In the absence of orders, go find something and kill it. Erwin Rommel More Quotes by Erwin Rommel More Quotes From Erwin Rommel If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it. Erwin Rommel hell ifs use 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. Erwin Rommel smart giving men Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, but brains saves both. Erwin Rommel sweat brain blood 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. Erwin Rommel voice military men A risk is a chance you take; if it fails you can recover. A gamble is a chance taken; if it fails, recovery is impossible. Erwin Rommel recovery risk taken Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning. Erwin Rommel fighting war life The German soldier has impressed the world, however the Italian Bersagliere soldier has impressed the German soldier. Erwin Rommel italian soldier world For me, soldiers are all equal. Those black people wore your same uniform, fought on your side, and so you will be in the same jail. Erwin Rommel your-side jail people One of the most important factors, not only in military matters but in life as a whole, is ... the ability to direct one's whole energies towards the fulfillment of a particular task. Erwin Rommel important energy military Winning the men's confidence requires much of a commander. He must exercise care and caution, look after his men, live under the same hardships, and-above all- apply self discipline. But once he has their confidence, his men will follow him through hell and high water. Erwin Rommel winning exercise men There is one unalterable difference between a soldier and a civilian: the civilian never does more than he is paid to do. Erwin Rommel differences soldier doe I would rather be the hammer than the anvil Erwin Rommel anvils hammers The battle is fought and decided by the quartermasters, long before the shooting begins. Erwin Rommel battle historical long Always in a moment of extreme danger things can be done which had previously been thought impossible. Erwin Rommel moments done impossible Training errors are recorded on paper. Tactical errors are etched in stone. Erwin Rommel training errors paper In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine. Erwin Rommel fighting military men The commander must be at constant pains to keep his troops abreast of all the latest tactical experience and developments, and must insist on their practical application. He must see to it that his subordinates are trained in accordance with the latest requirements. The best form of welfare for the troops is first-class training, for this saves unnecessary casualties. Erwin Rommel communication pain class When there's no clear option, it's better to do nothing. Erwin Rommel clear In Tunisia the Americans had to pay a stiff price for their experience, but it brought rich dividends. Even at that time, the American generals showed themselves to be very advanced in the tactical handling of their forces, although we had to wait until the Patton Army in France to see the most astonishing achievements in mobile warfare. Erwin Rommel achievement army waiting One cannot permit unique opportunities to slip by for the sake of trifles. Erwin Rommel unique sake opportunity
