Mitcham Samuel W. - Desert Fox: the storied military career of Erwin Rommel

Praise for

DESERT FOX

The Storied Military Career of Erwin Rommel

Would-be WWII buffs take note: Samuel Mitcham has written an accessible and comprehensive introduction to Erwin Rommel, Americas most formidable battlefield opponent during World War II.

JIM DeFELICE , bestselling author of more than three dozen spy thrillers and military histories, including Omar Bradley: General at War

Erwin Rommel remains one of the most popular subjects of all World War II leaders, as proven by Sandy Mitchams new biography. His detailed description of Rommels exceptional career looks beyond the mythology of the Desert Fox into the varied realities of the man as well as the general. Readers will appreciate Mitchams insight that combines his subjects personality, leadership, innovation, and ultimate fate in the chilling atmosphere of the Third Reich.

BARRETT TILLMAN, award-winning author of more than forty books, including Forgotten Fifteenth: The Daring Airmen Who Crippled Hitlers War Machine

Samuel Mitcham has penned a meticulous biography of the man who is the best remembered of Germanys wartime military leadersand arguably the best . While the great sweeping drama of the Eastern Front is populated by a vast pantheon of generals and field marshals, the entire campaign in North Africa rested upon Rommels shoulders alone. Here, in both his spectacular victories and his ultimate defeat, he stood in the shadow of no one. Mitchams choice of Rommels nickname for the title of this book is apt, for it was in the desert that he achieved his timeless reputation, but Rommel still had much to give, and he might have in Normandy had circumstances not gone against him. Mitcham shows us that it was the mutual disillusion between Hitler and Rommel that was the ultimate undoing of both. Finally, after all is said about victory and defeat, about both dogs and gods of war, the shining attribute of Rommel was his consummate professionalism. In Mitchams words, Erwin Rommel fought a war without hate.

BILL YENNE, author of more than three dozen books on military, aviation, and historical topics, including Operation Long Jump: Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill, and the Greatest Assassination Plot in History

One measure of a man is the respect of his enemies. Rommel had that respect. In fact, if anything, he was more admired by his British adversaries than by the German high command he served. Though he fought on many fronts, Rommel will always be remembered for The Desert War in World War II. It was fought largely away from civilians, making it a throwbackjousting with tankswith Rommel wearing the Knights Cross. In Desert Fox esteemed military historian Sandy Mitcham brings the man and his battles to life in a stirring biography that gives us the man in full.

H. W. CROCKER III, bestselling historian and novelist, most recently of Armstrong , a novel about George Armstrong Custer

The complexities of Rommel are deftly explored in this new book. The author looks into the facts and myths surrounding the Desert Fox, his relationship with Hitler and how he often tried to serve honorably under a regime bent on wickedness. The book is well-illustrated with dozens of photos of Rommel, his soldiers and those closest to him.

WORLD WAR II magazine

Copyright 2019 by Samuel W. Mitcham Jr.

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T he Desert Fox.

The words conjure the image of a sunburned and dust-covered military genius, an incredibly tough soldier, a mentally sharp warrior making snap decisions and hatching brilliant plans on the fly, not only surviving but conquering, directing his battered panzers with extreme courage and daring, winning victory after victory against overwhelming odds. Bold attacks, stubborn defenses, and relentless pursuits fill the minds eye. And murder does not come to mind, as it does in the contemplation of other theaters in Nazi Germanys war. Erwin Rommel fought a war without hate, and he insisted that his men do the same. In the end the numbers finally caught up with him, and his enemies managed to concentrate overwhelming forces against himalthough it is an open question whether he would have ever been defeated had it not been for the genius of the Fuehrer. And even though Rommel ultimately lost, his name still engenders respect and even admiration among his former enemies. When people are asked to identify the best general in World War II, they almost invariably name Rommel or Patton.

Adolf Hitler once called Erwin Rommel the most hardened man he ever knew. He wasin a sense. He was hard on his men, harder on his officers, and harder still on himself, but he was never brutal. He served Germany and his own ambition with a single-minded determination. When he realized that the leader he served was an evil man leading Germany to destruction, he turned against him. Being first and foremost a man of action, he prepared to act. The Nazis were fortunate that he was wounded when he was, because there is no doubt (in my mind, at least) that he would have carried out his threat to open up the Western Frontorder his men to stop fighting and let the Allies pour through, allowing them to win the war without any further fighting and thus end Hitlers regime.

In the end, confronted with the choice of standing trial, attempting to shoot his way out of a house surrounded by the SS and Gestapo, or committing suicide and thereby saving his family, he took cyanide. He didnt even have to think about it. When he got into the car for his death ride, he never looked back. This also was typical of the man.

The purpose of this book is to tell the story of Erwin Rommel, the man. He had some magnificent, highly praiseworthy qualities. This will annoy some people who dont believe in heroes who are unable to claim the label politically correct. These people will probably not enjoy this book. Thats tough. Maybe they can get a refund. Here is an even more earth-shattering thought: maybe they should read it anyway. Perhaps theyll learn something. I admit that its not likely, but we live in hope.

The Desert Fox also had his share of flaws. There hasnt been a perfect man for two thousand years, and Rommel was not an exception. The purpose of this book is to portray Erwin Rommel warts and all. But I will give you my conclusion right now: the positives in Rommels character outweighed the negatives. I hope the reader agrees and enjoys the book.

Thanks go to the late Theodor-Friedrich von Stauffenberg for leaving me his papers, Colonel Marino for giving me photographs, and all the archivists, librarians, and professors who helped along the way. Special thanks go to my long-suffering wife, Donna, who never dreamed when she accepted that date thirty years ago that she would end up proofreading and assisting in the production of dozens of military history booksnot to mention changing a few thousand diapers. But it has been an adventure!