Rommel's Rules of

Command

'between
Rommel and
his troops was
that mutural
understanding
which cannot
be explained
and analysed,
but which is
the gift of the
gods. The
Afrika Korps
followed
Rommel
wherever he
led, however
hard he drove
them... the
men knew that

Rommel was
the last to
spare
Rommel.'
-Major
General Von
Mellenthin,
Panzer Battles

'Auchinlec
k was
dreaming
of an
advance
whose
forward
elements
might
reach
Mechili
and
Benghazi;
Ritchi
thought
the
German
armour
could still
be
smashed.
But these
were daydreams in
the rear.
Rommel in
the Front
line had
calculated
exactly
how his
opposite
numbers,
facing him

across the
wire and
the
minefields,
would
behave.'
-Ronald
Lewin,
Rommel
as Military
Command
er

From the Rommel Papers pg 225-226

One of the first lessons I had drawn from my experience of m
warfare was that speed of manuver in operations and quick reaction
command are decisive. Troops must be able to carry out operations
speed and in complete co-ordination. To be satisfied with norms is f
must constantly demand and strive for maximum performance, for t
which makes the greater effort is the faster-and the faster wins the b
Officers and N.C.O.s must continually train their troops along these l
my view the duties of a commander are not limited to his work with
He must also concern himself with the duties of command and shou
frequant visits to the fighting line, for the following reasons:
(a) Accurate execution of the plans of the commander and his staff
highest importance. It is a mistake to assume that every unit officer
all that there is to be made out of his situation; most of them succum
certain inertia. Then is is simply reported that for some reason or an
or that cannot be done-reasons are always easy enough to think up.
this kind must be made to feel the authority of the commander and
out of the apathy. The commmander must be the prime mover of th
and the troops must always have to reckon with his appearance in p
control.
(b) The commander must be at constant pains to keep his troops ab
the latest tactical application. He must see to it and must insist on t
practicle application. He must see to it that his subordinates are tra
accordance with the latest requirements. The best form of "welfare"
troops is first class training, for this saves unnecessary casualties.
(c) It is also greatly in the commander's own interest to have a perso
picture of the front and a clear idea of the problems his subordinate
having to face. It is the only way in which he can keep his ideas per
up to date and adapted to changing conditions. If he fights his battle

game of chess, he will become rigidly fixed in academic theory and

of his own ideas. Success comes most readily to the commander wh
have not been canalised into any one fixed channel, but can develop
from the conditions around him.
(d) The commander must have contact with his men. He must be ca
feeling and thinking with them. The soldier must have confidence i
There is one cardinal principle which must always be remembered: o
never make a show of false emotions to one's men. The ordinary so
surprisingly good nose for what is true and what is false.