The Tory Party

Quotes of Rommel

Via Dad Hoke.

And just to be clear, NAZIS ARE BAD. But there is much to be learned from Rommel’s tactics.

“Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, and brains save both.”

“Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.”

“The best form of welfare for the troops is first-rate training.”

“Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning.”

“In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.”

“In the absence of orders, find something and kill it.”

Referring to Italians: “Good troops, bad officers. But remember that without them we wouldn’t have civilization.”

“Training errors are recorded on paper. Tactical errors are etched in stone.”

“There is one unalterable difference between a soldier and a civilian: the civilian never does more than he is paid to do.”

“Men are basically smart or dumb and lazy or ambitious. The dumb and ambitious ones are dangerous and I get rid of them. The dumb and lazy ones I give mundane duties. The smart ambitious ones I put on my staff. The smart and lazy ones I make my commanders.”

“Be an example to your men, in your duty and in private life. Never spare yourself, and let the troops see that you don’t in your endurance of fatigue and privation. Always be tactful and well-mannered and teach your subordinates to do the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide.”

[Ah ha ha hell yeah! My version of this would be a stage-whispered “no yelling!” - T]

“I know I haven’t offered you much; sand, heat, scorpions … but we’ve shared them together. One more last push, and it is Cairo. And if we fail, … well, we tried, … together.”