Messenger Charles. Rommel: Leadership Lessons from the Desert Fox

Palgrave MacMillan, 2009. — 207 p.This exciting series opens with "the Desert Fox", the most famous German field marshal in World War II, Erwin Rommel. A hero of the people of the Third Reich and widely respected by his opponents, Rommel proved himself highly adept at blitzkrieg warfare. He consistently outwitted his adversaries in both France and North Africa through his ability to sense the weak spot in his enemy's deployment and by the pace at which he conducted his operations. Rommel was seriously wounded in France just three days before the aborted attempt on Hitler's life. Rommel subsequently came under suspicion of being involved in the plot and, under pressure, committed suicide. Rommel displayed an outstanding ability to seize the initiative and retain it, and here, Charles Messenger draws on the skills behind this ability for the benefit of modern-day leaders.
Charles Messenger served for 20 years as an officer in the Royal Tank Regiment before becoming a full-time military historian and defense analyst. He is the author of nearly 40 books, including The Blitzkrieg Story. He lives in London.