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Piechota atakuje
Marszałek Erwin Rommel miał w czasie II wojny światowej niemal hipnotyczny wpływ nie tylko na własnych żołnierzy ale i Aliantów. Nawet kiedy przestał odnosić wielkie sukcesy cały czas był charyzmatycznym dowódcą.
Jakie były fundamenty umiejętności Rommla?, gdzie nauczył się zwyciężać?, co powodowało że żołnierze darzyli go zaufaniem i podziwem? Odpowiedzi znajdziemy w wydanej w 1935 r. książce „Piechota atakuje” autorstwa Erwina Rommla, w której wspomina bitwy w których brał udział. Analizuje też jak mu się udawało zwyciężać – w pewnym sensie jest to podręcznik taktyki, a nawet bardziej podręcznik przywódcy. Opracowanie to zwróciło uwagę Adolfa Hitlera na młodego oficera odznaczonego najwyższym niemieckim orderem wojennym Pour le Merite. To po wydaniu "Piechota atakuje" zaczęła się wielka kariera jej autora.
Rommel pisze niezwykle obrazowo o swoich przeżyciach wojennych. O walkach na zachodzie w labiryncie okopów i zasieków, o kampanii rumuńskiej i włoskiej, w czasie których odnosił swoje największe sukcesy. W książce Czytelnik znajdzie też odręczne rysunki i mapy autorstwa Erwina Rommla, co nadaje im jeszcze większej autentyczności.
Erwin Rommel (ur. 1891 zm. 1944) był najmłodszym niemieckim feldmarszałkiem podczas II wojny światowej. Dzięki znakomitej taktyce szybkiego przemieszczania wojsk stał się żywą legendą wśród żołnierzy niemieckich, ale przede wszystkim wśród aliantów. Ze względu na przebiegłość nazwany Lisem pustyni.
Jakie były fundamenty umiejętności Rommla?, gdzie nauczył się zwyciężać?, co powodowało że żołnierze darzyli go zaufaniem i podziwem? Odpowiedzi znajdziemy w wydanej w 1935 r. książce „Piechota atakuje” autorstwa Erwina Rommla, w której wspomina bitwy w których brał udział. Analizuje też jak mu się udawało zwyciężać – w pewnym sensie jest to podręcznik taktyki, a nawet bardziej podręcznik przywódcy. Opracowanie to zwróciło uwagę Adolfa Hitlera na młodego oficera odznaczonego najwyższym niemieckim orderem wojennym Pour le Merite. To po wydaniu "Piechota atakuje" zaczęła się wielka kariera jej autora.
Rommel pisze niezwykle obrazowo o swoich przeżyciach wojennych. O walkach na zachodzie w labiryncie okopów i zasieków, o kampanii rumuńskiej i włoskiej, w czasie których odnosił swoje największe sukcesy. W książce Czytelnik znajdzie też odręczne rysunki i mapy autorstwa Erwina Rommla, co nadaje im jeszcze większej autentyczności.
Erwin Rommel (ur. 1891 zm. 1944) był najmłodszym niemieckim feldmarszałkiem podczas II wojny światowej. Dzięki znakomitej taktyce szybkiego przemieszczania wojsk stał się żywą legendą wśród żołnierzy niemieckich, ale przede wszystkim wśród aliantów. Ze względu na przebiegłość nazwany Lisem pustyni.
430 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1937
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About the author
Erwin Rommel
34 books131 followersJohannes Erwin Eugen Rommel was a German general and military theorist. Popularly known as the Desert Fox, he served as field marshal in the Wehrmacht (armed forces) of Nazi Germany during World War II, as well as serving in the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, and the army of Imperial Germany.
Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his actions on the Italian Front. In 1937 he published his classic book on military tactics, Infantry Attacks, drawing on his experiences in that war. In World War II, he distinguished himself as the commander of the 7th Panzer Division during the 1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war, and earned him the nickname der Wüstenfuchs, "the Desert Fox". He later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
In 1944, Rommel was implicated in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Because of Rommel's status as a national hero, Hitler desired to eliminate him quietly instead of immediately executing him, as many other plotters were. Rommel was given a choice between committing suicide, in return for assurances that his reputation would remain intact and that his family would not be persecuted following his death, or facing a trial that would result in his disgrace and execution; he chose the former and committed suicide using a cyanide pill. Rommel was given a state funeral, and it was announced that he had succumbed to his injuries from the strafing of his staff car in Normandy.
The mythology surrounding Rommel has been the subject of analysis in recent decades. The reevaluation has produced new interpretations of Rommel, including his relationship with Nazism, his abilities as an operational and strategic level commander, and his role in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Historians and commentators conclude that Rommel remains an ambiguous figure, not easily definable either inside or outside the so called "Rommel myth".
Rommel was a highly decorated officer in World War I and was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his actions on the Italian Front. In 1937 he published his classic book on military tactics, Infantry Attacks, drawing on his experiences in that war. In World War II, he distinguished himself as the commander of the 7th Panzer Division during the 1940 invasion of France. His leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established his reputation as one of the ablest tank commanders of the war, and earned him the nickname der Wüstenfuchs, "the Desert Fox". He later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
In 1944, Rommel was implicated in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Because of Rommel's status as a national hero, Hitler desired to eliminate him quietly instead of immediately executing him, as many other plotters were. Rommel was given a choice between committing suicide, in return for assurances that his reputation would remain intact and that his family would not be persecuted following his death, or facing a trial that would result in his disgrace and execution; he chose the former and committed suicide using a cyanide pill. Rommel was given a state funeral, and it was announced that he had succumbed to his injuries from the strafing of his staff car in Normandy.
The mythology surrounding Rommel has been the subject of analysis in recent decades. The reevaluation has produced new interpretations of Rommel, including his relationship with Nazism, his abilities as an operational and strategic level commander, and his role in the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Historians and commentators conclude that Rommel remains an ambiguous figure, not easily definable either inside or outside the so called "Rommel myth".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
July 30, 2016
جوانِ شجاع و باهوشی که با پشتکار و میهن پرستیِ خودش از جنگِ جهانی اول و لیاقتی که از خود نشان داد، تمامی پله هایِ موفقیت را پی در پی سپری کرد و بالا رفت... مردم آلمان و همینطور مردمِ جهان باید همیشه این انسانِ بزرگ و محبوب را الگو خودشان قرار بدهند
مردِ بزرگی که حتی دشمنانِ او نیز، همیشه احترامِ زیادی برایِ وی قائل بودند و درکل از محبوبیتِ زیادی برخوردار بوده است
یادِ فرمانده <اروین رومل> همیشه زنده و گرامی باد
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
مردِ بزرگی که حتی دشمنانِ او نیز، همیشه احترامِ زیادی برایِ وی قائل بودند و درکل از محبوبیتِ زیادی برخوردار بوده است
یادِ فرمانده <اروین رومل> همیشه زنده و گرامی باد
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
April 23, 2015
Most people have heard of Erwin Rommel, at least in passing. But most people probably associate his name with only two events: World War Two tank battles in North Africa, and Rommel’s forced suicide by Hitler because of his ancillary association with Stauffenberg’s attempt to assassinate Hitler. And most people probably have a general sense that Rommel was not so bad a guy, relative to the Nazi regime as a whole (as low a bar as that may be). This book contradicts none of that, but provides a broader sense both of who Rommel was, and also provides a different perspective on World War One than we commonly have.
Infantry Attacks is basically a war travelogue. It is an autobiography not of war anguish, but of war practice. Informally written, it features Rommel leading small units, usually involving fast action against other small units. We typically associate World War One with Western Front trench warfare, and although Rommel did fight there and records it, much of the book is concerned with other fronts.
The first other front is the Carpathian border between Rumania and Hungary. (Well, what was then the border, before Transylvania was taken by the victorious Allies from Hungary, of which Transylvania had been a part for more than a thousand years, and given to the Rumanians to reward them for finally entering the war in 1916, when they figured out who was winning the war. Then the Rumanians also switched sides to gain advantage in World War Two.). The second is mountain warfare on the Austrian/Italian front, including the Battle of Caporetto, where Rommel won the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor (informally called the Blue Max. and jarringly formally named in French, for historical reasons).
The book is written primarily as an instructional manual, drawing lessons from the detailed small unit actions Rommel describes. In passing, it also burnishes Rommel’s reputation (which grew in interwar Germany in part due to this book), even though Rommel not infrequently criticizes his own performance. Finally, the book serves as a platform for Rommel’s thoughts on what constitutes an honorable German soldier, which are pretty much as you’d expect for the time and place.
What strikes the modern reader most about the book is that it has a very different view of World War One fighting than we are used to. Most of the time, we think of World War One as unrelieved horror to no point, led by clueless generals and political leaders, featuring such low points as endless static trench fighting, Verdun, poison gas, and Gallipoli. Rommel enjoyed war, and he was good at it, and it shows continuously in the book. He frequently mentions how “exciting” a particular fight is, often in reference to “grenade duels.” He doesn’t spend any time at all navel gazing or reflecting on what lessons about human nature are being taught.
His men apparently worshipped him (although that is only obliquely evident in the book). One gets the impression, though, that was not due to his common touch, which is nowhere in evidence, but to his demi-godlike stature as a man who led from the front and was able to minimize his men’s casualties. As he says, “Winning the men’s confidence requires much of a commander. . . . . But once he has their confidence, his men will follow him through hell and high water.” Sounds easy, but reading the book you can see the things he did to really put that into practice successfully. (Someone would doubtless have written a book on applying the lessons of Rommel to business, if not for the unfortunate Nazi overtones that such a book would generate.)
We may think it’s odd, but we should remember that history and armies are full of examples of people who actually don’t mind, or actually positively enjoy, war, who nonetheless aren’t psychopaths or insane. It’s not just generals standing back from the battlefield, either—it’s just as much people like Rommel, engaged in “retail” war, who enjoy it.
Infantry Attacks can feel repetitive, particularly for a reader who doesn't know the relevant geography or military tactics in detail. I’m sure for a military practitioner, each skirmish and battle in which Rommel describes his and his men’s part in detail, complete with Rommel’s hand drawn maps and sketches, teaches its own valuable lessons. But even for a causal or non-military leader, there is a lot of value in reading the book. It gives an invaluable flavor of the time and the war, very different from what normally receive, and is therefore very much worth reading.
Infantry Attacks is basically a war travelogue. It is an autobiography not of war anguish, but of war practice. Informally written, it features Rommel leading small units, usually involving fast action against other small units. We typically associate World War One with Western Front trench warfare, and although Rommel did fight there and records it, much of the book is concerned with other fronts.
The first other front is the Carpathian border between Rumania and Hungary. (Well, what was then the border, before Transylvania was taken by the victorious Allies from Hungary, of which Transylvania had been a part for more than a thousand years, and given to the Rumanians to reward them for finally entering the war in 1916, when they figured out who was winning the war. Then the Rumanians also switched sides to gain advantage in World War Two.). The second is mountain warfare on the Austrian/Italian front, including the Battle of Caporetto, where Rommel won the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor (informally called the Blue Max. and jarringly formally named in French, for historical reasons).
The book is written primarily as an instructional manual, drawing lessons from the detailed small unit actions Rommel describes. In passing, it also burnishes Rommel’s reputation (which grew in interwar Germany in part due to this book), even though Rommel not infrequently criticizes his own performance. Finally, the book serves as a platform for Rommel’s thoughts on what constitutes an honorable German soldier, which are pretty much as you’d expect for the time and place.
What strikes the modern reader most about the book is that it has a very different view of World War One fighting than we are used to. Most of the time, we think of World War One as unrelieved horror to no point, led by clueless generals and political leaders, featuring such low points as endless static trench fighting, Verdun, poison gas, and Gallipoli. Rommel enjoyed war, and he was good at it, and it shows continuously in the book. He frequently mentions how “exciting” a particular fight is, often in reference to “grenade duels.” He doesn’t spend any time at all navel gazing or reflecting on what lessons about human nature are being taught.
His men apparently worshipped him (although that is only obliquely evident in the book). One gets the impression, though, that was not due to his common touch, which is nowhere in evidence, but to his demi-godlike stature as a man who led from the front and was able to minimize his men’s casualties. As he says, “Winning the men’s confidence requires much of a commander. . . . . But once he has their confidence, his men will follow him through hell and high water.” Sounds easy, but reading the book you can see the things he did to really put that into practice successfully. (Someone would doubtless have written a book on applying the lessons of Rommel to business, if not for the unfortunate Nazi overtones that such a book would generate.)
We may think it’s odd, but we should remember that history and armies are full of examples of people who actually don’t mind, or actually positively enjoy, war, who nonetheless aren’t psychopaths or insane. It’s not just generals standing back from the battlefield, either—it’s just as much people like Rommel, engaged in “retail” war, who enjoy it.
Infantry Attacks can feel repetitive, particularly for a reader who doesn't know the relevant geography or military tactics in detail. I’m sure for a military practitioner, each skirmish and battle in which Rommel describes his and his men’s part in detail, complete with Rommel’s hand drawn maps and sketches, teaches its own valuable lessons. But even for a causal or non-military leader, there is a lot of value in reading the book. It gives an invaluable flavor of the time and the war, very different from what normally receive, and is therefore very much worth reading.
October 14, 2011
Rommel, you magnificent bastard; I read your book!
Actually, it is a pretty good book. He demonstrates the ability to think decisively but with good sense, and after describing each battle or action, he analyzes what went right and wrong for both sides. He obviously wanted to learn and to teach what he'd learned from experience. He was committed to victory, but only at a minimal cost - this was not some callous cannon-fodder-flinging commander. There were times of classic German understatement that made me grin - whether that was a characteristic of Rommel or the translator, I know not. But I could still get a chuckle out of how "unpleasant" it felt to march all night in the rain, etc.
Actually, it is a pretty good book. He demonstrates the ability to think decisively but with good sense, and after describing each battle or action, he analyzes what went right and wrong for both sides. He obviously wanted to learn and to teach what he'd learned from experience. He was committed to victory, but only at a minimal cost - this was not some callous cannon-fodder-flinging commander. There were times of classic German understatement that made me grin - whether that was a characteristic of Rommel or the translator, I know not. But I could still get a chuckle out of how "unpleasant" it felt to march all night in the rain, etc.
November 18, 2008
Nothing like the truth as understood by a man writing from personal experience. My father fought his Afrika Corps in North Africa.
April 15, 2021
A tactical bible as long as projectile weapons will be used. Also a fascinating first hand account of lesser known WW1 fronts. Rommel is a genius, and I learned a lot. If you like WW1 get it. If you like tactics get it.
April 16, 2025
Szaraz de alapvetoen eleg kiraly. Korrekt szamvetes a tortenesekrol, taktikarol a rengeteg harcmezon ahol Rommel es a kulonbozo osztagai megfordultak. Halisten belekerul nehany jo kis anekdota is. Akit erdekel az I.VH annak erdemes elolvasni de azert kell kitartas.
March 10, 2020
This first-hand account provides a very interesting look at Rommel's strategic thinking and his deeply analytical approach to warfare. Despite being very prosaic in his highly-detailed and near-robotic reporting of events, the writing often reveals Rommel's spirited liveliness facing the grueling conditions of the war, and his sense of camaraderie and respect towards his troops. Some of the accounts were somewhat hard to visualize, especially without a proper understanding of the geography of the locations in question, but the diagrams do a lot to aid in that regard.
March 1, 2019
“Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, but brains saves both.”
Ah, this book has been in my reading list for about two years. I've read Rommel papers beforehand and i'm glad to finally read his book again now. The book is a biography of what he did during the great war with commentary for each engagement including what was done right or wrong. He is a great model of leading by example. I believe his way of leading people should be learn by future leaders.
Ah, this book has been in my reading list for about two years. I've read Rommel papers beforehand and i'm glad to finally read his book again now. The book is a biography of what he did during the great war with commentary for each engagement including what was done right or wrong. He is a great model of leading by example. I believe his way of leading people should be learn by future leaders.
April 22, 2019
the military journal is a treasure. Rommel exhibits himself as a modern day hannibal and we get a glimpse into his energy, clear thinking, audacity, and lightning quick mind / action
December 27, 2025
I found the tactical details a bit boring in my personal taste, but focused on the anecdotes and complementary details Rommel provides around the tactical descriptions of battle. Appreciated learning about aspects of WWI that had been relatively unknown to me from Rommel’s first hand accounts.
January 4, 2024
Some people are just built differently. Rommel belonged to that group.
I'm older than Rommel was during WWI by about eight years, yet I occupy a position of similar responsibility and size he did during the war. This makes his vignettes very personal to me. I easily imagine myself in his position. I can anticipate the doubts, the moral burdens, the conflicting calls to action. From my perspective, Rommel was truly remarkable.
The stress of command during peacetime operations is enough to strain most men, yet Rommel, at a young age, was able to command with distinction during one of the world's most brutal conflicts. His willingness to assume risk, his instinct to decipher when to seize the initiative and when to exercise caution, his resilience in adversity, are attributes one could spend their whole life seeking to develop and never succeed.
It's clear to me Rommel had a natural talent for war. Success in each battle was his singular purpose. He cared for the welfare of his men, yet never allowed that compassion to compromise his purpose. The work may be dry for some readers, but for me, I enjoyed the journey. I'd read some excerpts of battles in the morning with my coffee before driving into work. The lessons or story of that morning would stick with me throughout my duties and often gives me a perspective necessary to laugh at the small things stressing me out during my work day.
Definitely a great book for a young Platoon Leader/Commander or Company Commander.
I'm older than Rommel was during WWI by about eight years, yet I occupy a position of similar responsibility and size he did during the war. This makes his vignettes very personal to me. I easily imagine myself in his position. I can anticipate the doubts, the moral burdens, the conflicting calls to action. From my perspective, Rommel was truly remarkable.
The stress of command during peacetime operations is enough to strain most men, yet Rommel, at a young age, was able to command with distinction during one of the world's most brutal conflicts. His willingness to assume risk, his instinct to decipher when to seize the initiative and when to exercise caution, his resilience in adversity, are attributes one could spend their whole life seeking to develop and never succeed.
It's clear to me Rommel had a natural talent for war. Success in each battle was his singular purpose. He cared for the welfare of his men, yet never allowed that compassion to compromise his purpose. The work may be dry for some readers, but for me, I enjoyed the journey. I'd read some excerpts of battles in the morning with my coffee before driving into work. The lessons or story of that morning would stick with me throughout my duties and often gives me a perspective necessary to laugh at the small things stressing me out during my work day.
Definitely a great book for a young Platoon Leader/Commander or Company Commander.
July 6, 2025
You've got to hand it to this guy Rommel, he hardly ever lets even a small flash of humanity show. He seems to be interested in absolutely nothing except small-unit infantry operations. This memoir just goes from one operation to another, on the French, Rumanian, and Italian fronts. Whatever he did on leave, in garrison, or on rear duty is ignored. The only effort at reflection is a few "Observations" given after each action, most pretty obvious (example: after losing touch with another unit in a fog, he observes that it can be hard to coordinate operations when it's foggy). There is no introduction and no summary to speak of. Read this if you're fascinated with WWI infantry tactics. Read it if you want to see Rommel's admirable martial virtues in action--his courage, tenacity, steadfastness, cool-headedness, endurance, and tactical sense. Otherwise it's worthless.
January 1, 2016
Leitura densa e carregada de detalhes técnicos que muitas vezes podem tornar o livro detalhista demais, porém, essa é a proposta aqui do General. Esclarecer como forjou sua reputação e habilidades em campo de batalha com extrema determinação e disciplina. Sem sombra de dúvidas um dos maiores militares que esteve em ação em ambas as maiores guerras da humanidade. Leitura obrigatória para quem quer entender os mínimos detalhes da guerra de trincheiras. Tenho a nítida impressão que esse livro é o Corão de qualquer militar, de qualquer patente ligado à infantaria. Infelizmente vou ter que dar 3 estrelas pelo extremismo técnico, mas certamente é uma obra prima do militarismo.
April 2, 2023
Interesting reading about parts of WWI that weren't just the usual trench warfare most people know about. Some very interesting takeaways from this book about leadership, and a damn good insight into the tactics utilised by Rommel that are still relevant to this day.
Who'd have known that if you are ever caught alone atop your horse by 15 armed men, the best course of action is to simply tell them that they are now prisoners, and that they should lay down their weapons and head into the nearby town to be captured.
Who'd have known that if you are ever caught alone atop your horse by 15 armed men, the best course of action is to simply tell them that they are now prisoners, and that they should lay down their weapons and head into the nearby town to be captured.
September 2, 2010
Rommel's book is a classic in leadership. This is experiences in WWI and shows how he thought and fought in WWI. This is highly recommended.
December 31, 2018
This book, written by Erwin Rommel, the German commander in North Africa during World War II, is an excellent documentation of Rommel's experiences as a young commander during the World War I.
It's well written, interesting and easy to read. It's interesting to see things through the eyes of the man who would later become one of the most troublesome enemy leaders that the United States would have to deal with during World War II.
This book is a great tool for a future military leader to learn new lessons directly from Rommel.
It's well written, interesting and easy to read. It's interesting to see things through the eyes of the man who would later become one of the most troublesome enemy leaders that the United States would have to deal with during World War II.
This book is a great tool for a future military leader to learn new lessons directly from Rommel.
December 30, 2020
Rommel is not much of a writer & I am not much of an analyst, because the lessons for rapid panzer warfare contained within his WWI memoir escape me. Still, France 1914 and the mountain warfare in Romania & Italy have flavourful episodes that bring small-scale engagement to life from the corps maps.
August 19, 2022
Magnífico testimonio del que se convertiría en el futuro Mariscal de campo y Zorro del desierto. Muy detallado, acompañado de croquis realizados por el propio autor,del que ya dislumbramos sus dotes de mando y visión táctica y estratégica. De lo mejor sobre la Gran Guerra.
January 23, 2018
Interesting personal account of World War I conditions and tactics. Perhaps a bit self-promotional, but also relates episodes when his decisions did not end successfully and includes praise for both subordinates and superiors.
September 23, 2020
Interesting book. Rommel was a remarkable leader. This book is probably more relevant for those currently employed in the combat arms.
June 28, 2022
The book is simply a well detailed account by Erwin Rommel of the dozens of battles/skirmishes that he led as a Lieutenant during WW1. As far as the history of WW1 goes, it does not add anything of interest (and it was probably not intended to). The breakdown of every subchapter is essentially 1) We got a mission and I made a brilliant plan 2) My Soldiers executed the plan precisely and I made any necessary adjustments 3) I learned these lessons. The thing that made the book un-interesting to me is that all of his “lessons learned” are essentially that doctrine is effective. If you’re familiar with principles of the offense and defense or Jomini(ish) writings then you’ll see that it is all just regurgitation from 20th century professional military education.
If I had to guess the author’s thesis/purpose, it would be an instructor saying “Listen up young lieutenants, learn these doctrinal planning consideration because this stuff worked for me tons of times in WW1.” If you’re a military officer instructor, this book might actually help you with those types of anecdotes. For any other audience, it’s written very repetitively and with all the events told so mechanically that it seems at the best unauthentic and at the worst a fabrication.
And as a side note, there’s plenty of nice little nationalism/racism side comments by Rommel as he explains how German soldiers are naturally superior to their Romanian/French opponents.
If I had to guess the author’s thesis/purpose, it would be an instructor saying “Listen up young lieutenants, learn these doctrinal planning consideration because this stuff worked for me tons of times in WW1.” If you’re a military officer instructor, this book might actually help you with those types of anecdotes. For any other audience, it’s written very repetitively and with all the events told so mechanically that it seems at the best unauthentic and at the worst a fabrication.
And as a side note, there’s plenty of nice little nationalism/racism side comments by Rommel as he explains how German soldiers are naturally superior to their Romanian/French opponents.
June 2, 2013
This is an incredibly detailed, well written account of the First World War by one of the finest generals of the 20th Century. The well drawn and numerous sketches make it very easy to gain an understanding of the battles being described and the 'observations' placed at the end of the description of each engagement often highlight just why Rommel was such a successful commander during the Second World War. The book offers one of the best insights I have seen into both German military thinking at the turn of the 20th Century and also allows the reader to enter into the mind of one of an exceptionally talented military officer.
I would recommend this book to dedicated military historians. Although it is very well written, it is more of an annotated diary than a memoir/novel of the sort written by Ernst Junger or Siegfried Sassoon.
I would recommend this book to dedicated military historians. Although it is very well written, it is more of an annotated diary than a memoir/novel of the sort written by Ernst Junger or Siegfried Sassoon.
October 20, 2012
Excellent book on leadership without politics; tactics without doubt; Soldiering without prejudice. A must read for all new leaders, and a great refresher for seasoned veterans. rest assured this is about a German warrior, not a NAZI political machine. Yes, he was a tool in that mechanism, but he prefered the militarism, tactics and strategies of war far more than the political necessities. Rommel was a great tactician and strategist.
January 11, 2008
A must read for every infantry & small unit leader. Rommel was bold & brilliant and he had audacious & amazing victories to show for it. He was a phenominal combat leader, it's too bad he was fighting for the wrong side... When in doubt - ATTACK!
May 10, 2014
Excellent book which put great insight on the author' s own achievements.
The precise description of the battles were stripped of political background and focused on military strategy.
The precise description of the battles were stripped of political background and focused on military strategy.
May 27, 2019
An excellent first person account World War I combat.
June 27, 2022
Мне не так часто хочется мемуары листать, но всё же наступает момент порой. И когда речь идёт о чьих-то воспоминаниях, хочется почитать кого-то значительного и действительно интересного. Вот так в моих руках и очутилась книга «Пехота наступает. События и опыт» Эрвина Роммеля.
Тут, наверное, стоит немного рассказать про его личность. А человек это, надо сказать, великий. И этого эпитета он более чем заслуживает.
Эрвин наш Роммель успел побывать обычным пехотинцем, командиром горных стрелков и пошастать по Альпам, покомандовать батальоном личной охраны Адольфа Гитлера и позднее главнокомандующим Африканского корпуса, где он знатно давал прикурить Союзникам, несмотря на превосходящие силы со стороны последних. Роммель для Союзников был настолько суров, что в отношении него был издан приказ от имени британского главнокомандующего силами Среднего Востока генералом Окинлеком:
«Существует реальная опасность, что наш друг Роммель станет для наших солдат колдуном или пугалом.
О нём и так уже говорят слишком много. Он ни в коем случае не сверхчеловек, хотя он очень энергичен и обладает способностями. Даже если бы он был сверхчеловеком, было бы крайне нежелательно, чтобы наши солдаты уверовали в его сверхъестественную мощь.
Я хочу, чтобы вы всеми возможными способами развеяли представление, что Роммель является чем-то большим, чем обычный германский генерал. Для этого представляется важным не называть имя Роммеля, когда мы говорим о противнике в Ливии. Мы должны упоминать «немцев», или «страны Оси», или «противника», но ни в коем случае не заострять внимание на Роммеле.
Пожалуйста, примите меры к немедленному исполнению данного приказа и доведите до сведения всех командиров, что, с психологической точки зрения, это дело высочайшей важности.» Вот уж натурально, «Тот-Кого-Нельзя-Называть». Ни один другой вояка времён Второй Мировой не удостоился такого внимания.
Роммель также был настоящим человеком чести, никогда не был членом НСДАП, не состоял в штурмовиках и не разделял взгляды нацистов.
Каждый раз, когда в голове всплывает фамилия «Роммель», что приходит на ум? У меня вот с ним имеются следующие ассоциации: танки, пустыня, Эль-Аламейн.
Но до того как стать легендой танковых войск времён Второй Мировой и собрать массу почёта и уважухи со стороны друзей и врагов, Роммель начинал в пехоте. Именно об этом эта книга. Речь идёт о периоде службы в Первую Мировую войну, с 1914 по 1918 год. В труде описывается его служба сначала во Франции с Бельгией, а затем Итальянская и Румынская кампании, где он в составе Вюртембергского горного батальона входившим в Альпийский корпус, прогулялся по Северной Италии и Румынии.
Именно благодаря изданию «Пехота наступает», он был замечен самим Адольфом Алоизыче��. Несмотря на это, сие не помешало Э. Роммелю впоследствии против Гитлера выступить. Он был участником антигитлеровского заговора, но был раскрыт.
Уже в годы Первой Мировой стали заметны те качества, которые сделали его знаменитостью спустя годы. Необычайное остроумие, склонность к неожиданным решениям, необычная тактика и тщательное планирование операций.
Почему стоит читать эту книгу? Да потому, что Роммель — няшка! Нет, правда. Поражает его отношение к жизни и к своим бойцам. Каждый боец для него — личность. Имена подчинённых знает наперечёт. Каждый бой он планирует так, чтобы по возможности никого не потерять. А если теряет, то для него это действительно печально.
Он делает выводы из каждой своей стычки с врагом. Неважно, успешной или нет и тщательно это конспектирует.
Ещё поражает его преданность военному делу. И пишет захватывающе, чего уж там.
Также интересно читать как устроена немецкая армия в годы ПМВ. Например, бросается в глаза наличие инициативы в на местах причём со стороны младшего командного состава и что более важно, рядовых. Это очень разительный контраст, скажем, в сравнении с армией русской. Где, как мы все хорошо помним, любая инициатива наказуема. Что, впоследствии, сыграло очень злую шутку с советскими войсками в начале ВОВ и русско-финской войны.
Думаю, это одна из тех книг, к которой можно вернуться позднее и перечитать снова. Она этого заслуживает. А тем, кто хоть немного интересуется военной историей, — однозначный мастрид.
Тут, наверное, стоит немного рассказать про его личность. А человек это, надо сказать, великий. И этого эпитета он более чем заслуживает.
Эрвин наш Роммель успел побывать обычным пехотинцем, командиром горных стрелков и пошастать по Альпам, покомандовать батальоном личной охраны Адольфа Гитлера и позднее главнокомандующим Африканского корпуса, где он знатно давал прикурить Союзникам, несмотря на превосходящие силы со стороны последних. Роммель для Союзников был настолько суров, что в отношении него был издан приказ от имени британского главнокомандующего силами Среднего Востока генералом Окинлеком:
«Существует реальная опасность, что наш друг Роммель станет для наших солдат колдуном или пугалом.
О нём и так уже говорят слишком много. Он ни в коем случае не сверхчеловек, хотя он очень энергичен и обладает способностями. Даже если бы он был сверхчеловеком, было бы крайне нежелательно, чтобы наши солдаты уверовали в его сверхъестественную мощь.
Я хочу, чтобы вы всеми возможными способами развеяли представление, что Роммель является чем-то большим, чем обычный германский генерал. Для этого представляется важным не называть имя Роммеля, когда мы говорим о противнике в Ливии. Мы должны упоминать «немцев», или «страны Оси», или «противника», но ни в коем случае не заострять внимание на Роммеле.
Пожалуйста, примите меры к немедленному исполнению данного приказа и доведите до сведения всех командиров, что, с психологической точки зрения, это дело высочайшей важности.» Вот уж натурально, «Тот-Кого-Нельзя-Называть». Ни один другой вояка времён Второй Мировой не удостоился такого внимания.
Роммель также был настоящим человеком чести, никогда не был членом НСДАП, не состоял в штурмовиках и не разделял взгляды нацистов.
Каждый раз, когда в голове всплывает фамилия «Роммель», что приходит на ум? У меня вот с ним имеются следующие ассоциации: танки, пустыня, Эль-Аламейн.
Но до того как стать легендой танковых войск времён Второй Мировой и собрать массу почёта и уважухи со стороны друзей и врагов, Роммель начинал в пехоте. Именно об этом эта книга. Речь идёт о периоде службы в Первую Мировую войну, с 1914 по 1918 год. В труде описывается его служба сначала во Франции с Бельгией, а затем Итальянская и Румынская кампании, где он в составе Вюртембергского горного батальона входившим в Альпийский корпус, прогулялся по Северной Италии и Румынии.
Именно благодаря изданию «Пехота наступает», он был замечен самим Адольфом Алоизыче��. Несмотря на это, сие не помешало Э. Роммелю впоследствии против Гитлера выступить. Он был участником антигитлеровского заговора, но был раскрыт.
Уже в годы Первой Мировой стали заметны те качества, которые сделали его знаменитостью спустя годы. Необычайное остроумие, склонность к неожиданным решениям, необычная тактика и тщательное планирование операций.
Почему стоит читать эту книгу? Да потому, что Роммель — няшка! Нет, правда. Поражает его отношение к жизни и к своим бойцам. Каждый боец для него — личность. Имена подчинённых знает наперечёт. Каждый бой он планирует так, чтобы по возможности никого не потерять. А если теряет, то для него это действительно печально.
Он делает выводы из каждой своей стычки с врагом. Неважно, успешной или нет и тщательно это конспектирует.
Ещё поражает его преданность военному делу. И пишет захватывающе, чего уж там.
Также интересно читать как устроена немецкая армия в годы ПМВ. Например, бросается в глаза наличие инициативы в на местах причём со стороны младшего командного состава и что более важно, рядовых. Это очень разительный контраст, скажем, в сравнении с армией русской. Где, как мы все хорошо помним, любая инициатива наказуема. Что, впоследствии, сыграло очень злую шутку с советскими войсками в начале ВОВ и русско-финской войны.
Думаю, это одна из тех книг, к которой можно вернуться позднее и перечитать снова. Она этого заслуживает. А тем, кто хоть немного интересуется военной историей, — однозначный мастрид.
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January 25, 2024Overall this book was very easy to read. This surprised me for when it was written and becuase i thought the jargon would go way over my head.
Immediate summary/opinion:
If you were reading this as an infantryman, especially as a leader, then I think dissecting the battle may provide value. I think Rommel gives you the info necessary to do just that. However, if you are not an infantryman, the battles do start to run together and seem similar. For this, Rommel gives observations at the end of the chapter which help you pull out key lessons. Rommel was shot and injured throughout the war, but that didn’t stop him from leading from the front. He took leave in Dec 1917 and never returned to his troops for the war ended before he got back.
Many of Rommel's tactics were innovative and effective. How many of them were a product of his gifted mind and how many were just developments that were going to come along with the weapons developed at the time. I think Rommels ingenuity is probably embellished especially because he clearly has an ego. However, my takeaway is that Rommels courage as a company grade officer was his edge.
Themes:
Fog of war. Several battles, and several decisions were made because they were fighting either in literal fog or in a lot of cases in heavily wooded areas. THis made communication very difficult. He also mentions how its tough to be a personal example leader in dense woods, because many of the troops cannot see you.
Laying down suppressive fire was critical. Very rarely in attacking was Rommel not having machine gun fire or artillery in place.
Rommel led reconnaissance mission and was fighting along side his men. He talks constantly of the high morale in his units, and one has to wonder if his leadership style was a big factor in this.
Speed is critical when attacking and especially once you have attacked. He who can laydown the biggest amount of fire first will win.
Immediate summary/opinion:
If you were reading this as an infantryman, especially as a leader, then I think dissecting the battle may provide value. I think Rommel gives you the info necessary to do just that. However, if you are not an infantryman, the battles do start to run together and seem similar. For this, Rommel gives observations at the end of the chapter which help you pull out key lessons. Rommel was shot and injured throughout the war, but that didn’t stop him from leading from the front. He took leave in Dec 1917 and never returned to his troops for the war ended before he got back.
Many of Rommel's tactics were innovative and effective. How many of them were a product of his gifted mind and how many were just developments that were going to come along with the weapons developed at the time. I think Rommels ingenuity is probably embellished especially because he clearly has an ego. However, my takeaway is that Rommels courage as a company grade officer was his edge.
Themes:
Fog of war. Several battles, and several decisions were made because they were fighting either in literal fog or in a lot of cases in heavily wooded areas. THis made communication very difficult. He also mentions how its tough to be a personal example leader in dense woods, because many of the troops cannot see you.
Laying down suppressive fire was critical. Very rarely in attacking was Rommel not having machine gun fire or artillery in place.
Rommel led reconnaissance mission and was fighting along side his men. He talks constantly of the high morale in his units, and one has to wonder if his leadership style was a big factor in this.
Speed is critical when attacking and especially once you have attacked. He who can laydown the biggest amount of fire first will win.
December 24, 2024
Helpful look into the never-ending responsibilities of an infantry officer: you are expected to be high-performing and tireless, not to mention tactically astute. Many very important lessons in terms of establishing and ensuring security around an element and good communication and availability of equipment. Rest is important also—Rommel collapsed from sheer exhaustion early on in his career after commanding and fighting for nearly 4 days straight.
Some notes:
Rommel does leaders recon, discusses the importance of establishing “maximum firepower on Contact,” along with the importance of establishing adequate security, and securing gear, avoiding shiny equipment.
Rommel likewise discusses the importance of clearing an area before moving through, with the discovery of French infantry men in the cellars of the town.
Consistent complaining of lack of rations.
Importance of proper clothing and necessary equipment at high altitudes. p. 85
Security, security, security. Placing of sentries so no surprises.
Reconnaissance before operations essential.
keeping point men spread out, avoiding herd urge to bunching up.
intersecting fields of fire. some type of support by fire closely coordinated with an assault. artillery optimal but not always available.
reconnaissance was a constant action of Rommel’s before and after capture of a position, simultaneous with establishing security.
Some notes:
Rommel does leaders recon, discusses the importance of establishing “maximum firepower on Contact,” along with the importance of establishing adequate security, and securing gear, avoiding shiny equipment.
Rommel likewise discusses the importance of clearing an area before moving through, with the discovery of French infantry men in the cellars of the town.
Consistent complaining of lack of rations.
Importance of proper clothing and necessary equipment at high altitudes. p. 85
Security, security, security. Placing of sentries so no surprises.
Reconnaissance before operations essential.
keeping point men spread out, avoiding herd urge to bunching up.
intersecting fields of fire. some type of support by fire closely coordinated with an assault. artillery optimal but not always available.
reconnaissance was a constant action of Rommel’s before and after capture of a position, simultaneous with establishing security.
September 19, 2024
If you have any interest at all in the "science" of infantry warfare this book is an absolute must-read. While Rommel is a bit full of himself and it comes through in some of his after-action reports, by and large this book is an exhaustive lesson primer in the basics of modern, conventional infantry warfare. While it has some slam-bang action to it, I feel this book's true strength is that it is genuinely valuable as a teaching tool and to my knowledge it is still either required or recommended reading at West Point. This is one of those rare books that is not only fun and interesting to read, but will also give you a wider knowledge base. I now feel that I much better understand how conventional warfare is waged at all practical levels, from the top down to the bottom. As an added bonus, this book also helps to illustrate that while popular media has portrayed World War I as a glacial, grinding, nightmarish trench slog, there were plenty of times when swift and efficient positioning, rapid movement and other such were the order of the day.
I can't recommend this book highly enough if you are even remotely interested in conventional warfare. Completely set aside any opinion you may have of the man himself; Rommel was a true genius on the battlefield and will pass some of that along to you if you are willing to learn.
I can't recommend this book highly enough if you are even remotely interested in conventional warfare. Completely set aside any opinion you may have of the man himself; Rommel was a true genius on the battlefield and will pass some of that along to you if you are willing to learn.
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