BOOKS REVIEW

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THE TRAIL OF THE FOX'

REVIEUTD BY MAJOR CHARLES PEDE**

"Angre>fm!" or "Attack!" is the explosive battle cry of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. In his definitive biography, The lhzd ofthe Fox. author David Irving examines this almost mythic figure and the impact of his battle maum ~n riveting detail Equally remarkable is the authoritative and irresistible gift for mmelling evident in Ining's biography of this accomplished German military figure. Every facet af Rommel's lifepersonal and professional-is exposed, ending with a startling revelation regarding Rommel's actual involvement in the Hitler assassination plot. In addition to the excellent historical value of the book, Irving provides an endless supply of invaluable lessons in leadership, joint operations, duty, and family

Irving's most notable achievement 1s his extensive and painstaking research, which took him literally around the world. He uncovered Rammel's military file containing performance apprai~als a8 far hack as his days as a cadet when Rommel was referred to simply as a '%useful soldier."' Imng's search uncovered "lost" war diaries of individuals and units. Most interesting are Irving's mterwews with so many of the participants m Rommel's life. His narrative is punctuated by first-person progressive accounts from Rammel's personal secretaries throughout World War 11, to subordinate generals, to his driver who watched Rommel robbing in the back Seat of hm sedan as he swallowed a cyanide pill. This technique 1s effective and tantalizing. Complemented by excellent maps and illuminating photographs, Iring's effort is near perfect

Irving begins his Study with Rommel's

World War I exploits. A frail and slight youth, Rommel was hardened by his life and death struggles on the bloody battle fields of France and Italy. An increasingly accomplished leader and, greedy for recognition, he ultimately won Pmssia's highest award for valor ~n 1917, the Pour le Mente, for gallantry in action in Italy. Leaders will note that these two char. acter traits, leadership and desire far recognition, appear early in Rommel's life.

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IRIINo. THE TWL OP THE FOX iAvan Books New York 1977, 683 pages.

** Judge Advocate Generals Corps. Unired Sfsteb Army Written when assigned

BQ B Student. 44th Judge Advacate O(Trer Graduate Course The Judge hdvacati General's School. United Ststes .Army,

Charlottesviile, Virpnia lIBvh.o. supra note *, at 13

Continuing chronologicaliy, timeless lessons in leadership became evident beginning with Rommel's blitz through Belgium and France in 1940 and shortly thereafter in Africa. In Apnl 1940, Rommel commanded the Seventh Panzer Division. On May 10, 1940, the German offensive began and Rommel, in his first demonstration of aggressive and inventive tactics and leadership, struck lightningfast debilitating blows to the enemy. Rommel's technique was to boldly push forward, ignoring vulnerable flanks and rear echelons assuming the shock to the enemy would counter his own VUI.nerability. It worked. His dagger-like advance wa8 88 magnificent in results as it was innovatively daring. Racing through Belgium end through the Maginot Line into France, always miles ahead of sister commands and his tenuously connected supply lines, Rommel remained at the tip of his spear. In a specially fashioned Panzer 111 tank, he barked orders and fought shoulder to shoulder with his front line columns. As a result, morale was exceptionally high and compensated for his substandard equipment.

Rommel's blitzkrieg ended with the capture of Cherbaurg in late June 1940. Rommel'sfame quickly grew and 80 did his addiction to it. Worse yet, many in the German High Command viewed him 86 dam gerausly impulsive and unabashedly thirsty for public adulation. 1". deed, Rommel was roundly criticized later by his superiors for fundamental and patent inaccuracies in his published unit histories, which, of course, praised the Seventh often at the expense of other units.

Irving adeptly shows that in Rommel's first campaigns his strengths were also his greatest weaknesses. An aggressive leader loved by his troops, Rommel invariably "got results." In 80 doing, however, he alienated peers and superiors. For example, in crossing certain rivers in Belguim and France, he "stole" neighbor diviaians' bridge crossing equipment to speed his own advance and then camplained of the other divisions slow progress.

Such acts earned him mortal enemies, even in victory, and cow pled with his search for glory caused his corps commander to sug-gest that Rommel would only qualify far higher command If he

gained "greater experience and a better sense of judgment."Z These penchants for ~XE~BS,combined with his own revisionist history, quickly made this gifted combat commander, who was now revered by the German public, a target of intense hatred among feellaw German commanders and leaders. When Rommel successfully nur. tured a close relationship with Hitler, even members of the High Command began to resent him, As Irving shows, this had terrible consequences far Rommel in his later campaigns.

Id at68

With increasing fame and some "baggage," Irving follows Rommel to Africa in February 1941. As the Bntmh beat back the bungling Italians in Libya and seized Tobruk, Hitler appointed Rammel as the Africa Korpe Commander, largely because he WBE

viewed as a commander who could "inspire" the troops

Rommel's desert campaigns are well documented elsewhere. Irvmg's picture, however, is unique in many ways because it shows not only the genius of Rommel, but his weaknesses. What emerges ISa man supremely motivated by victory, albeit rendered almost use-less by defeat. Rommel's early desert campaigns are characterized once again by danng and sheer will power. Rommel had three equal. ly potent enemies in Afnea the British. the Allied "Ultra" decipher machine, and in his own mind at least the Italians Outnumbered, outgunned, and outequipped, Rommel's vigor in combat not only earned him unexpected victories at Michili, Bir Hachenn, Bardla, and ultimately Tobruk, but staved off immediate defeat in 1943 as he retreated from El Alamein.

Rommel's Africa campaigns illustrate well the timeless prob. lems of joint operations Blended with Italian forces, Rammel's Africa Karps was the center of gravity far desert operations. However. he distrusted the Italians Rommel blamed his daily loss of shipping and resupplg to Italian "leaks" when it was the indescrib. able JUCCBBJ of Allied code breakers uang the "Ultra" machine.

Rommel's race across Libya to Eglpt in 1942 was brilliant and limit. ed only by equipment and poor logistics. After advancing so far in such a short time, he had irreparably exhausted his own forces and overextended hi6 supply line, the inexorable retreat and slaughter to Tunisla began.

Rommel's retreat contains further valuable lessons for the mill-tary reader in leadership. His desperate innovation in the face of horrendous resupply problems is mast significant It virtually saved his army from annihilation Without gas he was helpless His resup-ply was almost nonexistent. Every time he ordered fuel, he was told which ships were leaving Italy, when arriving and at what port. "Ultra" would then go to work and the ships were sunk What 1s

most remarkable is that Rommel survived as long BE he did, which

>E a testament to hi3 abilities

Not used to defeat, however, Rommel's debilitating defeatist character flaw quickly emerged. Hitler and the High Command constantly urged Rommel to hold his lines across the Libyan desert By 1943, Rommel's cornmumcatmns with Berlin quickly left Hitler and the High Command with the impression that Rommel was defeated psychologically and 'turned out." Qpxally blammg others for his

problems, Rommel quickly adopted a defeatist attitude and mire. quently uttered his battle maxim. As Irving shows, when Rommel lost the initiative, he could not psychologically force himself to try and regain it. Because of hi8 previous grandstanding, many in the Germanhmy welcomed Rommel's misfortune.

Interlaced throughout his narrative are "windows into the soul" of Rommel. His extensive, almost daily correspondence with his wife, Lucie, and son, Manfred, show Rommel's deep hatred and distrust of the Italians, hi6 abiding respect and affection far Hitler, and his thorough dislike far many in the High Command. These per-sonal letters also show his devotion to family and the sanity and perspective it brought him. His letters me poignant and informative

Yantgomery'a battering through Rommel's defenses at Ei Alemein and Rammel's retreat across North Africa also show the true heroism under horrendous conditions ai both Germans and Allies alike. Mast memorable was a failed British commando raid on Rommel's headquarters desigmed to kill him. The commando leader wm accidentally shot and killed by one of his own men The neat day, Rommel, always the professional soldier, buried the British offi-cer with his own German dead with full military honors.

In late 1943, Rommel ended hi8 retreat in Tunisia and turned his attention west to the more vulnerable Americans. His success in defeating the Americans at Kassenne Pass was short lived. Irving asserts that due to his loss of confidence and e n e r ~ , he failed to

exploit this victory and push forward. Indeed, Rommel was very ill and, at that time, a physician recommended that he have an extended ''cure" (convalescent leave). Hitler and the High Command wanted him aut but did not want to relieve him. Rommel finally departed AfFica far his cure shortly after Kasserine, of his own vahtion. The British and American forces quickly ended the German effort in Africa.

In entertaining detail, Irving describes Rommel's next move to Hitler's side in Berlin. Out of command, Rommel first thought his career over. However, he was placed in command of German troops entering Italy from the north to prevent Italy from leaving the Axis alliance Initially successful...