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Erwin Rommel
16 quotes
“Krieg ohne Haß”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The title he chose for his memoirs of the North Africa Campaign, published in 1950.
“The art of concentrating strength at one point, forcing a breakthrough, rolling up and securing the flanks on either side, and then penetrating like lightning, before the enemy has time to react, deep into his rear.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) first seen 1914 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Strategies he promoted which have been called Blitzkrieg (Lightning War), as quoted in Europe Since 1914 (1966) by Gordon Alexander Craig
“The German soldier has astonished the world; the Italian Bersagliere has astonished the German soldier.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One must not judge everyone in the world by his qualities as a soldier: otherwise we should have no civilization.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Dirty Little Secrets : Military Information You're Not Supposed To Know (1990) by James F. Dunnigan and Albert A. Nofi, p. 50
“Gentlemen, you have fought like lions and been led by donkeys.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Said to captured British officers during the Siege of Tobruk, as quoted in The Guinness History of the British Army (1993) by John Pimlott, p. 138
“Be an example to your men in your duty and in private life. Never spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don't, in your endurance of fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your subordinates to be the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) first seen 1938 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Address as Director of the Military School in Wiener Neustadt at the passing out parade of the 1938 class of cadets.
“Lieber zuviel als zu wenig Spatengebrauch! Diese Arbeit spart Blut.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Den Kampf Mann gegen Mann gewinnt bei gleichwertigen Gegnern, wer eine Patrone mehr im Lauf hat.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“When a commander has won a decisive victory - and Wavell's victory over the Italians was devastating - it is generally wrong for him to be satisfied with too narrow a strategic aim. For that is the time to exploit success. It is during the pursuit, when the beaten enemy is still dispirited and disorganised, that most prisoners are made and most booty captured. Troops who on one day are flying in a wild panic to the rear, may, unless they are continually harried by the pursuer, very soon stand in battle again, freshly organised as fully effective fighting men.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Anyone who has to fight, even with the most modern weapons, against an enemy in complete command of the air, fights like a savage against modern European troops, under the same handicaps and with the same chances of success.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The military career of most of the people who aimed these accusations at us was notable for a consistent absence from the front, on the principle of "weit vom Schuss gibt alte Kreiger" - "far from the battle makes old soldiers.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thus the British lost the very able and adaptable commander David Stirling of the desert group SAS which had caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In Tunisia the Americans had to pay a stiff price for their experience, but it brought rich dividends. Even at that time, the American generals showed themselves to be very advanced in the tactical handling of their forces, although we had to wait until the Patton Army in France to see the most astonishing achievements in mobile warfare.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Italian command was, for the most part, not equal to the task of carrying on war in the desert, where the requirement was lightning decision followed by immediate action. The training of the Italian infantryman fell far short of the standard required by modern warfare. ... Particularly harmful was the all pervading differentiation between officer and man. While the men had to make shift without field-kitchens, the officers, or many of them, refused adamantly to forgo their several course meals. Many officers, again, considered it unnecessary to put in an appearance during battle and thus set the men an example. All in all, therefore, it was small wonder that the Italian soldier, who incidentally was extraordinarily modest in his needs, developed a feeling of inferiority which accounted for his occasional failure and moments of crisis. There was no foreseeable hope of a change for the better in any of these matters, although many of the bigger men among the Italian officers were making sincere efforts in that direction.”
Erwin Rommel (1891–1944) said by 1944 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source