Review of "With Rommel in the Desert," by H. W. Schmidt

 Review of

With Rommel in the Desert, by H. W. Schmidt

Four out of five stars

Eyewitness account of Rommel by a fellow soldier

 Given the Prussian tradition, Germany had many professional soldiers with long pedigrees of service. The officer corps were a dedicated group of men that studied war scientifically and were very good at carrying it out. Generally, they acquired and maintained the confidence of the men under their command. Occasionally, one of them rose to the level of being admired and respected by their opponents. The most famous in World War II was Erwin Rommel, who was known as “the Desert Fox.”

 Rommel was an experienced soldier, highly decorated for his actions in World War I, specifically for his experiences on the Italian front. When the Italian forces in North Africa were being pummeled by the Allies, Hitler sent units to bolster them and tasked Rommel with leading them. The author served as Rommel’s aide during that conflict, from the earliest successes in pushing the British back to Egypt to the last days when the Africa Korps was being defeated in Tunisia.

 His observations of Rommel are consistent with other reports, he was extremely brave, often moving right up to the front lines so that Rommel could see the enemy fortifications for himself. He literally dodged several bullets and proved to be very cunning, getting the most out of what were meager and inadequate resources.

 There is nothing really new and revelatory in this book. Schmidt gives a very positive report on Rommel without being laudatory. It is a very professional rendition of how Rommel conducted himself while in command as well as in private.

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