About the book
A soldier as well as a biographer, David Fraser follows Field Marshal Erwin Rommel from his first battles in the First World War through the North African desert campaigns to the defense of Fortress Europe against the Allied invasion of 1944. He names tenacity in pursuit, ferocity in attack and bold maneuver as Rommel's trademarks, and describes a leadership style that could look spontaneous and haphazard. The book also covers how Rommel, devoted to Hitler and long favored by him, reached a position where politics became almost unavoidable, and how, once he saw the invasion would succeed, his attempt to set the military realities before Hitler got him branded a defeatist. Rommel's son cooperated on the project.
Ryan Holiday put it on his list of 25 recommended biographies, admiring Rommel as a soldier, strategist and leader despite the terrible cause he fought for.
We hope you love the books people recommend! Just so you know, The CEO Library may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
This book has 1 recommendation
Ryan Holiday (Founder/Brass Check)
It’s going to feel weird reading a book about a German general in WWII but for Rommel we must make an exception. Yes, he fought for a terrible cause. But he did so brilliantly — as a soldier, strategist, and leader. His victories in North Africa were the stuff of legend, and had the US and British troops not ultimately had better resources, the whole thing might have turned out very differently. You cannot read about Rommel and not like and admire the man. I’m saying this so you’ll be prepared and ready to remind yourself that that doesn’t excuse his actions. But you can still learn from him.
Get this book on Amazon | Barnes & Noble