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With Rommel in the Desert
No episode in modern warfare can match the drama and romance of the 1942-1943 North African campaign, in which its undisputed hero, even for his British adversaries, was German commander Erwin Rommel. For nearly two years, outnumbered and undersupplied, the "Desert Fox" led his celebrated Afrika Korps to one brilliant victory after another, until he was finally overwhelmed by the sheer weight of men and materiel of the combined forces of Eisenhower and Montgomery (who were enormously aided by their ability to intercept secret German battle plans). Serving at Rommel's side throughout his desert campaigns was the book's author, his South African-born Aide-de-Camp. Schmidt was with the legendary General from his first victories at El Agheila and Abedabia, in triumph at Tobruk, and in defeat before El Alamein.
Dispensing with the larger-than-life image of propaganda and legend, the author provides a close-up portrait of Rommel the officer and Rommel the man as he confronts the challenges of a new kind of warfare in a harsh, unforgiving environment. This firsthand account puts the reader at Rommel's side as he bends over battle maps in his command tent, planning a new attack or anticipating the next enemy onslaught. Written with dry humor and warm human sympathy for the soldiers of all sides, the author provides a detailed, objective account of Rommel's desert campaigns. More than that, he takes the reader bounding across the Libyan desert in a Panzer outside Tobruk, dining on fresh-shot gazelle in the north African desert, and dodging rifle bullets and tank shells in dozens of engagements from Egypt to Tunisia. "It is all here," commented the Irish Press on this military classic, "the thrust and counter thrust, the stratagems and deceptions practised on great armies, the deadly surprises and in the end the wholesale and complete defeat."
Dispensing with the larger-than-life image of propaganda and legend, the author provides a close-up portrait of Rommel the officer and Rommel the man as he confronts the challenges of a new kind of warfare in a harsh, unforgiving environment. This firsthand account puts the reader at Rommel's side as he bends over battle maps in his command tent, planning a new attack or anticipating the next enemy onslaught. Written with dry humor and warm human sympathy for the soldiers of all sides, the author provides a detailed, objective account of Rommel's desert campaigns. More than that, he takes the reader bounding across the Libyan desert in a Panzer outside Tobruk, dining on fresh-shot gazelle in the north African desert, and dodging rifle bullets and tank shells in dozens of engagements from Egypt to Tunisia. "It is all here," commented the Irish Press on this military classic, "the thrust and counter thrust, the stratagems and deceptions practised on great armies, the deadly surprises and in the end the wholesale and complete defeat."
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
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June 7, 2020
This is an account of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel' s Africa campaign in World War II,written by his personal aide.Rommel's tactics in the desert initially won him a lot of acclaim.
It's not the most exciting of war books,it is rather bland.There are plenty of battle sequences which don't leave much of an impression.
Rommel went from Colonel to Field Marshal in just three years.He became sick while still in Africa and had to go back home to recover.But despite having jaundice,was again sent back to Africa by the Germans in desperation.This time,it didn't work and his army was defeated.
A rather mediocre effort.A much more interesting book (and movie)on Rommel's life is The Desert Fox by Desmond Young.
It's not the most exciting of war books,it is rather bland.There are plenty of battle sequences which don't leave much of an impression.
Rommel went from Colonel to Field Marshal in just three years.He became sick while still in Africa and had to go back home to recover.But despite having jaundice,was again sent back to Africa by the Germans in desperation.This time,it didn't work and his army was defeated.
A rather mediocre effort.A much more interesting book (and movie)on Rommel's life is The Desert Fox by Desmond Young.
March 31, 2022
Cuando los aviones desaparecieron encontré la tapicería del coche hecha jirones, llamé a mi chofer, el cabo de lanceros Schmidt, pero no me contestó. Un soldado, tocándome en el brazo, señalaba bajo el coche, donde yacía el cuerpo deshecho del cabo, que unos minutos antes había estado hablando de su mujer y demás familia y del permiso que pronto tendría para verlos. ¡Ya no lo disfrutaría!
Varios de mis hombres proferían gritos de dolor. Uno de ellos se retorcía, falto de los pies y de las manos. Un médico corrió a su lado y se inclinó sobre él. Su rostro, ceniciento y contraído, ensayó una sonrisa al preguntar:
—¿Podré continuar mi profesión de actor…?
—Claro que sí, muchacho— dijo el médico aplicándole una inyección de morfina, bajo cuyos efectos murió.
Siempre que leo un libro sobre la guerra, ya sea sobre la II Guerra Mundial o cualquier otra, me pregunto: ¿Por qué, como sociedad, permitimos la guerra? Algunas personas me han dicho que son la única forma de resolver ciertos conflictos; esto podría ser cierto, pero solo al nivel de un Estado como tal. Para todos los demás, gente de a pie, o “el pueblo”, es solamente esto: un cabo que ya no verá a su mujer; un joven que no continuará con su carrera de actor; miles de desplazados a merced de personajes que quizá ni conocen; alguien, muy lejos, rogando cada minuto que el amor de su vida no sea asesinado en un bombardeo. Sin mencionar todo lo que hay que reconstruir después… Para nosotros, la gente de a pie, la guerra es solo perder.
Sobre este libro en particular, debo decir que me pareció que está muy bien escrito. Aunque el autor solamente permanece al lado del Mariscal Rommel durante más o menos la mitad del libro, me ayudó a tener conocimiento sobre cómo actuaba él en el campo, que era lo que más me interesaba saber. Sin embargo, no lo recomiendo para quienes no deseen conocer detalles tácticos sobre las batallas. El autor es bastante profuso en esos detalles y para algunos esto puede resultar aburrido y confuso. También menciona todas las compañías, regimientos, etc. con y contra las que combatió, y los nombres de los generales amigos y enemigos. Me sorprende que este título sea en general poco conocido, me pareció una buena lectura sobre la II Guerra Mundial en esa parte del mundo.
Varios de mis hombres proferían gritos de dolor. Uno de ellos se retorcía, falto de los pies y de las manos. Un médico corrió a su lado y se inclinó sobre él. Su rostro, ceniciento y contraído, ensayó una sonrisa al preguntar:
—¿Podré continuar mi profesión de actor…?
—Claro que sí, muchacho— dijo el médico aplicándole una inyección de morfina, bajo cuyos efectos murió.
Siempre que leo un libro sobre la guerra, ya sea sobre la II Guerra Mundial o cualquier otra, me pregunto: ¿Por qué, como sociedad, permitimos la guerra? Algunas personas me han dicho que son la única forma de resolver ciertos conflictos; esto podría ser cierto, pero solo al nivel de un Estado como tal. Para todos los demás, gente de a pie, o “el pueblo”, es solamente esto: un cabo que ya no verá a su mujer; un joven que no continuará con su carrera de actor; miles de desplazados a merced de personajes que quizá ni conocen; alguien, muy lejos, rogando cada minuto que el amor de su vida no sea asesinado en un bombardeo. Sin mencionar todo lo que hay que reconstruir después… Para nosotros, la gente de a pie, la guerra es solo perder.
Sobre este libro en particular, debo decir que me pareció que está muy bien escrito. Aunque el autor solamente permanece al lado del Mariscal Rommel durante más o menos la mitad del libro, me ayudó a tener conocimiento sobre cómo actuaba él en el campo, que era lo que más me interesaba saber. Sin embargo, no lo recomiendo para quienes no deseen conocer detalles tácticos sobre las batallas. El autor es bastante profuso en esos detalles y para algunos esto puede resultar aburrido y confuso. También menciona todas las compañías, regimientos, etc. con y contra las que combatió, y los nombres de los generales amigos y enemigos. Me sorprende que este título sea en general poco conocido, me pareció una buena lectura sobre la II Guerra Mundial en esa parte del mundo.
September 15, 2020
This is a long overdue review following my most recent read of this outstanding book. I really do think this book is aging like fine wine, getting better with each read.
I'll be the first one to admit that this book is not the action packed thriller of a book some might be hoping for. Those books are generally exciting to read, but usually are a lot of fiction wrapped up inside of an actual experience or event. Maybe fiction is too strong of a word, so perhaps I'll say artistic/creative license. It is damn hard to be remembering quotes and smells, all the sounds going on, and the details so often included in any kind of an accurate manner beyond some form of generalization. Days blur, memories fade, and often times there is a complete lack of any knowledge of surrounding events. I think Schmidt's work here properly reflects that exact fact. He writes this book essentially how I'd expect someone to do so after a multiple years have passed and he doesn't add all the filler creative license to build up drama. His reality was dramatic enough.
I find the insights he writes about Erwin Rommel to be fascinating, and it shines a bright light on the actual man and general Rommel was to his men. This is something beyond valuable. If people want to really understand how and why Rommel's men fought so well and did so many incredible things, it is critical to understand the command structures and leaders that actually enabled the successes to happen. Schmidt highlights the obsessive-compulsive nature of Rommel with the details of planning his battles. Even the telling of the incredible risks Rommel exposed himself to in order to gain first hand knowledge of the situation enlighten the readers to critical personality traits bettering the understanding of how decisions were made. Rommel's subordinates saw this daily, and benefitted in their own commands and order making. The growth of Schmidt into a company commander can be directly attributed to his time serving under Rommel.
An often ignored part of this book is Schmidt's experiences with the Italians in Eritrea and joining Rommel's command. I like this early part of the book as it highlights the universal situation many junior officers find themselves in when circumstances forces them into the spotlight of their commander's eyes. Schmidt truly had good fortune/luck with him as he dodges potential disasters and events that would have ended his story before it began, and he clearly benefitted from the same errors I experienced myself in the military where "assumptions" are made due to your place of birth or duty station. Military service seems to have many parallels no matter the nation.
I think there is plenty of writing dedicated to Schmidt's desert experiences, and I personally found them interesting and even exciting. You get a bird's eye view of infantry fighting tanks, and the honest difficulties of fighting a war in the desert. I really know of few other books that give such quality insights from the German perspective and often compare this book to ones written about the SAS and their British desert actions. It is gritty stuff.
The writing style is very tolerable and the book flows well. There are a few very nice illustrations and photos provided which add significant flavor. I've read both the Bantam paperbacks and this hardcover edition, and honestly think this hardcover to be well worth the extra cost in a more pleasurable reading experience. I'm a hardcover snob, what can I say?
5 Stars is not something I grant easily, and this book delivers exactly what I want to see, giving a ground level look at the real history and people in the North African campaign. Highly recommended.
I'll be the first one to admit that this book is not the action packed thriller of a book some might be hoping for. Those books are generally exciting to read, but usually are a lot of fiction wrapped up inside of an actual experience or event. Maybe fiction is too strong of a word, so perhaps I'll say artistic/creative license. It is damn hard to be remembering quotes and smells, all the sounds going on, and the details so often included in any kind of an accurate manner beyond some form of generalization. Days blur, memories fade, and often times there is a complete lack of any knowledge of surrounding events. I think Schmidt's work here properly reflects that exact fact. He writes this book essentially how I'd expect someone to do so after a multiple years have passed and he doesn't add all the filler creative license to build up drama. His reality was dramatic enough.
I find the insights he writes about Erwin Rommel to be fascinating, and it shines a bright light on the actual man and general Rommel was to his men. This is something beyond valuable. If people want to really understand how and why Rommel's men fought so well and did so many incredible things, it is critical to understand the command structures and leaders that actually enabled the successes to happen. Schmidt highlights the obsessive-compulsive nature of Rommel with the details of planning his battles. Even the telling of the incredible risks Rommel exposed himself to in order to gain first hand knowledge of the situation enlighten the readers to critical personality traits bettering the understanding of how decisions were made. Rommel's subordinates saw this daily, and benefitted in their own commands and order making. The growth of Schmidt into a company commander can be directly attributed to his time serving under Rommel.
An often ignored part of this book is Schmidt's experiences with the Italians in Eritrea and joining Rommel's command. I like this early part of the book as it highlights the universal situation many junior officers find themselves in when circumstances forces them into the spotlight of their commander's eyes. Schmidt truly had good fortune/luck with him as he dodges potential disasters and events that would have ended his story before it began, and he clearly benefitted from the same errors I experienced myself in the military where "assumptions" are made due to your place of birth or duty station. Military service seems to have many parallels no matter the nation.
I think there is plenty of writing dedicated to Schmidt's desert experiences, and I personally found them interesting and even exciting. You get a bird's eye view of infantry fighting tanks, and the honest difficulties of fighting a war in the desert. I really know of few other books that give such quality insights from the German perspective and often compare this book to ones written about the SAS and their British desert actions. It is gritty stuff.
The writing style is very tolerable and the book flows well. There are a few very nice illustrations and photos provided which add significant flavor. I've read both the Bantam paperbacks and this hardcover edition, and honestly think this hardcover to be well worth the extra cost in a more pleasurable reading experience. I'm a hardcover snob, what can I say?
5 Stars is not something I grant easily, and this book delivers exactly what I want to see, giving a ground level look at the real history and people in the North African campaign. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2021
This book is OK, it's only fact that it's written as of bits of information from scenes, scenes widely known to people interested to history, know through books like this. But there is no info binding all this with punch line to get along by muse. Its as if this book is for people who didn't discovered this history of Rommel yet.
And this book is written by a friend and companion, of figure from common officers mess.
And this book is written by a friend and companion, of figure from common officers mess.
June 26, 2020
Книжка на 3,5 ★. До речі, російський переклад вводить в оману, бо в назві фігурують 1941-1942 рр., хоча насправді Шмідт пише про 1941-1943 рр. Тобто він охоплює майже всю африканську кампанію німців: від висадки Корпусу "Африка" до поразки в Тунісі в травні 1943 р.
Також не варто очікувати, що нам покажуть історію кампанії в Африці з перспективи ад’ютанта Роммеля. Ад’ютантом Шмідт був недовго - а далі попросився в діючу армію. І в діючій армії він був якраз від битви за Ґазальську лінію (насправді дещо раніше, але це не так важливо). Тобто всі найвідоміші битви він описує з перспективи командира артилерійської батареї чи командира роти / батальйону спецзагону 288, а не ад’ютанта, який бачить всю картину боїв, а також процесу прийняття рішень командуванням.
І саме через це читачів може очікувати найбільша неприємна несподіванка. Шмідт пише типові командирські мемуари. Тобто замість опису побуту / повсякдення солдата на Африканському ТВД, він починає сипати номерами військових частин - як німецьких, так і британських, а також назвами місцевостей та датами боїв. Але не це є проблемою. Найгірше те, що Шмідт просто документує те, що з ним трапилося. Тобто цю книгу варто читати після прочитання хоча б Величайшая победа Роммеля, Битва под Эль-Аламейном. Поражение танковой армии Роммеля в Северной Африке та Кровавая дорога в Тунис. Бо в цих текстах автори показують ширшу картину, пояснюють особливості стратегії та тактики суперників тощо. Наприклад, Шмідт повністю "провалив" опис битви за Ґазальську лінію, бо він не пояснив, чому обхід Корпусом "Африка" Бір-Хакейма був таким сміливим стратегічним кроком, чому Роммель натрапив на опір - і в чому була сміливість оборони в "Мішку". Хоча, з іншого боку, ледь не в перший чи другий день боїв батарею Шмідта було виведено з ладу - і він пропустив всі бої. До речі, схожа історія була у випадку битви під Ель-Аламейном. І так далі, і тому подібне.
З іншого боку, в книзі є дрібка цікавих фактів. Наприклад, звідки в Роммеля його фірмові окуляри, чому всі фото з ним такі пафосні, як виглядала тактика використання протитанкових гармат під час наступальних боїв (все просто: гармати займали позицію, а далі прикривали наступ легких танків німців), чому британці вважали нім. солдатів наркоманами, як виглядав раціон німецьких солдатів тощо. Також є декілька сцен з тилового життя, які передають дух епохи. І, звісно ж, декілька сцен боїв, які автор описує дуже яскраво - передавши свої почуття. І найбільш мені цікавим був опис боїв після поразки під Ель-Аламейном. Отой постійний відступ - це автору вдалося передати. А також опис боїв на фінальній стадії боїв за Туніс.
Поза тим - доволі нудні мемуари, які містять дуже багато фактів, але не дають цілісної картини боїв в Півн.Африці 1941-1943 рр.
Також не варто очікувати, що нам покажуть історію кампанії в Африці з перспективи ад’ютанта Роммеля. Ад’ютантом Шмідт був недовго - а далі попросився в діючу армію. І в діючій армії він був якраз від битви за Ґазальську лінію (насправді дещо раніше, але це не так важливо). Тобто всі найвідоміші битви він описує з перспективи командира артилерійської батареї чи командира роти / батальйону спецзагону 288, а не ад’ютанта, який бачить всю картину боїв, а також процесу прийняття рішень командуванням.
І саме через це читачів може очікувати найбільша неприємна несподіванка. Шмідт пише типові командирські мемуари. Тобто замість опису побуту / повсякдення солдата на Африканському ТВД, він починає сипати номерами військових частин - як німецьких, так і британських, а також назвами місцевостей та датами боїв. Але не це є проблемою. Найгірше те, що Шмідт просто документує те, що з ним трапилося. Тобто цю книгу варто читати після прочитання хоча б Величайшая победа Роммеля, Битва под Эль-Аламейном. Поражение танковой армии Роммеля в Северной Африке та Кровавая дорога в Тунис. Бо в цих текстах автори показують ширшу картину, пояснюють особливості стратегії та тактики суперників тощо. Наприклад, Шмідт повністю "провалив" опис битви за Ґазальську лінію, бо він не пояснив, чому обхід Корпусом "Африка" Бір-Хакейма був таким сміливим стратегічним кроком, чому Роммель натрапив на опір - і в чому була сміливість оборони в "Мішку". Хоча, з іншого боку, ледь не в перший чи другий день боїв батарею Шмідта було виведено з ладу - і він пропустив всі бої. До речі, схожа історія була у випадку битви під Ель-Аламейном. І так далі, і тому подібне.
З іншого боку, в книзі є дрібка цікавих фактів. Наприклад, звідки в Роммеля його фірмові окуляри, чому всі фото з ним такі пафосні, як виглядала тактика використання протитанкових гармат під час наступальних боїв (все просто: гармати займали позицію, а далі прикривали наступ легких танків німців), чому британці вважали нім. солдатів наркоманами, як виглядав раціон німецьких солдатів тощо. Також є декілька сцен з тилового життя, які передають дух епохи. І, звісно ж, декілька сцен боїв, які автор описує дуже яскраво - передавши свої почуття. І найбільш мені цікавим був опис боїв після поразки під Ель-Аламейном. Отой постійний відступ - це автору вдалося передати. А також опис боїв на фінальній стадії боїв за Туніс.
Поза тим - доволі нудні мемуари, які містять дуже багато фактів, але не дають цілісної картини боїв в Півн.Африці 1941-1943 рр.
August 7, 2021
Fascinating!
This is the wartime memoirs of the man who served as Rommel's aide de camp for the Desert Fox's first few months in the desert. He lataer left Rommel to return to the front line in an infantry regiment.
The book was written after the war and was clearly either intended for a British audience or was slightly rewritten for that audience. The author talks a lot about the British/Australian/Indian troops he faced in the desert and is always fairly complimentary about them. He is not always so complimentary about Rommel, however. The author tells us baldly when he thinks Rommel made a mistake or acted with heartless indifference to the suffering of his men.
There are a lot of interesting snippets in this book. Where Rommel got his trademark sand goggles, the role of the Italian troops in the desert war [much overlooked in British sources] and what the author and/or Rommel thought of the generals they fought against or served under.
Anyone with an interest in the desert war should get a copy of this book.
This is the wartime memoirs of the man who served as Rommel's aide de camp for the Desert Fox's first few months in the desert. He lataer left Rommel to return to the front line in an infantry regiment.
The book was written after the war and was clearly either intended for a British audience or was slightly rewritten for that audience. The author talks a lot about the British/Australian/Indian troops he faced in the desert and is always fairly complimentary about them. He is not always so complimentary about Rommel, however. The author tells us baldly when he thinks Rommel made a mistake or acted with heartless indifference to the suffering of his men.
There are a lot of interesting snippets in this book. Where Rommel got his trademark sand goggles, the role of the Italian troops in the desert war [much overlooked in British sources] and what the author and/or Rommel thought of the generals they fought against or served under.
Anyone with an interest in the desert war should get a copy of this book.
August 14, 2023
Borrow
Limited in scope but an easy linear narrative that is compelling and just the right thing to reignite my childhood fascination with Rommel and the DAK.
Limited in scope but an easy linear narrative that is compelling and just the right thing to reignite my childhood fascination with Rommel and the DAK.
May 31, 2010
Schmidt was Rommel's aide-de-camp in Afrika for most the campaign so
an interesting, if somewhat bland reading, perspective of Rommel and the
Korps.
Originally publised in '51, so a right after the war write up.
September 16, 2024
Given the Prussian tradition, Germany had many professional soldiers with long pedigrees of service. The officer corps were a dedicated group of men that studied war scientifically and were very good at carrying it out. Generally, they acquired and maintained the confidence of the men under their command. Occasionally, one of them rose to the level of being admired and respected by their opponents. The most famous in World War II was Erwin Rommel, who was known as “the Desert Fox.”
Rommel was an experienced soldier, highly decorated for his actions in World War I, specifically for his experiences on the Italian front. When the Italian forces in North Africa were being pummeled by the Allies, Hitler sent units to bolster them and tasked Rommel with leading them. The author served as Rommel’s aide during that conflict, from the earliest successes in pushing the British back to Egypt to the last days when the Africa Korps was being defeated in Tunisia.
His observations of Rommel are consistent with other reports, he was extremely brave, often moving right up to the front lines so that Rommel could see the enemy fortifications for himself. He literally dodged several bullets and proved to be very cunning, getting the most out of what were meager and inadequate resources.
There is nothing really new and revelatory in this book. Schmidt gives a very positive report on Rommel without being laudatory. It is a very professional rendition of how Rommel conducted himself while in command as well as in private.
Rommel was an experienced soldier, highly decorated for his actions in World War I, specifically for his experiences on the Italian front. When the Italian forces in North Africa were being pummeled by the Allies, Hitler sent units to bolster them and tasked Rommel with leading them. The author served as Rommel’s aide during that conflict, from the earliest successes in pushing the British back to Egypt to the last days when the Africa Korps was being defeated in Tunisia.
His observations of Rommel are consistent with other reports, he was extremely brave, often moving right up to the front lines so that Rommel could see the enemy fortifications for himself. He literally dodged several bullets and proved to be very cunning, getting the most out of what were meager and inadequate resources.
There is nothing really new and revelatory in this book. Schmidt gives a very positive report on Rommel without being laudatory. It is a very professional rendition of how Rommel conducted himself while in command as well as in private.
June 23, 2018
I found this just as riveting and enjoyable as when I read it decades ago, so maybe I should give this 5 stars. What holds me back is the plentiful unit and commander detail that, I think, introduces an unnecessary granularity more distracting than helpful; to wit frequent footnotes and long lists of proper nouns.
Surviving supporting Italian allies in Eritrea, the author walked into a position as Rommel's aide and transitioned from there to commanding a combat unit during the Axis North African Campaign.
Thus, he was a first-hand witness to the hard struggle to brief supremacy over the British-led Allies with the 1942 defeating of the Allies at Gazala in June and the capture of Tobruk. From here there was a long, bitter decline for the Axis. Ever under-manned and under-supplied (Rommel responded with fake tanks and urgent attacks), the added weight caused the Axis powers to succumb. Although Rommel was back in Europe by then and out of the picture on the ground, the author was still there and recollects here. Fortunately, there is a wedding at the end...
Surviving supporting Italian allies in Eritrea, the author walked into a position as Rommel's aide and transitioned from there to commanding a combat unit during the Axis North African Campaign.
Thus, he was a first-hand witness to the hard struggle to brief supremacy over the British-led Allies with the 1942 defeating of the Allies at Gazala in June and the capture of Tobruk. From here there was a long, bitter decline for the Axis. Ever under-manned and under-supplied (Rommel responded with fake tanks and urgent attacks), the added weight caused the Axis powers to succumb. Although Rommel was back in Europe by then and out of the picture on the ground, the author was still there and recollects here. Fortunately, there is a wedding at the end...
July 7, 2025
I had first been given this paperback as a boy in the 1970s and picked it up to read again this year. this is a very readable account of a German soldier who served in the Afrika Korps during the North African campaign in World War II, at one time serving as an aid to General Erwin Rommel, the Korp's famous commander. The very short chapters and focus on the point make this an easy read. The only issue I had was that the translation from German to British English sometimes resulted in British idioms I was not familiar with as an American. My other issue would be a lack of maps demonstrating the action described. But overall a worthy read for those interested in the North African campaign from an enemy (German) perspective. A solid, workmanlike memoir. Recommended.
January 12, 2020
First person narrative of serving on staff and as a unit commander under Rommel. This paperback suffered by microscopic maps, which challenged my ability to follow the action, but the story was engaging and informative.
February 4, 2020
Not a bad book, but a lot of "we went here and did this thing" without that many interesting stories which make this account stand out more than, say, Hans von Luck's excellent "Panzer Commander" memoir ... which I'm reading right now!
September 19, 2025
This book tells only a little of what Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was like, but it is loaded with stories of combat in the North African theater in which the author participated as a battalion commander in the Afrika Corps. The first-hand accounts of battle are highly exciting to read.
December 28, 2021
Much more then recollections of a time as Rommel's Aide de Camp, this is an engaging account of the author's time in Africa, through the entire arc of German involvement in the theater.
July 18, 2022
Interesting account by the H.W. Scmidt who was the aide-de-camp for Field Marshall Rommel.
May 24, 2013
well written in adventure style of a mans life in the desert war with a glimpse of Rommel the tactician. I enjoyed this book.
April 6, 2014
A great insight to life at war with a great leader Rommel, although I felt the end a bit rushed.
August 22, 2015
A good book indeed. especially one gets to know about the northern operations in Africa.And more importantly one comes to know about Rommel and his personality . A must read for military men!
February 1, 2016
Excellent book, while certain parts can get a bit dry the wry humour and fast paced battles make it a worthwhile read.
February 28, 2016
A perspective from an enlisted man's view on the losing side.
April 12, 2017
This book brought back memories of those days when I used to be deep into world war based video games and literature. The author has given an exciting and detailed narrative of his brave and often lucky exploits in Africa.
About his time with Rommel he writes briefly yet sufficient for the relatively boring nature of his responsibilities. But about his experiences at the front he writes more lively.
One is left with a sense of elation of the battlefield mixed with appreciation for this man's adventure on the historically villainous side.
About his time with Rommel he writes briefly yet sufficient for the relatively boring nature of his responsibilities. But about his experiences at the front he writes more lively.
One is left with a sense of elation of the battlefield mixed with appreciation for this man's adventure on the historically villainous side.
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