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Fox on the Rhine #1
Fox on the Rhine
The Führer is dead ... but the war still goes on!
Backed by a cadre of SS officers, Himmler seizes control of the Reich and instigates a plan to change the course of the war.
First, an armistice with Russia.
Second, the mass production of jet fighters.
And third, the appointment of legendary "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel to the European theater, leading to a very different Battle of the Bulge where he must confront "Blood n Guts" George Patton in a campaign that will determine the fate of Europe . . . and possibly the entire free world.
Backed by a cadre of SS officers, Himmler seizes control of the Reich and instigates a plan to change the course of the war.
First, an armistice with Russia.
Second, the mass production of jet fighters.
And third, the appointment of legendary "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel to the European theater, leading to a very different Battle of the Bulge where he must confront "Blood n Guts" George Patton in a campaign that will determine the fate of Europe . . . and possibly the entire free world.
552 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Niles
175 books236 followersDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game. He currently resides in Delavan, Wisconsin with his wife, Christine, and two Bouviets, Reggie and Stella. He enjoys playing his guitar, cooking, and visiting with family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 7, 2019
Well, I like alternate history in general...and this is supposed to be examining a scenario I've wondered what if about for a long time.
However...I must say that in spite of the high/good ratings here I was disappointed by the book. I found it rather boring for a book about "what if the confrontation with Soviet Russia that General Patton had predicted had happened?"
I kept laying the book aside and not getting back to it. With one of the more fascinating historical questions ever the two writers (whose work I've liked before) managed to make it dry and draggy.
Up to each of you, maybe try it yourself. Good subject, good idea but in my opinion mediocre execution.
However...I must say that in spite of the high/good ratings here I was disappointed by the book. I found it rather boring for a book about "what if the confrontation with Soviet Russia that General Patton had predicted had happened?"
I kept laying the book aside and not getting back to it. With one of the more fascinating historical questions ever the two writers (whose work I've liked before) managed to make it dry and draggy.
Up to each of you, maybe try it yourself. Good subject, good idea but in my opinion mediocre execution.
May 23, 2016
If it's possible to read a war game - this is it! I found this
alternate history of the World War II western front quite
the thriller.
Part of studying history is the "Gee, what would have happened if?"
This novel, by a pair of game designers, twists and turns as
the July 20th plot to assassinate Hitler is successful
and Erwin Rommel takes over the armies of the Western Wall:
"En Garde General Patton!"
The authors use a variety of methods to tell the tale; along
with the obvious historical characters, there are the fictional
men in the trenches, reporters, intelligence officers scheming
generals, air force crews; there are letters home, the history
book excerpts from the future, and page turning action scenes.
Even at almost 600 pages, I sometimes wanted more detail
as the new! improved! Battle of the Bulge took place.
Occasionally the characters are a bit cartoonish, especially
any bad guys. You almost expect them to be wearing black,
except well, since they are usually SS, they already are.
All in all - a fun read!
February 20, 2022
Fox on the Rhine is a military Alternate History novel. An intellectual what-if scenario. The book starts during World War 2 where a group of plotters are about to kill Adolf Hitler with a bomb. In our world, the briefcase with the bomb was moved behind a pillar and Hitler survived. What if nobody had moved the briefcase?
As all alternate history, there is no correct story but it’s the author’s job to convince the reader that the story is believable and realistic. I think the authors do a good job here. Most events could have happened in some way or another. Of course the authors have to make simplifications to make the story easier. Reusing characters for instance so that the readers don’t have to learn more names than necessary.
The book is named from the desert fox, the German general Erwin Rommel, who is one of the characters we get to follow. He was responsible for the defenses on the western front and was badly injured both in the book, and in the real world.
The book has a lot of flaws, but considering the lack of good alternate history, I’m happy I read the book. I don’t agree with exactly everything, but then again, nobody will ever know what would have happened. Not the authors, not I.
As all alternate history, there is no correct story but it’s the author’s job to convince the reader that the story is believable and realistic. I think the authors do a good job here. Most events could have happened in some way or another. Of course the authors have to make simplifications to make the story easier. Reusing characters for instance so that the readers don’t have to learn more names than necessary.
The book is named from the desert fox, the German general Erwin Rommel, who is one of the characters we get to follow. He was responsible for the defenses on the western front and was badly injured both in the book, and in the real world.
The book has a lot of flaws, but considering the lack of good alternate history, I’m happy I read the book. I don’t agree with exactly everything, but then again, nobody will ever know what would have happened. Not the authors, not I.
July 3, 2008
An excellent, fast paced, well researched book of what could have been. The characters were life like, easy to connect with, and realistic in a surprisingly vivid way. The portrayal of Erwin Rommel was accurate, detailed, and quite lifelike. The portrayal of the allied commanders (Ike, Patton, Bradley,Monty ect.) was also well done, I felt like I was inside their heads as they decided the course of action that would effect the future course of humanity. The use of dispatches, letters, and passages from a history book all helped make the plot and dialogue all the more interesting, vivid, and fascinating. The development of the supporting characters and settings was also excellent. Highly Recommended.
September 8, 2013
I got lucky again. Once again I succumbed to a book's cover and the inside flap synopsis and found a winner. This is a WWll historical, what if, novel. What if Operation Valkyrie had been successful and Colonel Count Claus von Stauffenberg had been able to position his briefcase bomb in such a position as to kill Adolf Hitler. This novel assumes that Hitler did die and what that event would have done to alter the course of the war. These authors did a heck of a good job in my opinion.
August 16, 2017
This was an excellent book. So good in fact, I have read it multiple times. The history is fairly accurate and the characters are ones you can identify with. The author has done a lot of research into Irwin Rommel as I felt that his portrayal of that character was very close to the historical descriptions. I am glad it is in print again because my copy has worn out.
November 1, 2012
A very good alternative W.W. II story. A lot of military and political manuvering on both sides of the war.
January 10, 2021
I love historical fiction and the basis for this book helps lend a true sense of possibility. This contributes to the ease of becoming instantly immersed. Fox on the Rhine does a great job of providing stories and dialogues from the perspective of both the Allies and Axis forces, especially leadership including the likes of Rommel, Patton, and Himmler, to name a few. It seamlessly combines fiction and non-fiction elements together to provide a plausible outcome while still considering the actual events that took place in 1944 going into 1945.
The downside is that after the initial set up and the final battle begins to take place, the author very much rushes through. There is a sense of an amazing strategic build-up to recognize Rommel's ability to lead and coordinate, but once everything starts it is over just as quickly and the book is done. I got the sense that when this was written that the author was under a time crunch and needed to wrap up so that they could meet a deadline, and that's the way it reads.
Overall, this book had tons of potential and established a beautiful foundation only to fall short. Still, for those that love WWII and historical fiction, I would say this is worth the read if you get to it but it shouldn't be at the top of the list.
The downside is that after the initial set up and the final battle begins to take place, the author very much rushes through. There is a sense of an amazing strategic build-up to recognize Rommel's ability to lead and coordinate, but once everything starts it is over just as quickly and the book is done. I got the sense that when this was written that the author was under a time crunch and needed to wrap up so that they could meet a deadline, and that's the way it reads.
Overall, this book had tons of potential and established a beautiful foundation only to fall short. Still, for those that love WWII and historical fiction, I would say this is worth the read if you get to it but it shouldn't be at the top of the list.
June 9, 2024
Interesting alternate history idea that the Operation Valkyrie succeeded except Himmler survived so he takes over, with Hitler dead Rommel doesn't die and with the handcuffs placed on the German military by Hitler taken off things begin to change. I've read this when I was younger, enjoyed it when I was heavy in my alternate history phase but now I read through it and can see that some parts are well written while other parts are just...lacking. (Which of the two authors is at fault, who knows.)
October 10, 2022
Dao sam ovoj knjizi pet zvjezdica, ne zato što se radi o remek djelu, ili nekom klasiku književnosti. nego zato što ne pamtim kad sam zadnji put čitao knjigu s takvim osjećajem napetosti, neizvjesnosti što će se dogoditi u idućem poglavlju. Podloga je izuzetno detaljno istražena, hrpa likova od kojih svaki ima svoje mjesto i ulogu u radnji. baš ta napetost, stil pisanja koji teče glatko i zanatski je izvrsno odrađen, naveli su me da podignem ocjenu na maksimalnu.
January 21, 2026
Fox on the Rhine is good.
It's not amazing; it takes a good dose of creative liberties to propose a reasonably plausible though overly optimistic scenario that is compelling at many points and outlandish at others, just as you might be able to expect from a revisionist military history fiction novel.
Perspectives change fluidly, the action is decently paced, and anachronisms are few. I found the text to be interesting and fun to read, though it was far from extraordinary.
It's not amazing; it takes a good dose of creative liberties to propose a reasonably plausible though overly optimistic scenario that is compelling at many points and outlandish at others, just as you might be able to expect from a revisionist military history fiction novel.
Perspectives change fluidly, the action is decently paced, and anachronisms are few. I found the text to be interesting and fun to read, though it was far from extraordinary.
July 21, 2019
I AM IN LOVE! Found a series that takes place in World War II. Adolph Hitler is successfully assassinated and Himmler is now the fuhrer. He strikes a deal with the Russians, and now, two enemies must team up to defeat Nazi Germany and the Russians: Rommel and Patton.
May 10, 2020
An alternate historical fiction that really went into detail regarding some of the European theatre movements of both the Axis and Ally armies. A really well written and engaging novel!
December 31, 2020
For a historical fiction book it was a great read that for me hit all the great points of an alternate history
I loved how the story followed some actual events from WW2 such as the Battle of the Bulge and the bombing campaign by the allies over Germany, but what really got to me was the use of what if events, especially starting the book out with the assassination of Hitler at the Wolf's Lair.
I loved how the story followed some actual events from WW2 such as the Battle of the Bulge and the bombing campaign by the allies over Germany, but what really got to me was the use of what if events, especially starting the book out with the assassination of Hitler at the Wolf's Lair.
April 28, 2022
Naprawdę świetna książka. Szkoda, że druga część nie jest wydana po polsku.
October 4, 2024
Una ucronia muy entretenida, muy en el estilo de Harry Turtledove con muchos protagonistas repartidos de manera que la suma de sus acciones y percepciones nos de una visión de conjunto del desarrollo de la guerra mundial a partir del punto de divergencia, en este caso el éxito del atentado de von Stauffenberg contra Hitler. En ocasiones excesivamente técnico con la terminología militar como suelen ser estas novelas, mi mayor crítica es lo poco probable que me parece que los soviéticos accedieron a firmar una paz separada con el nuevo führer Heinrich Himmler.
Aún así, imaginar a Rommel intentando frenar el avance aliado en el frente occidental es una buena lectura.
Aún así, imaginar a Rommel intentando frenar el avance aliado en el frente occidental es una buena lectura.
September 12, 2013
I quite liked this book and would most certainly recommend it to anyone interested in WWII. It is well researched (for the most part) and quite well written. Even though the conversations are very... "American".
There wer some moments of raised eyebrows in the later part of the book. First of all, the Tiger tanks racing to and crossing the Muesse river. Quite a feat for a tank not really suitable for mobile warfare and long rides. But it went weirder when the fighting approached Dinant from the south. Now, I know this part of terrain quite well and it is obvious the writer doesn't and has never been to Dinant. Had he done so, he would know a company could hold an entire division, now, an entire army at bay when it is approachin from the south. The southern appraoches of Dinant are more then formidable as a defencive position. First of all there is the steep hills of Heer over which the 'main road' in those days runs. It is wooded, has ravines and can only be traversed when driving over the road due to the rugged terrain. Second there is the crossing of the river Lesse. Either were it runs into the Muesse at a compactly built village or a bit further upstream (with impossible approaches for anything heavier then a jeep). Blow one of the two small bridges and it is over. Keeping them is easy and possible with a single AT gun. Then you appraoch Dinant proper and there are two problems. First of all the bend in the river, because of which younare completely out in the open when approaching. Secondly the passing at Roche Bayard. The passage beween river and rock is so small it will be hard to fit one tank, let alone an entire tank battalion as is done in the book. And then they approach a park (which park?) and enter a medieval city (there is none?).
Ah well, it was a nice book and apart from this and a few other nitpicks a very enjoyable read.
There wer some moments of raised eyebrows in the later part of the book. First of all, the Tiger tanks racing to and crossing the Muesse river. Quite a feat for a tank not really suitable for mobile warfare and long rides. But it went weirder when the fighting approached Dinant from the south. Now, I know this part of terrain quite well and it is obvious the writer doesn't and has never been to Dinant. Had he done so, he would know a company could hold an entire division, now, an entire army at bay when it is approachin from the south. The southern appraoches of Dinant are more then formidable as a defencive position. First of all there is the steep hills of Heer over which the 'main road' in those days runs. It is wooded, has ravines and can only be traversed when driving over the road due to the rugged terrain. Second there is the crossing of the river Lesse. Either were it runs into the Muesse at a compactly built village or a bit further upstream (with impossible approaches for anything heavier then a jeep). Blow one of the two small bridges and it is over. Keeping them is easy and possible with a single AT gun. Then you appraoch Dinant proper and there are two problems. First of all the bend in the river, because of which younare completely out in the open when approaching. Secondly the passing at Roche Bayard. The passage beween river and rock is so small it will be hard to fit one tank, let alone an entire tank battalion as is done in the book. And then they approach a park (which park?) and enter a medieval city (there is none?).
Ah well, it was a nice book and apart from this and a few other nitpicks a very enjoyable read.
August 23, 2013
I'm a sucker for really good, well plotted and executed alternative World War II scenarios. This one's excellent. The characters, both fictional and historical, are mostly believable, even if Rommel is portrayed a bit too heavily as a paragon, the German supply officer comes across as a bit too bumbling, and the Waffen SS always live down to their black hats. The authors don't seem to like Monty much… The settings are realistic and vividly drawn, and the story engaged me so thoroughly, the first three hundred pages flew past in one sitting. The rest of the book didn't hold me quite as much, although the ending is dramatic and satisfying. I'll definitely be finding a copy of the sequel.
July 16, 2015
A long time ago I read my first Alternate History book, How Few Remain. It was amazing, a perfect blend of world building and a war showing both the grunts and the commanders, letting you see all the sides, tactics and politics behind the conflict. Unfortunately the majority of the books I read afterward were really bad, and none captured the magic of that first novel.
Until I read Fox on the Rhine.
The book is just amazing, the characters are three-dimensional, you see the war from all sides and levels, the battles are spectacular. There isn't much more I can say about this book, except that if you like Alternate History, or just military action, this is the book for you.
Until I read Fox on the Rhine.
The book is just amazing, the characters are three-dimensional, you see the war from all sides and levels, the battles are spectacular. There isn't much more I can say about this book, except that if you like Alternate History, or just military action, this is the book for you.
November 12, 2012
One of the issues that I have had with alternate history books is that many times they take very serious liberty with changing how events unfolded. Instead of minor plausible changes, the authors will make these grand sweeping recreatations of history. Fortunately that is not so with Fox on the Rhine. How this book plays out is very believable and written in such a manner that you are wanting to turn the page to see what happens next. It is a fascinating examination of how differently World War II could have played out and I can't wait to start Fox on the Front.
February 9, 2008
Enjoyed the take on alt history. At first it was a bit hard for me to accept some parts, such as the truce with Stalin, but after considering the points made I felt that I could almost see it happening. The make a good case for it. All in all an enjoyable read for a history that might have been, even if it does stretch things a little bit.
Worth picking up the next book and seeing how it turns out. In which we see Patton was right.
Worth picking up the next book and seeing how it turns out. In which we see Patton was right.
July 18, 2011
Add one small incident to history (in this case, a phone call) and watch what happens! [spoilers ahead] The plot to kill Hitler with the briefcase bomb succeeds. Hitler dies, Heinrich Himmler becomes the new Fuhrer, and the plot just gets better from there. Probably the best and most believable alternate history I have ever read.
February 4, 2017
A good thought exercise. A well balanced story that explore both side in the war. Showing the personalities as true believers and patriots. The war is shown as the life and land destroying force that it is to both sides. The characters are well developed and seem possible.
May 16, 2012
Excellent alternative history. Rommel was a German patriot who should have actively joined the conspiracy to kill Hitler (in real life) but did not and suffered the ultiamte price for it any way.
In this alternative he joins forces with the Allies to turn on Himmler.
An excellent read
In this alternative he joins forces with the Allies to turn on Himmler.
An excellent read
February 5, 2012
Great read i loved it
May 31, 2013
Great book. Really liked the fictional spin on Rommel surviving his wounds to continue the fight and the conversion of the Me-262's from a bomber to fighter mission. Historical fiction well done!
March 25, 2016
What if Erwin Rommel was placed in charge of the western front? Loved the premise, so-so writing.
April 19, 2015
Good not great. Interesting tale.
July 15, 2018
The Führer is dead ... but the war still goes on!
Backed by a cadre of SS officers, Himmler seizes control of the Reich and instigates a plan to change the course of the war.
First, an armistice with Russia.
Second, the mass production of jet fighters.
And third, the appointment of legendary "Desert Fox" Erwin Rommel to the European theater, leading to a very different Battle of the Bulge where he must confront "Blood n Guts" George Patton in a campaign that will determine the fate of Europe . . . and possibly the entire free world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews