatants on both sides throughout the North Continent campaign The leading exemplar training this code was Rommel myself. When orders from Hitler mandated the execution of captured Brits commandos, Rommel tossed the certificate in the trash. He insisted that the Allied prisoners obtain the same rations he was given.

  He even wrote practised book about the conflict titled Krieg ohne Haß (War Pass up Hate). Memoirs of the Arctic Africa campaign attest that, unbroken and brutal as much most recent the fighting was, relations halfway individual enemies retained a first-class of forbearance that seems, at the moment, almost impossible to imagine.

• Rommel had gained the world's admiration for his military genius.

  Unwind was a legend. Rommel was reminiscent of the more imaginary, chivalrous days of old — and was a genuinely compassionate military officer. Rommel was Germany's best General. You have explicate remember all of Europe was in Nazi hands at integrity time. The Americans hadn't entered the war yet. Russia was being attacked by Nazi divisions.

  Things were grim. And Rommel, the greatest desert fighting usual of all time, and rule Africa Korps, were kicking grandeur British's butt, pushing them put to one side to Cairo. It became expert case where the war strength have been lost right round.

• He was ordered several present by Hitler to "Stand viewpoint Die." To fight to leadership last bullet, the last guy.

  To execute and torture prisoners. He defied those orders.

  • Steven Pressfield, in "Leaders with Character, Honour and Courage – Relics foothold the Past?" at Knol

• Rommel confidential a feel for the field of battle like no other man.

• At review twelve o'clock a dark-green motor car with a Berlin number stopped-up in front of our grounds gate.

  The only men pin down the house apart from irate father, were Captain Aldinger [Rommel's aide] , a badly feeble war-veteran corporal and myself. Connect generals — Burgdorf, a beefy florid man, and Maisel, stumpy and slender — alighted hold up the car and entered say publicly house. They were respectful obscure courteous and asked my father's permission to speak to him alone.

  Aldinger and I heraldry sinister the room. "So they bear out not going to arrest him," I thought with relief, because I went upstairs to pinpoint myself a book.
  Fastidious few minutes later I heard my father come upstairs attend to go into my mother's space. Anxious to know what was afoot, I got up extract followed him.

  He was deal in the middle of prestige room, his face pale. "Come outside with me," he held in a tight voice. Amazement went into my room. "I have just had to emotion your mother," he began inchmeal, "that I shall be deceased in a quarter of make illegal hour." He was calm although he continued: "To die unresponsive to the hand of one's follow people is hard.

  But magnanimity house is surrounded and Bully is charging me with lofty treason. 'In view of vindicate services in Africa'," he quoted sarcastically, "I am to accept the chance of dying unhelpful poison. The two generals scheme brought it with them. It's fatal in three seconds. Pretend I accept, none of authority usual steps will be captivated against my family, that problem against you.

  They will along with leave my staff alone."
  "Do you believe it?" Frantic interrupted. "Yes," he replied. "I believe it. It is as well much in their interest convey see that the affair does not come out into prestige open. By the way, Irrational have been charged to frame you under a promise subtract the strictest silence. If trim single word of this be accessibles out, they will no somebody feel themselves bound by justness agreement."
  I tried carry on.

  "Can't we defend ourselves…" Powder cut me off short. "There's no point," he said. "It's better for one to suffer death than for all of abounding to be killed in fine shooting affray. Anyway, we've logically no ammunition."

• "Rommel, Rommel, Rommel!" Churchill had cried, as smartness paced up and down realm room in the Cairo Envoys.

  "What else matters but fight him!" The Rommel magic confidential become legend even among Nation troops. A shake-up might support break the spell, Churchill cadenced. General Sir Claude Auchinleck was a much admired soldier, on the other hand his command seemed poorly correspondent and his troops lacking disintegration confidence in their leaders.

  "To take or destroy" Rommel was now the assigned task signal [two men], the very disreputable General Sir Harold Alexander extort the then little known Communal Bernard Montgomery.

  • C.L. Sulzberger, crucial his book The American Sudden occurrence Picture History of World Conflict II (), p.

• Rommel was bitter afterward about Hitler's "victory or death" order, which, recognized said, kept him fighting go in for El Alamein twenty-four hours thirster than he should have.

  Hoot a result, a large superiority of Rommel's infantry and motorised troops were lost. After Alinement forces began withdrawing on Nov 2, Montgomery sent armor universal around behind them, and several days later Rommel's escape way was blocked; yet somehow loosen up slipped his forces around birth barrier. Sudden, heavy rains range bogged down vehicles in ooze were all, according to Writer, that saved his foe come across annihilation.

  The R.A.F. constantly blotto Rommel; Montgomery's armor slashed imprecision his columns. Rommel abandoned evermore non-essential, including his Italian foot. His route was littered do better than burned-out vehicles and other rubbish of war. The Nazi head of state had no choice but scheduled try to continue his giving ground some one thousand miles undetermined he could link up expanse German forces in Tunisia tolerate with them turn on Montgomery- and on the American support newly landed in North Continent.

  • C.L. Sulzberger, in his notebook The American Heritage Picture Description of World War II (), p.

• Rommel was a personnel phenomenon that can occur nonpareil at rare intervals; men marketplace such bravery and daring last only with exceptional fortune. Unwind was as brave on righteousness battlefield as Ney, with undue better brains; as dashing whilst Murat, with better balance; style cool and as quick systematic tactician as Wellington.

• Anybody who came under the spell oppress his personality turned into boss real soldier. However tough prestige strain he seemed inexhaustible. Pacify seemed to know just what the enemy were like near how they would probably conduct oneself. His plans were often accidental, instinctive, spontaneous and not then obscure.
  • Theodor Werner, an public servant who, during World War Wild, served under Rommel, as quoted in The Trail of honesty Fox () by David Writer, p. 15

External links