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Rommel's Desert War
s/t: The Life & Death of the Afrika Korps
In a series of battles marked by daring raids and quick-armored thrusts against a numerically superior enemy, Erwin Rommel, the notorious Desert Fox, and his Afrika Korps waged one of World War II s toughest campaigns in the North African desert in 1942. The Axis campaign climaxed in June with the recapture of Tobruk, a triumph that netted 33,000 prisoners and earned Rommel a field marshal s baton. By fall, however, after setbacks at Alam Halfa and the 2 battles of El Alamein, the Afrika Korps teetered on the brink of defeat, which would come in Tunisia 6 months later. Told largely from Rommel s perspective, using his papers and letters.
In a series of battles marked by daring raids and quick-armored thrusts against a numerically superior enemy, Erwin Rommel, the notorious Desert Fox, and his Afrika Korps waged one of World War II s toughest campaigns in the North African desert in 1942. The Axis campaign climaxed in June with the recapture of Tobruk, a triumph that netted 33,000 prisoners and earned Rommel a field marshal s baton. By fall, however, after setbacks at Alam Halfa and the 2 battles of El Alamein, the Afrika Korps teetered on the brink of defeat, which would come in Tunisia 6 months later. Told largely from Rommel s perspective, using his papers and letters.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 8, 2024
My god what a great book. Absolutely flawless interpretation that flowed evenly, information was compelling and accurate, fantastic charts and relevant map data, balanced and unbiased point views, and written as if it was a heroic story of conflict. I would say this was my favorite Stackpole book published and it had a very good light read feeling. In any case here is a more in depth look into why this book deserves 5 stars.
Readable Information:
So many Stackpole books shotgun blast battle details and unit strengths and weakness into the reader that it becomes unbearable. You definitely do not get this from this author. He took a great deal of time to preset the information on Rommel’s Desert campaign in an easy to read format and allowed it all to flow throughout the rise and fall of the Africa Corps. He also took the time to explain key players both on the axis and allies commanders in his footnotes and some directly in the chapters. Doing this really helped to paint the determination of these unit commands and most importantly the background in their commanders which helped explain how small units were able to beat the odds against numerical superior foes.
Compelling Information:
The book by no means was a dry read. What I mean by this is the author did not waste the readers time or interests in boring information but compelled his readers to data that was paramount to evolution of the German and Italian forces to there engagement with the allies. The author gave relevant comparison to British units and highlighted there internal structures in terms of there vast superior allocated arms, fuel, food/water, and man power. This was seen very strongly when Montgomery was brought into the book which is also explained in good relevant detail.
Fantastic Images, Maps, and Graphs:
There is a short section that shows pictures and images of the Africa Corps operating in various stages of the African campaign. What I found interesting was there were some never before seen images of Italian forces that I truly have never seen on the web or on documentaries. In addition there were some pictures of Rommel and some images showed him in theater and in full uniform, again very appreciated to the readers eye. The maps and graphs were all accurate and I cross checked a few of them and for the most part were up to par with what you would get on the web. What I found the most interesting was that the maps and graphs flowed so well with the book that in each stage the reader gets a better grasp on the situation being portrayed by the authors interpretations. This is not well represented on other Stackpole books that put in graphs and charts non-relevant to where the reader is in the plot of the book. Like I said before, this is the best published Stackpole book I have read and I have a read a lot over the last two years….
Unbiased Point of Views:
We all know there are Nazi sympathizers out there that try to justify the war crimes that were committed in WW2. I have to admit there were a couple book from Stackpole that gave me that impression, especially when it came to SS books. In any case in Rommel Desert War you get the realistic point of views both on the Axis and Allies. Additionally judging from the few books I read on Rommel and other documentaries, Rommel truly was no Nazi and the impression I got of him and the men of Africa Corps was nothing but of respect. Fun fact there were no SS units in Africa.
Written Like A Story:
It was almost like a story that told the tale of Rommel’s struggles in effectively being a commander with nothing but sand and low supplies to work with. Each chapter gave another reason for why he failed in taking Cairo. What ever your opinion is on his failure in North Africa after reading the book the reader definitely gets a flowing story of why the Italian Supreme Command failed to deliver his supplies, and the German Air Force failed to to protect him from above. It felt like it was all a tale and the whole book just rolled along in a good way.
I hope you guys pick this one up! It is definitely a gem in Stackpole books and a very good read regardless.
-Alex
Readable Information:
So many Stackpole books shotgun blast battle details and unit strengths and weakness into the reader that it becomes unbearable. You definitely do not get this from this author. He took a great deal of time to preset the information on Rommel’s Desert campaign in an easy to read format and allowed it all to flow throughout the rise and fall of the Africa Corps. He also took the time to explain key players both on the axis and allies commanders in his footnotes and some directly in the chapters. Doing this really helped to paint the determination of these unit commands and most importantly the background in their commanders which helped explain how small units were able to beat the odds against numerical superior foes.
Compelling Information:
The book by no means was a dry read. What I mean by this is the author did not waste the readers time or interests in boring information but compelled his readers to data that was paramount to evolution of the German and Italian forces to there engagement with the allies. The author gave relevant comparison to British units and highlighted there internal structures in terms of there vast superior allocated arms, fuel, food/water, and man power. This was seen very strongly when Montgomery was brought into the book which is also explained in good relevant detail.
Fantastic Images, Maps, and Graphs:
There is a short section that shows pictures and images of the Africa Corps operating in various stages of the African campaign. What I found interesting was there were some never before seen images of Italian forces that I truly have never seen on the web or on documentaries. In addition there were some pictures of Rommel and some images showed him in theater and in full uniform, again very appreciated to the readers eye. The maps and graphs were all accurate and I cross checked a few of them and for the most part were up to par with what you would get on the web. What I found the most interesting was that the maps and graphs flowed so well with the book that in each stage the reader gets a better grasp on the situation being portrayed by the authors interpretations. This is not well represented on other Stackpole books that put in graphs and charts non-relevant to where the reader is in the plot of the book. Like I said before, this is the best published Stackpole book I have read and I have a read a lot over the last two years….
Unbiased Point of Views:
We all know there are Nazi sympathizers out there that try to justify the war crimes that were committed in WW2. I have to admit there were a couple book from Stackpole that gave me that impression, especially when it came to SS books. In any case in Rommel Desert War you get the realistic point of views both on the Axis and Allies. Additionally judging from the few books I read on Rommel and other documentaries, Rommel truly was no Nazi and the impression I got of him and the men of Africa Corps was nothing but of respect. Fun fact there were no SS units in Africa.
Written Like A Story:
It was almost like a story that told the tale of Rommel’s struggles in effectively being a commander with nothing but sand and low supplies to work with. Each chapter gave another reason for why he failed in taking Cairo. What ever your opinion is on his failure in North Africa after reading the book the reader definitely gets a flowing story of why the Italian Supreme Command failed to deliver his supplies, and the German Air Force failed to to protect him from above. It felt like it was all a tale and the whole book just rolled along in a good way.
I hope you guys pick this one up! It is definitely a gem in Stackpole books and a very good read regardless.
-Alex
March 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Unlike a lot of text, even Liddell-Hart's Rommel Papers, this book gives quite a bit more information on the Cauldron aka the fight for the Knightsbridge box, a mine that was incredibly important in the capture of Tobruk. 4 stars for that alone.
The book is easy to read and you get a wonderful sense of atmosphere at what the men had to go through, especially on only 1/2 cup of water a day.
The book is easy to read and you get a wonderful sense of atmosphere at what the men had to go through, especially on only 1/2 cup of water a day.
December 17, 2023
I first read this book in high school for a report. This book gets to the meat of the campaigns. It covers the essential elements without adding extraneous details to make a concise read. The diagrams of the battle formations enhance the reading. Excellent book that I highly recommend.
December 29, 2024
My first serious foray into operational/campaign histories, enjoyable read.
December 16, 2008
Rommel may well have been the greatest general of WW II. His war in Africa, constantly outnumbered and ill supplied, burdened with allies who didn't realy care, is a textbook of a great general in action. It's a shame he had to fight for Hitler, but he was a helluva general.
November 29, 2022
A great book about Erwin Rommel's critical days of his career. This gave a broader and wider perspective about the Afrika Korps. Knowing the truth of the actual situation, it couldn't be helped but to admire and respect Fieldmarshall Erwin Rommel. Salute!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews