Erwin Rommel Quotes

Better too much spade work than too little! This work saves blood.

Lieber zuviel als zu wenig Spatengebrauch! Diese Arbeit spart Blut.

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 be the same. Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide.

Gentlemen, you have fought like lions and been led by donkeys.

One must not judge everyone in the world by his qualities as a soldier: otherwise we should have no civilization.

The German soldier has astonished the world; the Italian Bersagliere has astonished the German soldier.

The art of concentrating strength at one point, forcing a breakthrough, rolling up and securing the flanks on either side, and then penetrating like lightning, before the enemy has time to react, deep into his rear.

Perplexity and inactivity have frequently led to catastrophies. The councils of the mass undermined the authority of the leaders.

Im Osten, Westen und Süden liegen die letzten Ruhestätten jener deutschen Soldaten, die für Heimat und Land den Weg der Pflicht bis zum bitteren Ende beschritten haben. Sie sind eine ständige Mahnung an unsere Zurückgebliebenen und unsere zukünftigen Generationen, dass wir sie nicht im Stich lassen dürfen, wenn es darum geht, Opfer für Deutschland zu bringen.