In patton, montgomery, rommel, one of britains most accomplished military scholars presents an unprecedented study of the land war in the north african and european theaters, as well as their chief commandersthree men who also happened to be the most compelling dramatis personae of world war ii. Rommel was born in heidenheim, germany, 45 kilometers 28 mi from ulm, in the kingdom of wurttemberg which was then part of the german empire, on november 15, 1891. There is a book by steven pressfield called killing rommel. Mitcham, 5 books david john cawdell irving, 3 books paul carell, 3 books george forty, 3 books h. His father was a secondary school teacher and gave rommel the choice to either follow his trade or join the military, even though rommel himself wanted to be an airplane engineer. May 01, 2017 raf air superiority, sandstorms and supply line shortages stymied rommels advances, and a stalemate ensued. Erwin johannes eugen rommel gained immortality in the north african campaign of 19411943.
Rommel provides riveting accounts of his time at company and lower field grade leadership, which is a glimpse of history a reader would never discover if they have not read this book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As omar bradley was not karl malden, erwin rommel was not james mason. In world war ii, he further distinguished himself as the commander of the 7th panzer division during.
With james mason, cedric hardwicke, jessica tandy, luther adler. In this intriguing, wellpaced tale of a journalistic coup, marshall, the first to discover the real events behind rommel s death, tells how he learned the facts from rommel s widow and delves into the great generals background and death. The german field marshal erwin rommel 18911944, known as the desert fox, achieved fame as a brilliant desertwarfare tactician in world war ii erwin rommel was born in heidenheim near ulm on nov. Infanterie greift an is a classic book on military tactics written by erwin rommel about his experiences in world war i. Pushed back on the defensive, rommel expected the stalemate to persist long enough for a return to germany to recover his health. That said, i am only on page 5 and i absolutely love this english translation of the original book. Dr john pimlotts commentary puts rommels writing into historical context, describing the background to rommels ideas and how his plans were affected by circumstances beyond his control. Erwin johannes eugen rommel 15 november 1891 14 october 1944, popularly known as the desert fox wustenfuchs, was a famous german field marshal of world war ii. In wwii field marshal erwin rommel won reputation as germanys most popular. Erwin rommel was, for a time, hitlers favorite general. Aug 29, 2006 erwin rommel was one of the greatest war heroes. This book takes place in europe during world war i and world war ii and in north africa during wwii. Rommel started out the war in command of a reserve artillery company but immediately transferred to the 124th infantry regiment.
Furnished with the necessary recommendations, he entered the royal war school at danzig today gdansk in poland the following march. Tanks attack about tank warfare, and gathered much material during the north. Field marshal erwin rommel s heroic opposition to hitler in 1944 cost him his life. The course there lasted for eight months, and in january 1912 lieutenant erwin rommel rejoined the 124th infantry.
The film begins with rommel james masons defeat by the british. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. At the time of the book s writing in the mid1930s, rommels rank was lieutenant colonel. Aug 31, 2017 james mason plays german fieldmarshal erwin rommel opposite george macready in the war film the desert fox the film was directed by. Rommel had an ego, and was not above self promotion. James mason was believable as erwin rommel, and the rest of the cast also played their parts very well. Shop for the perfect erwin rommel gift from our wide selection of designs, or create your own personalized gifts.
Rommel soon impressed his superiors, and before the year was out, he had been promoted to sergeant. It is mainly about erwin rommel and his military career from wwi to his death. At the time of the books writing in the mid1930s, rommels rank was lieutenant colonel. James mason was believable as erwin rommel, and the rest of the cast also. Apr 20, 2015 erwin rommel was one of germanys most respected military leaders in world war two. During world war i he served as an infantry lieutenant with the german army in italy, romania and france. Erwin rommel combining private letters to his wife, orders, his daily accounts of battle written during world war ii and his published memoirs, rommel in his own words offers a compelling insight into the mind of one of the twentieth centurys great military leaders. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
The desert fox is a 1951 blackandwhite biographical war film from 20th century fox about field marshal erwin rommel in the later stages of world war ii. He was a highly decorated officer in world war i, and was awarded the pour le merite for his exploits on the italian front. I found this book though my personal interest in wwii. The book that took rommel to high command in world war ii rommels highly regarded analysis of infantry tactics superb insight into his experiences during. James mason plays german fieldmarshal erwin rommel opposite. Rommel joined the german army in 1910 and served with distinction during world war i, in campaigns in france, romania and italy. Grave of generalfeldmarschall erwin rommel at herrlingen. Genealogy profile for karl manfred rommel karl manfred rommel 1897 1969 genealogy genealogy for karl manfred rommel 1897 1969 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives.
The book includes 120 blackandwhite photographs many of them taken by rommel himself and battle maps illustrate the theatres in which rommel fought. For those who could care less about battlefield exploits, rommels book is an excellent example of honest selfcriticism. From the alps in world war i to the invasion of france in 1940, and from the desert war in 1943 to normandy in 1944, rommel in his own words brings the concerns and crises of rommel. Erwin johannes rommel was born in 1891 and he joined the german army as a cadet in 1910. His father, erwin rommel 186019 was a math teacher, and later a secondary school headmaster at aalen. War film about field marshal erwin rommel in the later stages of world war ii. Find highquality erwin rommel stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. So when hitler became fuhrer of germany, the wehrmacht was under his control. By the middle of august 1914, he was in contact with the french, and showed his daring and genius in combat. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Mar 17, 2012 for those who enjoy military history, erwin rommels infantry attacks is wellwritten and sometimes inspiring book about a german officer who, despite fighting on the losing side, seemed to have won far more than he lost. Published in very limited numbers on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the death of generalfeldmarschall erwin rommel, this beautiful, understated 838 x 9 inch, 100 page heavily illustrated hardcover book is a perfect tribute to the nearperfect soldier perhaps the best germany had to offer in world war ii. Its about a small british force whose sole task was to find and kill him.
Two interesting books in one first a general history of the battle of caporetto, where the germans and austrians nearly broke the italian army and second an examination of the young rommels role in the battle where he first made his name. Aug 10, 2017 rommel was born in heidenheim, germany on 15 november 1891. It stars james mason in the title role, was directed by henry hathaway, and was based on the book rommel. Rommel had planned to write a successor called panzer greift an in english.
After the success in 1940, when as the commander of a panzer division he crushed the french, rommel was appointed to the command of the german forces in africa afrika korps where his tactical genius, recognized even by the enemy, and the ability to inspire his soldiers and use limited resources at maximum levels, convinced. List of books and articles about erwin rommel online. Field marshall erwin rommel was one of the most celebrated nazi commanders during world war ii, a sly tactician whose exploits in north africa earned him the nickname the desert fox. Erwin rommel simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Explore books by erwin rommel with our selection at. He entered the army in 1910 and rose slowly through the ranks. Rommel was a highly decorated officer in world war i and was awarded the pour le merite. Reading as many books as possible on a subject, especially by your competitor, may just give you the advantage you need to win. Nov 01, 2012 erwin rommel, the world war two german field marshal celebrated as the brilliant and humane desert fox, is portrayed in a new film as a weak man torn by his loyalty to adolf hitler and the. You have to remember, the wehrmacht is simply germanys traditional military. Guderian was probably better than rommel as a tank general but rommel was an artist and writer and he dramatically died resisting hitler, making his final show in the theater of large wars.
With this book you realize that with only a few if onlys ww2 would have been very different. Erwin rommel roots of victory, seeds of defeat armchair. I think this book is a classic probably definitive biography on erwin rommel and it undoubtedly let to the 1951 movie with james mason in which the author has a part read more. Rommels nickname was the desert fox a title given to him by the british. I think this book is a classic probably definitive biography on erwin rommel and it undoubtedly let to the 1951 movie with james mason in which the author has a part.
Is it correct to say that these two really were the brilliant military leaders that history and popular culture portrays them as, or has history exaggerated their accomplishments. The desert fox by brigadier desmond young, who served in the british indian army in north africa. Erwin rommel in 1917, proudly displaying his newly acquired pour le merite. Eschbach, 2 books siegfried westphal, 2 books friedrich ruge, 2 books jon latimer, 2 books hans speidel, 2 books kenneth john macksey, 2 books michael asher, 2 books steven pressfield, 2 books. The erwin rommel book in question is most likely to be infantry attacks, published in the middle of the 30s as infanterie greift an. Rommel brilliantly commanded an armored division in the attack 1940 on france. Desmond young, 5 books erwin rommel, 5 books samuel w. Nov 08, 20 erwin rommel, whose military skills in north africa earned him the desert fox nickname, forbade his son to join hitlers ss paramilitary guard. In his own words by christopher ailsby, erwin rommel. Based on the book by general morris, this film looks back at the career of. Erwin rommel james mason really achieved fame as the commander of the. Erwin rommel led several german campaigns during the second world. Field marshal erwin rommel exerted an almost hypnotic influence not only over his own troops but also over the allied soldiers of the eighth army in the second. The desert fox the story of rommel james mason 1951.
Erwin rommel was born johannes erwin eugen rommel on november 15, 1891 in heideheim, german empire. Erwin rommel is currently considered a single author. An essential collection of the wartime writings and diary of world war ii german field marshal erwin rommel, edited with commentary by one of the great military theorists of our time when erwin rommel diedby forced suicide at hitlers commandhe left behind in various ingenious hiding places the papers that recorded the story of his dramatic career and the exact details of his masterly campaigns. It is sort of a dramatic documentary and the author of the book, lt. Manfred rommel 192820 gertrud stemmer 192000 signature.