Patton And Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century

by Dennis E. Showalter

General George S. Patton. His tongue was as sharp as the cavalry saber he once wielded, and his fury as explosive as the shells he'd ordered launched from his tank divisions. Despite his profane, posturing manner, and the sheer enthusiasm for conflict that made both his peers and the public uncomfortable, Patton's very presence commanded respect. Had his superiors given him free rein, the U.S. Army could have claimed victory in Berlin as early as November of 1944. General Erwin Rommel. His battlefield manner was authoritative, his courage proven in the trenches of World War I when he was awarded the Blue Max. He was a front line soldier who led by example from the turrets of his Panzers. Appointed to command Adolf Hitler's personal security detail, Rommel had nothing for contempt for the atrocities perpetrated by the Reich. His role in the Fuhrer's assassination attempt led to his downfall.

Except for a brief confrontation in North Africa, these two legendary titans never met in combat. Patton and Rommel is the first single-volume study to deal with the parallel lives of two generals who earned not only the loyalty and admiration of their own men, but the respect of their enemies, and the enmity of the leaders they swore to obey. From the origins of their military prowess, forged on the battlefields of World War I, to their rise through the ranks, to their inevitable clashes with political authority, military historian Dennis Showalter presents a riveting portrait of two men whose battle strategies changed the face of warfare and continue to be studied in military academies around the globe.

Genres: History, World War II, Biography, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Military History

441 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2005

About the author

A specialist in German military history, Dennis E. Showalter was professor emeritus of history at Colorado College. He was president of the American Society for Military History from 1997 to 2001 and an advising fellow of the Barsanti Military History Center at the University of North Texas.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a enjoyable read. The author has a very approachable writing style and he has a solid grasp on his subject matter. He says right off this was a book he wrote for a general audience so there is no dry academic writing to bog down a story about two of the most well known,colorful and romantisized figures in WWII. The format of a bio piece that covers two people side by side made for a nice twist on an old genre and the author makes both men very accessable to the reader. He also doesn't assume to much knowledge in the reader other than the popular history already written about them including both being subjects of Hollywood movies. For a history book this was a light read though it is still for the military history audience or some one that is just interested in these two often discussed figures from WWII but don't need a scholarly disertation on the nuances of their past and the decisions they made during the war.

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are mixed reviews about this book and I can see why that may be. If you are looking for something new about Field Marshall Rommel or General Patton, you won't find it here. This is a fairly straightforward history of two men, who although they never faced each other in battle, became icons and the objects of hero worship by many of their countrymen. If you know your WWII battle history, there is nothing in this book which expands that knowledge. Instead, it looks at the personalities and preferred battle tactics of each man. The author tends to do a little too much psychoanalyzing for my taste, since he could not know why, for example, that George Patton, a well educated member of the upper class gentry, was a profane bully who was frequently out of control.

History has romanticized the reputations of these men as the years have passed and some of it is justified as they were the ultimate leaders of men, even in defeat. I would recommend this book for those who are WWII buffs.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with some real insight, this book is best for the novice in the field. As an experienced WWII reader, I found it plowed familiar ground.

[Rsoeffker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being that I know alot about these two fellows, The book was mostly review. HOWEVER, this book really did a great job of comparing the two. Patton and Rommel is a must read for WW2 buffs.

[Bernardo Arcos Álvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro es una perspectiva muy amplia y detallada de la vida de ambos generales, y aunque la comparación no hace más que enaltecer aún más el genio y la disciplina de Rommel en contraste con el protagonismo exacerbado, la ignorancia y los prejuicios de Patton; vale la pena leerlo.
El único defecto que veo es que se le da igual espacio a ambos, y la mayor parte de la vida de Patton fueron partidos de polo, embriaguez y palizas a su esposa.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost dismissed this book as just another history of WWII. Thankfully I gave it a try and it could be my favorite book of the year! Easy to read and I learned a lot. I quickly realized that I hadn’t studied much about Rommel - had no clue about his success during WWI. Additionally, I didn’t know much of Patton’s early career. While the book was a little long (400+pages) and there were far too many typos in it, I’d still highly recommend this book. Key excerpts:

- The United States became the first modern state to create a mass army from a zero point along industrial lines. Britain’s Great War mobilization was artisanal; the work of society’s “little platoons.” America turned to the factory system.
- Nowhere save in Europe could the infrastructure support and supply the masses of artillery and small arms that defined Great War tactics. Everywhere else it would be possible by using cavalry, armored cars, and light tanks to get behind an enemy and prevent the concentration of guns that in Europe consistently checked infantry advances.
- “War means fighting – fighting means killing, not digging trenches… Try to make fanatics of your men. It is the only way to get great sacrifices.” PJK: Interesting quote from Patton. Got me thinking about our enemy in OIF1.
- In the next war, he opined, victory “will depend on EXECUTION, not PLANS.” PJK: another great Patton quote. Made me think about my current job and how much project execution matters to our stakeholders.
- A German army expressly forbidden the use of aircraft and armored vehicles nevertheless systematically investigates, analyzes, and begins to implement in exercises the techniques of modern mechanized war. No mention is made of the Treaty of Versailles…. Its soldiers could not reasonably be prevented from speculating on the nature of the wars they might have to fight.
- For Chief of Staff George Marshall, what stood out was Patton’s aggressiveness…. Too many division and corps commanders, both regulars and National Guardsmen, lacked the physical vigor and the intellectual flexibility to keep pace with the kind of wide-open mobile operations in which Patton specialized. Three-fourths of the 42 senior officers who went into Louisiana were relieved or transferred in the succeeding weeks. PJK: quite a statement to replace that many GOs. Wonder if this would even be possible in today’s world.
- The nation’s mobilization was covered by reporters who transferred from other specialties and learned the nuances of their new beat while on the job. PJK: an interesting note about the media in the 1938-1942 timeframe.
- There were no heroes’ reception for the men of a defeated Wehrmacht, no GI Bills, no veterans’ preferences, for a while not even pensions. PJK: makes you think… motivates one to win. Saw this in Iraq in 2003 when I came across a blind former Iraqi Air Force pilot from the Iran-Iraq War. He had no government to support him anymore. Felt really bad for him even though I had spent time fighting against his country. Soldiers respect soldiers.

[Wyatt Martens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book by Dennis E. Showalter tells the reader about two of the most infamous and audacious generals in World War Two. These two men were smart, cunning, and would do what ever it took in order to acheive victory. These two generals were both very similar in ways. Both Patton and Rommel served in armored units or tank units. Also, Patton and Rommels tactics were very similar. Both generals would use speed to their advantage and would push the enemy back as fast as they could to keep them on their heels. The book has a lot of meaningful content but it does get a little dry after a while. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history, war, or battle tactics.

[Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very serious book. I would recommend for teenagers just starting to get interested in WWII.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating dual bio and analysis of two legendary WW2 peers. If you enjoy ww2 history you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

[Wildcard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hot-headed aggressive commander that sometimes made his side wince versus the competent commander plagued by supply problems and the internal politics of the Third Reich.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returned by the library, did not read enough to give a proper review. Enjoy!

[Brett Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, Patton and Rommel Men of War in the Twentieth Century by Dennis E. Showalter, was a very in depth look at the lives of George S. Patton and Erwin Rommel before, during and after WWI and WWII. It gave many details about when and where they were born and contrasted them by going back and forth between the life of Patton and the life of Rommel. I would have liked it better if they had just stayed with one person and then switched to the other when the build-up was done.

Next, it described their life during WWI. They both fought in WWI. Patton was a Calvary man who did not get into much action and Rommel was a forward Infantry Commander that fought on the front lines. Patton saw the potential in tanks, and Rommel learned how to lead men. Both of these came into play when they both were leaders in WWII.

Then it described their life after WWI. Rommel slowly moved up the rank to Captain, and then Major. No real huge events in his life at that point, just a basic military man. Patton practiced Calvary maneuvers, and worked on strategies to switch a horse-powered cavalry into a tank-powered cavalry. Patton still saw the value in horses though. They didn't need spare parts for repairs. But in the end trucks and tanks were a better solution.

Then the book goes over Patton and Rommel's part in WWII. Rommel basically was deployed to North Africa were he earned the nickname, The Desert Fox, due to his success. He remained there until he was ordered to go to Normandy to prepare for D-Day. Patton also fought in North Africa during the early part of WWII, and was also taken from there to be deployed in Normandy. After landing, halfway into Patton's campaign, his supplies were shortened to allow the Russians to take Berlin and limit American casualties. This was a decision Patton hated, and was very vocal about his annoyance.

Patton was killed in a car accident in 1945 and Rommel was killed in a coo against Hitler also in 1945. The author does a great job comparing and contrasting the lives of two famous military heroes of the Twentieth Century. This author is very fair in his assessment of both of these courageous men and provides an unbiased view of each of them. Anyone who enjoys Military History at all, would enjoy reading this duel biography. I know that I learned a lot about their lives which I had never learned in any other books I have read about WWI or WWII.

[Tom]

Overall the author presents a good comparison Patton vs. Rommel, many similar characteristics, both leading from the front, both detailed planners who demonstrated the ability to adapt to new circumstances on the fly, both smart aggressive charismatic leaders. My complaints with the book are first, the author goes into regarding administrative and logistical matters without reference to relevant background matters. Second, there are no battlefield maps to illustrate the alternatives being considered. Finally, the book contains more than the average number of misspellings, typos and wrong words, enough to suggest the book went directly from audio to text. I would recommend that someone look for another book on this subject.

[Henry Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a story about three men: Patton, Rommel and Eisenhower. All three served in WWI and all three recognised the potential of tanks to alter warfare. Once WWI ended, they actively studied/promoted the place of tanks in the military; a struggle at the time, given the deeply-entrenched culture of the cavalry.

If you've seen the movie Patton, you have a fair idea of Patton's story already. There are lots of small, additional details here, but the broad strokes are the same. I thought I knew a bit about Rommel, but there is much more here. Eisenhower was the big surprise for me.

I won't ruin it, other than to say, the book was obviously written in a rush. There are loads of typos.

[Josh Gillum · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century” by Dennis Showalter offers an examination of two of World War II’s most iconic military leaders. Showalter contrasts General George S. Patton’s aggressive tactics and charismatic leadership with Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s innovative strategies and deep understanding of armored warfare. The book highlights their distinct personalities and approaches, while also exploring the broader implications of their actions on the war’s outcome. Showalter’s narrative is well-researched, providing insightful analysis that captures the complexity of each leader’s legacy. This dual biography is a fascinating comparative exercise and makes for a great WWII read

[Roy]

George Patton and ErwinRommel had as different combat experiences as its' possible to have in the same war. Yet Rommel, the assault infrantryman, and Patton, the displaced cavalyram, arrived at essentially the same conclusions about mastering industrial war. Mass and machine triumphed only when men allowed them to - only when commanders reacted to numbers and technology, instead of using them as instruments of war .

[Scott L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought there was a little too much exposition, and not enough direct comparison of the careers of these Generals. The author chose to separate the stories of each man, instead of paralleling the stories simultaneously. This made the book seem very choppy, instead of directed.

[Anton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rommel part is intersting, but the Patton part is way dry and way to much about his early years when he did nothing of major importance.

[Milton Soong]

An example of "dumbing down history for the everyman". Crappy writing and pop psychology abound. I couldn't be bother to finish it. Don't waste your time...

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent comparison of the careers and ideas of the two generals. Very poor spelling, however.

[J. Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great parallel biography on two important tacticians of WWII.

[Billy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

gives good insight on both general's backgrounds and strategies