Erwin Rommel Quotes

[The] aim is not so much to seek battle as to seek a strategic situation so advantageous that if it does not of itself produce the decision, its continuation by a battle is sure to achieve this. In other words, dislocation is the aim of strategy.

What is at a peak is certain to decline. He who shows his hand will surely be defeated. He who can prevail in battle by taking advantage of his enemy's doubts is invincible.

In a battle, as in a siege, the art consists in concentrating very heavy fire on a particular point. The line of battle once established, the one who has the ability to concentrate an unlooked for mass of artillery suddenly and unexpectedly on one of these points is sure to carry the day.

The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side.

The secret of success in battle lies often not so much in the use of one's own strength but in the exploitation of the other side's weaknesses.

If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

If the enemy thinks of the mountains, attack like the sea; and if he thinks of the sea, attack like the mountains.

The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

A battle can be won before it's ever fought by choosing the right ground.

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

It is through the dispositions of an army that its condition may be discovered. Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory,; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.

When the enemy advances, withdraw; when he stops, harass; when he tires, strike; when he retreats, pursue.

Waterloo is a battle of the first rank won by a captain of the second

You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns, and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics.

If your enemy offers you two targets, strike at a third.

It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does the same, it is a even match. Defeating one's opponent is then a matter of faith and destiny.

Unhappy the general who comes on the field of battle with a system.

The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height.

Charges of cavalry are equally useful at the beginning, the middle and the end of a battle. They should be made always, if possible, on the flanks of the infantry, especially when the latter is engaged in front.

Knowledge is a Weapon, Jon. Arm yourself well before you ride forth to Battle.

To surprise the enemy is to defeat him.

You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

Tis action moves the world....[in] the game of chess, mind that: ye cannot leave your men to stand unmoving on the board and hope to win. A soldier must first step upon the battlefield if does mean to cross it.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.