Infantry Attacks
Encyclopedia
Infanterie Greift An is a classic book on military tactics written by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
about his experiences in World War I
. In it were his Stoßtruppen (shock troops) tactics, which used speed, deception and deep penetration into enemy territory to surprise and overwhelm. Throughout the book, Rommel reports assigning small numbers of men to approach enemy lines from the direction in which attack was expected. The men would yell, throw hand grenades and otherwise simulate the anticipated attack from concealment, while attack squads and larger bodies of men sneaked to the flanks and rears of the defenders to take them by surprise, very often intimidating them into surrender, avoiding unnecessary exertion, expenditures of ammunition and risk of injury.
Infanterie Greift An was first published in 1937 and helped to persuade Adolf Hitler
to give Rommel high command in World War II, although he was not from an old military family or the Prussian aristocracy, which had traditionally dominated the German officer corps. Infanterie Greift An was printed in Germany until 1945. By then, about 500,000 copies had been published.
In 1943, an abridged version titled, more simply, "ATTACKS!" was released by the US military for officers' tactical study.
Rommel's book, written as a day to day journal of his World War I exploits, was used throughout the West as a resource for infantry tactical movements. General George Patton was among the many influential military leaders reported to have read "Infantry Attacks".
Rommel planned to write a successor called Panzer Greift An (in English: Tank attacks) about tank warfare, and gathered much material during the North Africa campaign. However, he died before completing this work.
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
about his experiences in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In it were his Stoßtruppen (shock troops) tactics, which used speed, deception and deep penetration into enemy territory to surprise and overwhelm. Throughout the book, Rommel reports assigning small numbers of men to approach enemy lines from the direction in which attack was expected. The men would yell, throw hand grenades and otherwise simulate the anticipated attack from concealment, while attack squads and larger bodies of men sneaked to the flanks and rears of the defenders to take them by surprise, very often intimidating them into surrender, avoiding unnecessary exertion, expenditures of ammunition and risk of injury.
Infanterie Greift An was first published in 1937 and helped to persuade Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
to give Rommel high command in World War II, although he was not from an old military family or the Prussian aristocracy, which had traditionally dominated the German officer corps. Infanterie Greift An was printed in Germany until 1945. By then, about 500,000 copies had been published.
In 1943, an abridged version titled, more simply, "ATTACKS!" was released by the US military for officers' tactical study.
Rommel's book, written as a day to day journal of his World War I exploits, was used throughout the West as a resource for infantry tactical movements. General George Patton was among the many influential military leaders reported to have read "Infantry Attacks".
Rommel planned to write a successor called Panzer Greift An (in English: Tank attacks) about tank warfare, and gathered much material during the North Africa campaign. However, he died before completing this work.