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Desert Fox: The Storied Military Career of Erwin Rommel
Just who was Erwin Rommel?
War hero or war criminal? Hitler flunky or man of integrity? Military genius or just lucky?
Now, bestselling military historian Samuel W. Mitcham Jr. gets to the heart of the mysterious figure respected and even admired by the people of the Allied nations he fought against. Mitcham recounts Rommel’s improbable and meteoric military career, his epic battles in North Africa, and his fraught relationship with Hitler and the Nazi Party. Desert The Storied Military Career of Erwin Rommel
• How Rommel’s victories in North Africa were sabotaged by Hitler’s incompetent interference
• How Rommel burned orders telling him to commit war crimes
• Why it wouldn’t have helped Patton if he really had read Rommel’s book
• How Rommel was responsible for the Germans’ defense against the D-Day landing
• Why the plot to overthrow Hitler was fatally compromised when Rommel was gravely injured in an Allied attack
• The reason Rommel agreed to commit suicide after his part in the plot was discovered by Hitler
Mitcham’s gripping account of Rommel’s life takes you through the amazing adventure of the World War II battles in North Africa. Again and again, Rommel outfoxed the Allies—until the war of attrition and Hitler’s blunders doomed the Axis cause. Illustrated with dozens of historical photos, this illuminating biography paints a fascinating and tragic picture of the man known as the Desert Fox.
War hero or war criminal? Hitler flunky or man of integrity? Military genius or just lucky?
Now, bestselling military historian Samuel W. Mitcham Jr. gets to the heart of the mysterious figure respected and even admired by the people of the Allied nations he fought against. Mitcham recounts Rommel’s improbable and meteoric military career, his epic battles in North Africa, and his fraught relationship with Hitler and the Nazi Party. Desert The Storied Military Career of Erwin Rommel
• How Rommel’s victories in North Africa were sabotaged by Hitler’s incompetent interference
• How Rommel burned orders telling him to commit war crimes
• Why it wouldn’t have helped Patton if he really had read Rommel’s book
• How Rommel was responsible for the Germans’ defense against the D-Day landing
• Why the plot to overthrow Hitler was fatally compromised when Rommel was gravely injured in an Allied attack
• The reason Rommel agreed to commit suicide after his part in the plot was discovered by Hitler
Mitcham’s gripping account of Rommel’s life takes you through the amazing adventure of the World War II battles in North Africa. Again and again, Rommel outfoxed the Allies—until the war of attrition and Hitler’s blunders doomed the Axis cause. Illustrated with dozens of historical photos, this illuminating biography paints a fascinating and tragic picture of the man known as the Desert Fox.
436 pages, Hardcover
Published March 12, 2019
52 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Samuel W. Mitcham
20 books9 followersMitcham was educated Northeast Louisiana University, North Carolina State, and received his doctorate at the University of Tennessee. He was a professor at Henderson State University, Georgia Southern University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and was a visiting professor at West Point. He lives in Monroe, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 7, 2019
When asking anyone well versed in military history to name a great general from the last century, the name Erwin Rommel will invariably pop up. Despite being on the losing side, and losing his share of battles, Rommel was a very good general.
Writing an equally very good biography of Rommel is Samuel W. Mitcham, who has written extensively on the Second World War, largely focused on Rommel and the Afrika Korps, (as well as having been both a US Army officer and an academic professor, giving him some minor credentials, at least, for the task).
This is, honestly, less of a full biography and far more of a military history of one man and the organizations with which he served and or commanded.
There are glimpses of Rommel's private life, including an early affair he carried on which produced a child of which I never heard anything of before reading this book. Rommel did make amends (as best anyone can under those nefarious circumstances) and was, personally, strait laced ever afterwards. He adored his wife Lucie, and his son Mannfred, and loved dogs. He was fastidiously self disciplined, and lived a spartan lifestyle. Harsh with others when they disappointed him, he was equally harsh on himself.
He was also a bit of a prankster, which was an interesting, and somewhat endearing, tidbit of history.
However, these glimpses of Rommel outside of uniform are just that, glimpses. The meat of the book is Rommel the soldier and officer. Mitcham goes on to describe, in brief, Rommel's military education, and early service leading up to the Great War. When the First World War breaks out, the narrative begins to expand, and Rommel's exploits in Italy are fairly well covered.
A slightly humorous anecdote is shared, post war, of Rommel on a skiing trip to some of the same terrain he routed Italian troops on during the late unpleasantries. When he, somewhat naively, proudly proclaimed who he was, he was encouraged to keep that to himself.
Rommel's book, Infantry Attacks, published during the interwar years, propelled him, albeit briefly, to a bit of fame before the political chaos and economic collapse lead to the revolution of the National Socialist German Workers Party taking over the nation.
Like the vast majority of military men, Rommel was an enthusiastic early supporter of the Nazis as they studiously worked hard to restore the prestige, and might, of the German military and it's position of power inside Europe. Mitcham doesn't gloss over the complicated relationship the German military had with the Nazi Party, nor does he make excuses. However, he does point out that Rommel, like most of the others, saw the Nazis as a vehicle to rapid promotion, and the honor that was their due as officers of their nations armed forces.
Rommel's attitude on Jews is also examined here, and early on he formed a habit of going against Nazi dogma if it suited his ends. There is also a clue here, in his early years wearing the Wehrmacht uniform, of his eventual turning against them.
Rommel is placed in charge of Hitler's bodyguard detail, abd accompanies Hitler as Hitler tours the frontlines in Poland in the 1939 invasion. While there, in an obvious bit of self promotion, Rommel takes the opportunity to endear himself to the German leader, who soon sees to it that Rommel is promoted to command of a Panzer Division, even though Rommel has already made a habit of offending, and downright making enemies of, Nazi Party officials and more sycophantic officers.
The campaign in France and the Low Countries in 1940 is what makes Rommel a household name. Showcasing what will be the hallmarks of his leadership style and his command performances, Rommel will utilize relentless speed, outflanking maneuvers, and a willingness to bluff an enemy psychologically, to offset uneven odds and win stunning victories.
Although caught a bit flat footed by a heavy British counterattack at Arras, Rommel and his Panzer Division (nicknamed the Ghost Division) earn the best record of the campaign out of any of the German Divisions involved in the campaign. Naturally, when the Italian situation in North Africa explodes in Rome's face, Rommel is one of the top contenders to lead a German expeditionary force to Libya to shore up the dreadful Italian position.
It is here, in North Africa, at a bit over half of the book, that Mitcham places as the focus of his biography. It is titled 'Desert Fox', after all.
Almost immediately, and by now one should be seeing this pattern in the mans life, Rommel decides to view his orders from both the Italian and German General Staffs to stay put and hold position, as merely a strongly worded suggestion. Instead, he attacks, catches the British entirely off guard, and routes them. Chasing one segment of the British force into Egypt, while trapping another in the port city of Tobruk, Rommel makes headlines yet again. However, he fails to take Tobruk by storm, besieges it, and loses the initiative.
Despite that, what he had accomplished, the reconquest of Cyrenaica, with only a few brigades and some moderately rebuilt Italian formations, is a remarkable achievement. And it will be the pattern of the Desert War.
Mitcham narrates the ebb and flow of the Desert War with confident ease, which he should as he has already spilled a copious amount of ink on the topic already.
All of the major encounters such as Sidi-Rezegh and Gazala are included in a fair bit of detail, as well as the victory at Mersa Matruh, which us most often merely mentioned before the Germans and Italians are forced to draw up in front of El Alamein.
Mitcham does a good job, as well, as narrating the strategic difficulties facing the Axis by the autumn of 1942, and the oft times heated furor between Rommel and the Italian and German General Staffs.
Rommel knew he was in a secondary theater, and while it is debatable wether or not a crushing victory in Egypt which saw the Germans take the Nile would have had the cascading strategic effects Rommel envisioned, Mitcham does an excellent job of showcasing Rommel's efforts to convince both OKW and Commando Supremo of the merits of doing so.
However, the Axis powers are ill equipped logistically for the war, and with the Russian front taking up over 80% of Germany's resources, Rommel simply must make do. And with the British in control of the skies and the sea in the Mediterranean, supply replenishment is a nightmare.
The ensuing Battle of El Alamein is a battle of supply and numbers, neither of which Rommel has. Even so, his badly outnumbered forces give a very good accounting of themselves before the deadly embrace of attrition grinds them to powder, and the remnants must fly before the British wind. Despite having to retreat for hundreds of miles, with little to no air support, against a vastly superior force, Rommel's men not only evade Monty's grasp at every turn, they even give him a few sharp knocks, enough to keep the British forces erring on the side of prudence. This extended rearguard action is largely ignored in most histories I have read, so it was refreshing to see it here.
The one aspect of the book that was disappointing for me was the Tunisian Campaign. It is one of the shorter chapters of the book, and while Rommel was no longer the only major Axis commander in theater, he still had a great deal of influence on the overall campaign. His offensive against the Americans in February 1943 is largely glossed over, although Mitcham does point out that Rommel learned quickly to respect the Americans even in defeat. And while most German, and British, commanders would view the Americans with disdain for their early thrashings, Rommel always warned against this bit of hubris.
Rommel leaves Africa and is placed in Italy. Something else I did not know before reading this book was that Rommel was the one who planned and orchestrated the German invasion of Italy following the overthrow of Mussolini and Marshal Badoglio's secret meetings with the Allies in order to switch sides. The invasion of Italy was a remarkable achievement in it's own right, and it consigned the Allies to a nightmarish war up the boot which can still be debated as to wether or not it was even worth the blood and treasure of doing so.
The final section of the book deals with Rommel's command of the Atlantic Wall, and his insistence that it actually function rather than be merely a piece of propaganda used by the Nazis to dupe the masses at home.
Rommel's conduct of the Normandy defense was a superb accomplishment, but one that also forever soured him on Hitler and the Nazis. Mitcham does a bit of a flashback to show how even a year earlier Rommel was drawn into the growing conspiracy to remove Hitler and the Nazis. Part of this had to do with Rommel discovering evidence of the Holocaust. Rommel already had a disdain and revulsion for the SS well before this (his son asked permission to join the Waffen-SS and Rommel about burst he was so infuriated) and the mounting evidence of their orgy of slaughter firmly convinced him to act against the National Socialists.
However, Rommel believed that killing Hitler would make him a Nazi martyr, and Rommel preferred to force Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy to stand public trial.
As it was, the plot to overthrow them failed. Rommel was already convalescing from having been severely injured in an Allied air strike, but his role in the plot was given away by another officer to the Gestapo who arranged to force Rommel to commit suicide to save his family.
Rommel was a patriot, he was a very good general, and he was at the very least a fascinating man. While certainly his adherence to Nazi doctrines will be disputed for some time to come, Mitcham's biography goes a long way towards redressing the balance in favor of Rommel as a good man caught in an abysmal situation.
A very good book I cab highly recommend.
Writing an equally very good biography of Rommel is Samuel W. Mitcham, who has written extensively on the Second World War, largely focused on Rommel and the Afrika Korps, (as well as having been both a US Army officer and an academic professor, giving him some minor credentials, at least, for the task).
This is, honestly, less of a full biography and far more of a military history of one man and the organizations with which he served and or commanded.
There are glimpses of Rommel's private life, including an early affair he carried on which produced a child of which I never heard anything of before reading this book. Rommel did make amends (as best anyone can under those nefarious circumstances) and was, personally, strait laced ever afterwards. He adored his wife Lucie, and his son Mannfred, and loved dogs. He was fastidiously self disciplined, and lived a spartan lifestyle. Harsh with others when they disappointed him, he was equally harsh on himself.
He was also a bit of a prankster, which was an interesting, and somewhat endearing, tidbit of history.
However, these glimpses of Rommel outside of uniform are just that, glimpses. The meat of the book is Rommel the soldier and officer. Mitcham goes on to describe, in brief, Rommel's military education, and early service leading up to the Great War. When the First World War breaks out, the narrative begins to expand, and Rommel's exploits in Italy are fairly well covered.
A slightly humorous anecdote is shared, post war, of Rommel on a skiing trip to some of the same terrain he routed Italian troops on during the late unpleasantries. When he, somewhat naively, proudly proclaimed who he was, he was encouraged to keep that to himself.
Rommel's book, Infantry Attacks, published during the interwar years, propelled him, albeit briefly, to a bit of fame before the political chaos and economic collapse lead to the revolution of the National Socialist German Workers Party taking over the nation.
Like the vast majority of military men, Rommel was an enthusiastic early supporter of the Nazis as they studiously worked hard to restore the prestige, and might, of the German military and it's position of power inside Europe. Mitcham doesn't gloss over the complicated relationship the German military had with the Nazi Party, nor does he make excuses. However, he does point out that Rommel, like most of the others, saw the Nazis as a vehicle to rapid promotion, and the honor that was their due as officers of their nations armed forces.
Rommel's attitude on Jews is also examined here, and early on he formed a habit of going against Nazi dogma if it suited his ends. There is also a clue here, in his early years wearing the Wehrmacht uniform, of his eventual turning against them.
Rommel is placed in charge of Hitler's bodyguard detail, abd accompanies Hitler as Hitler tours the frontlines in Poland in the 1939 invasion. While there, in an obvious bit of self promotion, Rommel takes the opportunity to endear himself to the German leader, who soon sees to it that Rommel is promoted to command of a Panzer Division, even though Rommel has already made a habit of offending, and downright making enemies of, Nazi Party officials and more sycophantic officers.
The campaign in France and the Low Countries in 1940 is what makes Rommel a household name. Showcasing what will be the hallmarks of his leadership style and his command performances, Rommel will utilize relentless speed, outflanking maneuvers, and a willingness to bluff an enemy psychologically, to offset uneven odds and win stunning victories.
Although caught a bit flat footed by a heavy British counterattack at Arras, Rommel and his Panzer Division (nicknamed the Ghost Division) earn the best record of the campaign out of any of the German Divisions involved in the campaign. Naturally, when the Italian situation in North Africa explodes in Rome's face, Rommel is one of the top contenders to lead a German expeditionary force to Libya to shore up the dreadful Italian position.
It is here, in North Africa, at a bit over half of the book, that Mitcham places as the focus of his biography. It is titled 'Desert Fox', after all.
Almost immediately, and by now one should be seeing this pattern in the mans life, Rommel decides to view his orders from both the Italian and German General Staffs to stay put and hold position, as merely a strongly worded suggestion. Instead, he attacks, catches the British entirely off guard, and routes them. Chasing one segment of the British force into Egypt, while trapping another in the port city of Tobruk, Rommel makes headlines yet again. However, he fails to take Tobruk by storm, besieges it, and loses the initiative.
Despite that, what he had accomplished, the reconquest of Cyrenaica, with only a few brigades and some moderately rebuilt Italian formations, is a remarkable achievement. And it will be the pattern of the Desert War.
Mitcham narrates the ebb and flow of the Desert War with confident ease, which he should as he has already spilled a copious amount of ink on the topic already.
All of the major encounters such as Sidi-Rezegh and Gazala are included in a fair bit of detail, as well as the victory at Mersa Matruh, which us most often merely mentioned before the Germans and Italians are forced to draw up in front of El Alamein.
Mitcham does a good job, as well, as narrating the strategic difficulties facing the Axis by the autumn of 1942, and the oft times heated furor between Rommel and the Italian and German General Staffs.
Rommel knew he was in a secondary theater, and while it is debatable wether or not a crushing victory in Egypt which saw the Germans take the Nile would have had the cascading strategic effects Rommel envisioned, Mitcham does an excellent job of showcasing Rommel's efforts to convince both OKW and Commando Supremo of the merits of doing so.
However, the Axis powers are ill equipped logistically for the war, and with the Russian front taking up over 80% of Germany's resources, Rommel simply must make do. And with the British in control of the skies and the sea in the Mediterranean, supply replenishment is a nightmare.
The ensuing Battle of El Alamein is a battle of supply and numbers, neither of which Rommel has. Even so, his badly outnumbered forces give a very good accounting of themselves before the deadly embrace of attrition grinds them to powder, and the remnants must fly before the British wind. Despite having to retreat for hundreds of miles, with little to no air support, against a vastly superior force, Rommel's men not only evade Monty's grasp at every turn, they even give him a few sharp knocks, enough to keep the British forces erring on the side of prudence. This extended rearguard action is largely ignored in most histories I have read, so it was refreshing to see it here.
The one aspect of the book that was disappointing for me was the Tunisian Campaign. It is one of the shorter chapters of the book, and while Rommel was no longer the only major Axis commander in theater, he still had a great deal of influence on the overall campaign. His offensive against the Americans in February 1943 is largely glossed over, although Mitcham does point out that Rommel learned quickly to respect the Americans even in defeat. And while most German, and British, commanders would view the Americans with disdain for their early thrashings, Rommel always warned against this bit of hubris.
Rommel leaves Africa and is placed in Italy. Something else I did not know before reading this book was that Rommel was the one who planned and orchestrated the German invasion of Italy following the overthrow of Mussolini and Marshal Badoglio's secret meetings with the Allies in order to switch sides. The invasion of Italy was a remarkable achievement in it's own right, and it consigned the Allies to a nightmarish war up the boot which can still be debated as to wether or not it was even worth the blood and treasure of doing so.
The final section of the book deals with Rommel's command of the Atlantic Wall, and his insistence that it actually function rather than be merely a piece of propaganda used by the Nazis to dupe the masses at home.
Rommel's conduct of the Normandy defense was a superb accomplishment, but one that also forever soured him on Hitler and the Nazis. Mitcham does a bit of a flashback to show how even a year earlier Rommel was drawn into the growing conspiracy to remove Hitler and the Nazis. Part of this had to do with Rommel discovering evidence of the Holocaust. Rommel already had a disdain and revulsion for the SS well before this (his son asked permission to join the Waffen-SS and Rommel about burst he was so infuriated) and the mounting evidence of their orgy of slaughter firmly convinced him to act against the National Socialists.
However, Rommel believed that killing Hitler would make him a Nazi martyr, and Rommel preferred to force Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy to stand public trial.
As it was, the plot to overthrow them failed. Rommel was already convalescing from having been severely injured in an Allied air strike, but his role in the plot was given away by another officer to the Gestapo who arranged to force Rommel to commit suicide to save his family.
Rommel was a patriot, he was a very good general, and he was at the very least a fascinating man. While certainly his adherence to Nazi doctrines will be disputed for some time to come, Mitcham's biography goes a long way towards redressing the balance in favor of Rommel as a good man caught in an abysmal situation.
A very good book I cab highly recommend.
May 14, 2025
An open-minded biography of Erwin Rommel. Outstanding in presentation. Touches on all aspects of his life, career, and ultimate opposition to the war and participation in the plot to remove Hitler.
Extremely detailed notes section. The ‘What happened to them’ chapter is an excellent wrap-up.
Extremely detailed notes section. The ‘What happened to them’ chapter is an excellent wrap-up.
April 16, 2025
Desert Fox narrates the life, military accomplishments, and impeccable character of this master general, strategic genius, patriot, and man of conviction. Though he fought on the wrong side in both World Wars, Rommel was nonetheless highly respected—and feared—by the British, Americans, and French.
Beginning with his early life as a cadet and later as a military hero in World War I, Mitcham does an excellent job portraying Rommel in his true colors. A devout Christian, devoted husband, and father, Rommel was initially deceived by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, which he never joined. He became Hitler's favorite general after his stunning success in defeating the French—though he failed to destroy the British at Dunkirk, a move that, had he made it, could have easily dealt a death blow to the British Empire in World War II.
Transferred to North Africa, Rommel was put in charge of the Afrika Korps, fighting alongside the Italians against the British and their allies. A master tactician, Rommel orchestrated several stunning victories, outmaneuvering the British and defeating them—even when outnumbered three to one. Eventually, his luck ran out, and he was defeated at the Battle of El Alamein.
Hitler later transferred him to France to ensure that any Allied invasion would fail. In this, Rommel was unsuccessful. Out of the country when Eisenhower launched Operation Overlord, Rommel soon fell out of favor with the Führer. He later became involved in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler. When his involvement was discovered, Hitler gave him a choice: commit suicide or be exposed, tried, and executed by a military court. Rommel chose the former.
Why was this man so feared by his rivals on the battlefield? Why is he regarded as a hero by many of his former enemies? How was he deceived by the Nazis? Why did he eventually join the plot to kill the Führer? And why did he choose suicide over being tried by a Nazi tribunal? Mitcham answers these and many other questions in this book.
The book is relatively short, which I appreciated. It does include a lot of names—being German, they’re hard to keep track of. Mitcham also details the functions of different types of tanks and weaponry, which I didn’t find particularly interesting. Still, it was an excellent read and a very insightful look into the life of this remarkable general.
Beginning with his early life as a cadet and later as a military hero in World War I, Mitcham does an excellent job portraying Rommel in his true colors. A devout Christian, devoted husband, and father, Rommel was initially deceived by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, which he never joined. He became Hitler's favorite general after his stunning success in defeating the French—though he failed to destroy the British at Dunkirk, a move that, had he made it, could have easily dealt a death blow to the British Empire in World War II.
Transferred to North Africa, Rommel was put in charge of the Afrika Korps, fighting alongside the Italians against the British and their allies. A master tactician, Rommel orchestrated several stunning victories, outmaneuvering the British and defeating them—even when outnumbered three to one. Eventually, his luck ran out, and he was defeated at the Battle of El Alamein.
Hitler later transferred him to France to ensure that any Allied invasion would fail. In this, Rommel was unsuccessful. Out of the country when Eisenhower launched Operation Overlord, Rommel soon fell out of favor with the Führer. He later became involved in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler. When his involvement was discovered, Hitler gave him a choice: commit suicide or be exposed, tried, and executed by a military court. Rommel chose the former.
Why was this man so feared by his rivals on the battlefield? Why is he regarded as a hero by many of his former enemies? How was he deceived by the Nazis? Why did he eventually join the plot to kill the Führer? And why did he choose suicide over being tried by a Nazi tribunal? Mitcham answers these and many other questions in this book.
The book is relatively short, which I appreciated. It does include a lot of names—being German, they’re hard to keep track of. Mitcham also details the functions of different types of tanks and weaponry, which I didn’t find particularly interesting. Still, it was an excellent read and a very insightful look into the life of this remarkable general.
June 11, 2023
A tragic story. From the pinnacle of his career in the Afrikakorps to his death, Rommel was ruled by his own principles. The segment about his involvement in the plot to kill Hitler was most interesting.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
April 22, 2020
Engaging and exciting, the book advances swiftly and has a nice flow.
The book tells the story of the greatest marshal in WW2 and gives insights into his work and moral ethics which are unprecedented.
A true inspiration in every aspect of his live.
Greatly enjoyed it.
The book tells the story of the greatest marshal in WW2 and gives insights into his work and moral ethics which are unprecedented.
A true inspiration in every aspect of his live.
Greatly enjoyed it.
June 15, 2022
After watching WW2 YouTube videos, I was keen to find a book to tell me why was this man called the Desert Fox.
With no other books of Rommel to compare against, I do really find that this is a good book.
The narrative flowed, clear distinct chapters and balanced coverage of both Rommel’s early life as well as the WW2 errand that made him world famous.
The author is both soldier and academic: unique perspectives that makes him a suitable person to write a biography on military personal.
First I read the ebook, but the battle maps didn’t show up well so I went to look for the physical book. However, it was still difficult to follow the battles- if only the battle maps are better illustrated. That is why I can’t give it full 5 stars.
Why was Rommel so successful despite being in the secondary theatre of the Germans with at most a couple of divisions, and fighting against the entire night of the British and Americans of whom at the moment , Africa was their only major war theatre?
Mass, not dribbles . Desert warfare as sea warfare where the conquest of the area does not matter but rather the destruction of the enemy troops matters. Rommel may be numerically outnumbered overall, but at each local battle, his forces are concentrated against the enemies’ spread out forces. Another reason why Rommel succeeded as a general was that he often lead his troops right in the middle of battle out in the front , hence being able to adapt and change plans on the go. As compared, other German Prussian generals were of the old school model where they commanded and plotted the moves from an Ops Room far behind the front line. I can’t be sure which is better - after all, i may need to read more Patton and other generals to decide. At Eisenhower level though, he sure coordinated the war Theater from a war room far behind the front lines.
His defence of the Atlantic Wall was so well planned, predicting the Allied advances so that I found myself rooting for the Germans - which is an eerily awkward feeling because we all know now on hindsight that the Germans are the “evil” ones of WW2.
Rommel defence plan of France was contrary to the ongoing German plans where they will deploy the mobile divisions deeper in France after allowing the Allies to land . This was because the German generals guarding France came from the Battle of Russia where the Germans reign air supremacy and the Panzeer Divisins could manoeuvre and wreak havoc . In the defence of France for the Germans, the Allies will have air supremacy and Rommel experienced that in Africa. Hence Rommel’s plan was shore up the coastal defences, have the Panzeer Divisions not too far from the coast and Never let the Allies gain a beach foothold. By God’s Grace , Eisenhower gambled. Through Allied weather stations in the Atlantic which the Germans did not have, Eisenhower picked a very short window when the weather cleared up for D Day. All the Germans generals expected bad weather for the rest of the days and Rommel went back for home leave to celebrate his wife’s birthday on D Day. God knows what Rommel can do if he was there on D day.
I sought out the book to learn about the military success of Rommel but I went away learning about why another book titled him the “ The Last Knight “ . He is like the last chivalrous soldier we have ever seen.
Many stories abound:
1) Rommel gave his POWs the same amount of water as his troops and was prepared to let them go if he ran out of suppliers
2) refused the separate the Whites and Black POWs of South African troops when the whites requested
3) burnt and ignore orders from Hitler requiring him to kill the Jewish POW soldiers or the commandos caught behind enemy lines - regardless whether the commandos were wearing their uniform and can be identified.
4) lambasting the Italian commanders who wanted to masquerade oil supply ships as First Aid ships
At the very least, the Desert War in the Northern Africa was a gentleman’s war and that’s why Rommel was labelled “The last knight”.
With no other books of Rommel to compare against, I do really find that this is a good book.
The narrative flowed, clear distinct chapters and balanced coverage of both Rommel’s early life as well as the WW2 errand that made him world famous.
The author is both soldier and academic: unique perspectives that makes him a suitable person to write a biography on military personal.
First I read the ebook, but the battle maps didn’t show up well so I went to look for the physical book. However, it was still difficult to follow the battles- if only the battle maps are better illustrated. That is why I can’t give it full 5 stars.
Why was Rommel so successful despite being in the secondary theatre of the Germans with at most a couple of divisions, and fighting against the entire night of the British and Americans of whom at the moment , Africa was their only major war theatre?
Mass, not dribbles . Desert warfare as sea warfare where the conquest of the area does not matter but rather the destruction of the enemy troops matters. Rommel may be numerically outnumbered overall, but at each local battle, his forces are concentrated against the enemies’ spread out forces. Another reason why Rommel succeeded as a general was that he often lead his troops right in the middle of battle out in the front , hence being able to adapt and change plans on the go. As compared, other German Prussian generals were of the old school model where they commanded and plotted the moves from an Ops Room far behind the front line. I can’t be sure which is better - after all, i may need to read more Patton and other generals to decide. At Eisenhower level though, he sure coordinated the war Theater from a war room far behind the front lines.
His defence of the Atlantic Wall was so well planned, predicting the Allied advances so that I found myself rooting for the Germans - which is an eerily awkward feeling because we all know now on hindsight that the Germans are the “evil” ones of WW2.
Rommel defence plan of France was contrary to the ongoing German plans where they will deploy the mobile divisions deeper in France after allowing the Allies to land . This was because the German generals guarding France came from the Battle of Russia where the Germans reign air supremacy and the Panzeer Divisins could manoeuvre and wreak havoc . In the defence of France for the Germans, the Allies will have air supremacy and Rommel experienced that in Africa. Hence Rommel’s plan was shore up the coastal defences, have the Panzeer Divisions not too far from the coast and Never let the Allies gain a beach foothold. By God’s Grace , Eisenhower gambled. Through Allied weather stations in the Atlantic which the Germans did not have, Eisenhower picked a very short window when the weather cleared up for D Day. All the Germans generals expected bad weather for the rest of the days and Rommel went back for home leave to celebrate his wife’s birthday on D Day. God knows what Rommel can do if he was there on D day.
I sought out the book to learn about the military success of Rommel but I went away learning about why another book titled him the “ The Last Knight “ . He is like the last chivalrous soldier we have ever seen.
Many stories abound:
1) Rommel gave his POWs the same amount of water as his troops and was prepared to let them go if he ran out of suppliers
2) refused the separate the Whites and Black POWs of South African troops when the whites requested
3) burnt and ignore orders from Hitler requiring him to kill the Jewish POW soldiers or the commandos caught behind enemy lines - regardless whether the commandos were wearing their uniform and can be identified.
4) lambasting the Italian commanders who wanted to masquerade oil supply ships as First Aid ships
At the very least, the Desert War in the Northern Africa was a gentleman’s war and that’s why Rommel was labelled “The last knight”.
May 14, 2024
It was nice to read some history in the form of a biography that stayed on topic.
I was happy to learn about Rommel, and not the rest of cast of WW2 for the Nx10^6th time.
I do wish it got a little bit more personal.
I was happy to learn about Rommel, and not the rest of cast of WW2 for the Nx10^6th time.
I do wish it got a little bit more personal.
February 7, 2025
A specific look at Rommel, primarily in the North African Theatre, the author is very much on the side that he's a great general who doesnt seem to have made an unforced error but is let down by lack of resource and orders to hold ground.
Choice notes
German intelligence thought only 250,000 had landed until July 3rd. In fact a million had landed and Rommell was outnumbered 3 to 1, and Hitler held troops in reserve for "the real landing"
German intelligence thought only 250,000 had landed until July 17th. In fact a million had landed and Rommell was outnumbered 3 to 1, and Hitler held troops in reserve for "the real landing"
Hitler promised the v weapons would bring the allies to their knees. Rommell asked for them to be used on the beaches. The artillery officer said they were too inaccurate. Rommell asked that they be used on the port cities. Hitler refused as he wanted to destroy London.
After dday He called for a retreat behind the seine. Rommell said that it only had a 1/4 chance of success but staying put gave no chance. Hitler called to stay put saying that the V rockets would win the war.
In 3 years only 1300000 mines had been played in the west. Rommell intended to lay 2 million a month. He'd managed to lay 4 million before Dday
The paper army remained immobile, only Rommells reputation saved them on November 17th, they had been defeated by him before and were overly cautious. Had they attacked they'd have destroyed the North African German army.
Montgomery sent a list of requirements to the British government that he needed before an attack. Churchill tried to pressure him to attack but Monty held firm. It seems that being at loggerheads with the PM was a prerequisite for victory in Africa.
Rommell was ordered to liquidate the Jews who fought against him. This order simply disappeared and the Jews were treated humanely and then turned over to the Italians.
Rommell build wooden 88s to confuse the allies. They fooled even him as he chewed out his Italian allies for leaving them in the open.
General Garabaldi stated that Italian guns were only allowed for Italian Units. He was ignored by Rommel. The legend of the desert fox became a psychological danger to the British army.
Rommell gave strong points 88m anti aircraft guns with a 6 mile range, in the hellfire pass 11/12 british mark 2s were destroyed before in range.
Tomers report recommended 4 panzer division for north Africa and was found to be materially correct. It was denounced by Hilter and Mussolini. He further invoked ire by saying that one British soldiers worth more than a dozen Italians.
Rommell brought in to train the Hitler Youth. He stated they needed more education and character building. Von Sheerer the overseer disagreed and Rommell was quoted "If you want to train boys to become military you should first become a soldier" he was returned to unit.
Family joke that rommell always had the last word in family affairs and those words were "whatever you say lutzig" (his wife)
Rommell had his share of flaws. There hasnt been a perfect man in 2000 years and rommell is no exception. I think rommels virtues outweigh his flaws and hope the listener enjoys the book or at least can get his money back.
Treaty of Versailles destroyed the German army, reducing it to only 100,000 men.
He staunched a mutiny with a speech saying he'd prayed for the survival of the navy and "here they are". He then beat the rest into submission.
Choice notes
German intelligence thought only 250,000 had landed until July 3rd. In fact a million had landed and Rommell was outnumbered 3 to 1, and Hitler held troops in reserve for "the real landing"
German intelligence thought only 250,000 had landed until July 17th. In fact a million had landed and Rommell was outnumbered 3 to 1, and Hitler held troops in reserve for "the real landing"
Hitler promised the v weapons would bring the allies to their knees. Rommell asked for them to be used on the beaches. The artillery officer said they were too inaccurate. Rommell asked that they be used on the port cities. Hitler refused as he wanted to destroy London.
After dday He called for a retreat behind the seine. Rommell said that it only had a 1/4 chance of success but staying put gave no chance. Hitler called to stay put saying that the V rockets would win the war.
In 3 years only 1300000 mines had been played in the west. Rommell intended to lay 2 million a month. He'd managed to lay 4 million before Dday
The paper army remained immobile, only Rommells reputation saved them on November 17th, they had been defeated by him before and were overly cautious. Had they attacked they'd have destroyed the North African German army.
Montgomery sent a list of requirements to the British government that he needed before an attack. Churchill tried to pressure him to attack but Monty held firm. It seems that being at loggerheads with the PM was a prerequisite for victory in Africa.
Rommell was ordered to liquidate the Jews who fought against him. This order simply disappeared and the Jews were treated humanely and then turned over to the Italians.
Rommell build wooden 88s to confuse the allies. They fooled even him as he chewed out his Italian allies for leaving them in the open.
General Garabaldi stated that Italian guns were only allowed for Italian Units. He was ignored by Rommel. The legend of the desert fox became a psychological danger to the British army.
Rommell gave strong points 88m anti aircraft guns with a 6 mile range, in the hellfire pass 11/12 british mark 2s were destroyed before in range.
Tomers report recommended 4 panzer division for north Africa and was found to be materially correct. It was denounced by Hilter and Mussolini. He further invoked ire by saying that one British soldiers worth more than a dozen Italians.
Rommell brought in to train the Hitler Youth. He stated they needed more education and character building. Von Sheerer the overseer disagreed and Rommell was quoted "If you want to train boys to become military you should first become a soldier" he was returned to unit.
Family joke that rommell always had the last word in family affairs and those words were "whatever you say lutzig" (his wife)
Rommell had his share of flaws. There hasnt been a perfect man in 2000 years and rommell is no exception. I think rommels virtues outweigh his flaws and hope the listener enjoys the book or at least can get his money back.
Treaty of Versailles destroyed the German army, reducing it to only 100,000 men.
He staunched a mutiny with a speech saying he'd prayed for the survival of the navy and "here they are". He then beat the rest into submission.
July 16, 2019
A very thorough review of Rommel's start as an infantry/mountain fighter in WWI, to his switch to armoured warfare he would become famous for as one of the greatest armoured tacticians history has witnessed. This book covers his early years up to his final moments, right around the time of the Normandy landing.
___
It was a family joke that Erwin always had the last words on domestic matters, and those words were "anything you say, Lucie!"
It should perhaps be noted here that that it is a German characteristic not only to have many models of every weapon and armoured vehicle but also to make them as complicated as possible.
The Germans had the advantage of better military leaders, an advantage they held for most of the war.
The Italian soldiers called their tanks self-propelled coffins, so obsolete were they.
While the US navy drinks whiskey and the British Navy prefers rum, the Italian Navy sticks to port.
Rommel compared desert warfare to war on the sea. Occupying several hundred miles of desert was worthless. Who cares who occupies a wave? The important thing was destroying the enemy's fleet / armoured force. Rommel grasped this fact immediately.
The disadvantage of having a great military reputation is that others always expect miracles and attribute any defeat to pure malicious intent.
It is a fact of desert warfare that men in combat, without cover and therefore under constant enemy observation, feel more stress and tire more quickly than men who face conflict under more conventional circumstances. Such exhaustion can only be remedied by rest and sleep.
In the desert, when a German or Allied tank was "brewed up" a certain procedure was followed. The hatches would be thrown open. All enemy firing at that particular tank would cease immediately. The crew hopped out and, with their hands raised, followed the track marks behind their own tank to friendly lines and safety. No one fired on them. This was totally unique behaviour for WW2. The reconnaissance battalions on both sides observed an informal truce during the night. Rommel was fully aware of these Gentlemen's agreements, and supported them.
Meise would later say: "Quite aside his greatness as a general, Rommel was the greatest engineer of WW2."
___
It was a family joke that Erwin always had the last words on domestic matters, and those words were "anything you say, Lucie!"
It should perhaps be noted here that that it is a German characteristic not only to have many models of every weapon and armoured vehicle but also to make them as complicated as possible.
The Germans had the advantage of better military leaders, an advantage they held for most of the war.
The Italian soldiers called their tanks self-propelled coffins, so obsolete were they.
While the US navy drinks whiskey and the British Navy prefers rum, the Italian Navy sticks to port.
Rommel compared desert warfare to war on the sea. Occupying several hundred miles of desert was worthless. Who cares who occupies a wave? The important thing was destroying the enemy's fleet / armoured force. Rommel grasped this fact immediately.
The disadvantage of having a great military reputation is that others always expect miracles and attribute any defeat to pure malicious intent.
It is a fact of desert warfare that men in combat, without cover and therefore under constant enemy observation, feel more stress and tire more quickly than men who face conflict under more conventional circumstances. Such exhaustion can only be remedied by rest and sleep.
In the desert, when a German or Allied tank was "brewed up" a certain procedure was followed. The hatches would be thrown open. All enemy firing at that particular tank would cease immediately. The crew hopped out and, with their hands raised, followed the track marks behind their own tank to friendly lines and safety. No one fired on them. This was totally unique behaviour for WW2. The reconnaissance battalions on both sides observed an informal truce during the night. Rommel was fully aware of these Gentlemen's agreements, and supported them.
Meise would later say: "Quite aside his greatness as a general, Rommel was the greatest engineer of WW2."
December 14, 2024
There are few men like Erwin Rommel nowadays because the first and Second World War all ate them up. What type you may ask? Nazis? He certainly wasn’t one- a bit dense yes, not involved in politics or race much for he was a military man and patriot through and through. He didn’t fight for Hitler but instead for Germany much like he had in the First World War.
The book gives a fine account of a fine man, if you’re interested in a case study of virtue, will and military strat- I will without hesitation recommend this book.
I don’t wish to sound weird but it’s much like reading the Horus heresy or Bible in that you know what will happen (Sanguinius/Jesus dies, etc) yet you still read it, still get invested (like the fool I am), still get sad when Rommel says his goodbyes to his child, friends, wife and the poor dog who wags his tail as Rommel pets him for the last time. 11 hours invested into a man who ended up getting surrounded by the SS telling him he can either commit suicide or be put on trial. If he suicides via cyanide then his family will still get pension. I think if not for the family, he’d have enjoyed a last stand making his choice all the more.. beautiful?
I don’t think however, that I’ll choose to remember Rommel as a man who flailed like a fish in his dying moments as foam came from his mouth cause of the pill but instead for his bravery, for his leadership and ability to inspire, trying to stand up against Hitler and a common family man and patriot through and through.
As the author (btw thank you for writing this Sam) said in the start of the book; read it exactly because you may not agree with it- you’ll learn a thing or two (I certainly did)
The book gives a fine account of a fine man, if you’re interested in a case study of virtue, will and military strat- I will without hesitation recommend this book.
I don’t wish to sound weird but it’s much like reading the Horus heresy or Bible in that you know what will happen (Sanguinius/Jesus dies, etc) yet you still read it, still get invested (like the fool I am), still get sad when Rommel says his goodbyes to his child, friends, wife and the poor dog who wags his tail as Rommel pets him for the last time. 11 hours invested into a man who ended up getting surrounded by the SS telling him he can either commit suicide or be put on trial. If he suicides via cyanide then his family will still get pension. I think if not for the family, he’d have enjoyed a last stand making his choice all the more.. beautiful?
I don’t think however, that I’ll choose to remember Rommel as a man who flailed like a fish in his dying moments as foam came from his mouth cause of the pill but instead for his bravery, for his leadership and ability to inspire, trying to stand up against Hitler and a common family man and patriot through and through.
As the author (btw thank you for writing this Sam) said in the start of the book; read it exactly because you may not agree with it- you’ll learn a thing or two (I certainly did)
March 2, 2024
Erwin Rommel is one of the most famous examples in history of ‘the right man born on the wrong side’. One of the most bravest, tactically sound and most respected military leaders in World War 2, Rommel unfortunately fought on the side of Nazi Germany. Despite facing multiple odds such as fewer manpower, poor supplies, a psychopathic political leadership who hated his guts, etc. Rommel was the architect of some famous German victories in WW2 in North Africa. He had earned the moniker of the Desert Fox and many leaders like Churchill respected him highly.
The book starts off reading like a wikipedia article, rushing by through his early history in concise chapters. However once the scene shifts to Africa in the 1940s, things slow down, giving us a glimpse into the mind of the man. The latter part of Rommel’s life as he faces off against the increasingly insane Adolf Hitler is epic and tragic.
Reading this book has given me an increased interest into WW2
The book starts off reading like a wikipedia article, rushing by through his early history in concise chapters. However once the scene shifts to Africa in the 1940s, things slow down, giving us a glimpse into the mind of the man. The latter part of Rommel’s life as he faces off against the increasingly insane Adolf Hitler is epic and tragic.
Reading this book has given me an increased interest into WW2
July 17, 2021
Story of independent thinker who kept going even when he knew that there was little change of success. He was reckless yet modest, German, but not Nazi. I don't know if he tried to kill Hitler, but I nevertheless think he understood how much evil Nazi's had done to jews and to other people. He never took part on any of that, since it went against he's sense of morals and pragmatism. This was a story of pragmatist man.
May 2, 2021
After reading this, Erwin Rommel might be my favorite general of WW2. He was proud to be a German, and he loved his country. He was a family man that didn’t care for a lavish lifestyle. He disobeyed Hitler many times when Hitler’s orders went against Rommel’s morals. His soldiers loved him too, he was definitely a general that enlisted men would follow anywhere
July 7, 2021
Not quite what I was looking for. Wanted to undertake what made him a good leader and able to inspire and motivate people under the worst conditions. This account was somewhat romanticized and did not analyse or break down the 'genius' of Rommel. Was interesting as a perspective of history I do not usually read.
August 3, 2021
Mitcham present a recent adaptation of the life of the Desert Fox from his birth through his forced suicide on October 14, 1944. You really get to know the personality of Rommel and that he was a highly principled and humble man doing his duty for his country. He fought an honorable war, and saw through the delusions of Hitler toward the end of the war.
January 29, 2025
A spectacular and concise biography of an eventually very conflicted man.
This book is very well written and engaging. The concise and descriptive passages kept me intrigued! Knowing already what the outcomes are there are times that the peculiarities of his biography are very revealing of many that had become disillusioned and adverse to the path the Nazi party had taken.
This book is very well written and engaging. The concise and descriptive passages kept me intrigued! Knowing already what the outcomes are there are times that the peculiarities of his biography are very revealing of many that had become disillusioned and adverse to the path the Nazi party had taken.
April 4, 2024
The book is captivating, delightful, and effortlessly readable, ensuring the reader stays engaged without feeling fatigued.
It stimulates curiosity impartially and is accessible to all, even those initially uninterested in the subject matter.
It stimulates curiosity impartially and is accessible to all, even those initially uninterested in the subject matter.
February 4, 2025
Erwin Rommel was a highly esteemed general who was also down to earth and a family man. I appreciated the fact that Rommel's pros and cons of his personality were illustrated!
The book made me think whether rank has true value during active war time.
The book made me think whether rank has true value during active war time.
May 11, 2019
I enjoyed the book. Did not know Rommel was such a good soldier in ww1. Lots of interesting anecdotes. Many near death experiences and exciting battles.
June 25, 2023
Reasonably descriptive, interesting but ultimately superficial work on the Desert Fox that skims the surface, tells us “what” and occasionally “how”, but little else.
December 30, 2023
A complete history of a true German hero who was both admired and feared by his enemies.
February 6, 2024
Good book with an unbiased view of Rommel’s life and career
April 4, 2024
Excellent!
Well researched. Impressive detail. This author knows his material.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author brought Rommel to life. I highly recommend this book.
Well researched. Impressive detail. This author knows his material.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author brought Rommel to life. I highly recommend this book.
June 3, 2024
Such an amazing story with such a sad ending. Was really informative to read however could sometimes be a bit hard to follow. Overall great book covering all of rommel’s life.
June 9, 2025
very good and well written in depth account of Erwin Rommel.
September 27, 2025
An excellent biography. The chapters on the North Africa campaign are particularly good.
October 13, 2024
Actually offered me something new about Rommel.
January 15, 2025
Despite working for the other side and the terrible atrocities associated, Rommel was a brilliant tactician and had a cold calculating and sharp as a tack mind. His story reads like a great war general and was entirely interesting to read about such a man.
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