informative, learned many details re: the African campaign, especially about supplies, long descriptions on tactics and strategy, somewhat repetitive. Stresses British domination in AirPower & equipment. Structured around letters to his wife.

This is probably a necessary read for any serious student of military history, but one has to take care not to read it at face value. ( )

These were the letters and field notes of Erwin Rommel, "The Desert Fox" primarily during his campaign in North Africa. I was surprised at his constant complaints of the lack of supplies as well as his frequent mention of "the superior enemy." To me, Rommel sounded as if he was right on top of things as he wrote in his notes, after inspecting the western front fortresses from Denmark to the Bay of Biscay: "What I found was depressing.....Josef Goebbels’ impregnable fortress existed only in the overactive imagination of the propaganda minister." The world knows that Rommel was accused by Hitler as part of Operation Valkyrie and was forced to commit suicide to save his family. I would bet given the right command and supplies and equipment that he would have been a superior commander. He also did not have any idea about the death camps while in Africa and only learned about then when he returned home to Germany to recuperate after being strafed . Very very long, tedious read, but worth it to a historian. The last chapter of the book was written by Manfred Rommel, his 15 year old son who was also serving in the military. His father had confided to him on the day of the suicide what he felt he must do. ( )

Rommel's notes regarding his battles. Some letters to his wife. Additional information supplied by his son.
Impressive. ( )