Erwin Rommel quotes

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning. (Erwin Rommel)
But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility. View quote
Erwin Rommel
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. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Good soldiers, bad officers; however don't forget that without them we would not have any Civilization. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas. View quote
Erwin Rommel
The German soldier has astonished the world; the Italian Bersagliere has astonished the German soldier. View quote
Erwin Rommel
In a man to man fight, the winner is he who has one more round within himself. View quote
Erwin Rommel
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 deep into his rear, before the enemy has time to react. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, but brains saves both. View quote
Erwin Rommel
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. View quote
Erwin Rommel
One must not judge everyone in the world by his qualities as a soldier: otherwise we should have no civilization. (Erwin Rommel)
When there's no clear option, it's better to do nothing. View quote
Erwin Rommel
I would rather be the hammer than the anvil. View quote
Erwin Rommel
The future battle on the ground will be preceded by battle in the air. This will determine which of the contestants has to suffer operational and tactical disadvantages and be forced throughout the battle into adoption compromise solutions. View quote
Erwin Rommel
I would rather he had given me one more division. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Gentlemen, you have fought like lions and been led by donkeys. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Winning the men's confidence requires much of a commander. He must exercise care and caution, look after his men, live under the same hardships, and-above all- apply self discipline. But once he has their confidence, his men will follow him through hell and high water. View quote
Erwin Rommel
War without Hate. View quote
Erwin Rommel
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. View quote
Erwin Rommel
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." View quote
Erwin Rommel
Better too much spade work than too little! This work saves blood. (Erwin Rommel)
When I said that British fighter-bombers had shot up my tanks with 4O-mm. shells, the Reichsmarschall, who felt himself touched by this, said: «That s completely impossible. The Americans only know how to make razor blades.» I replied: «We could do with some of those razor blades, Herr Reichsmarschall.». View quote
Erwin Rommel
Sweat saves blood. View quote
Erwin Rommel
It is during the pursuit, when the beaten enemy is still dispirited and disorganised, that most prisoners are made and most booty captured. View quote
Erwin Rommel
Be an example to your men in your duty and in private life. View quote
Erwin Rommel