I read extensively in World War II history and have numerous books on the war in North Africa on my keeper bookshelves. This one, by a German author, has to be one of the best I've read on the North African campaign. In addition, the numerous maps in the book are some of the best I've seen to describe the movement of units from both sides.
What makes it very different from many books on this campaign is the author extensively covers all the battles preceding the final battle of El Alamain, but only briefly covers that battle. This was fine for me as I just finished another large book on Alamain.
What I found interesting from this German author is that early in the book he calls Rommel "...the most overrated general in history." And then he provides a lot of evidence throughout the book to prove his statement. He also heavily criticizes the British use of their armored forces and stupid production matters. This is also covered in other books, but not in such detail.
What I really liked is he just didn't concentrate on high strategy, but frequently provides us with personal tales of the individual soldiers from both sides, and follows many of them throughout the campaign and into later life.
The author also discusses how each side was reading each other's coded messages. And how the British finally used this to deceive Rommel. But he slipped when he mentioned an American World War I general stated, "Gentlemen don't read each other's mail." That statement was made by Secretary of State Henry Stimson after World War I. But every author is allowed some mistakes, and this was minor.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of WWII history.
What makes it very different from many books on this campaign is the author extensively covers all the battles preceding the final battle of El Alamain, but only briefly covers that battle. This was fine for me as I just finished another large book on Alamain.
What I found interesting from this German author is that early in the book he calls Rommel "...the most overrated general in history." And then he provides a lot of evidence throughout the book to prove his statement. He also heavily criticizes the British use of their armored forces and stupid production matters. This is also covered in other books, but not in such detail.
What I really liked is he just didn't concentrate on high strategy, but frequently provides us with personal tales of the individual soldiers from both sides, and follows many of them throughout the campaign and into later life.
The author also discusses how each side was reading each other's coded messages. And how the British finally used this to deceive Rommel. But he slipped when he mentioned an American World War I general stated, "Gentlemen don't read each other's mail." That statement was made by Secretary of State Henry Stimson after World War I. But every author is allowed some mistakes, and this was minor.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of WWII history.
