Infantry Attacks

Infantry Attacks chronicles Erwin Rommel's experiences as a young infantry officer in World War I, based on his wartime diary entries and military reports. The book covers his service from 1914 to 1918 across multiple fronts including France, Romania, and Italy. The narrative follows Rommel's command of infantry units through specific battles and military operations, providing tactical details and insights into small-unit combat leadership. Rommel includes maps, diagrams, and analysis of the military decisions and their outcomes during key engagements. The writing maintains a technical focus on military tactics, terrain assessment, and the practical challenges of leading troops in combat conditions. Combat scenarios are presented as case studies, with Rommel examining the factors that influenced success or failure in each engagement. The book stands as both a memoir of WWI combat and an instructional text on infantry tactics, revealing how frontline experience shaped German military doctrine between the world wars. The tactical principles demonstrated remain relevant to modern military leadership and small-unit operations.

Readers value Infantry Attacks as a detailed frontline account from a company commander in WWI. The book receives 4.3/5 on Goodreads (1,200+ ratings) and 4.7/5 on Amazon (400+ ratings). Readers highlight: - Tactical analysis of small unit actions - Maps and diagrams that clarify troop movements - First-person descriptions of combat decisions - Practical lessons on reconnaissance and terrain use - Clear writing style that avoids self-promotion Common criticisms: - Technical military terminology can be hard to follow - Some translations lack polish - Maps can be confusing without military background - Limited strategic context for battles - Repetitive descriptions of similar engagements One reviewer noted: "Rommel explains his thought process during each engagement, making this valuable for military students." Another wrote: "The detailed maps help but require careful study to understand the flow of battle." The book maintains high ratings across military history forums and review sites, with military professionals citing its ongoing relevance to small-unit tactics.

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🔹 Written in 1937, Infantry Attacks is based on Rommel's detailed war diary entries and sketches from World War I, where he served as a young lieutenant and captain in the German Army. 🔹 The book became required reading for U.S. Army officers during World War II, even as Rommel himself was leading Axis forces against the Allies in North Africa. 🔹 Adolf Hitler was so impressed by Infantry Attacks that he personally gifted copies to various military commanders and had a special edition printed for Wehrmacht officers. 🔹 The manuscript for Rommel's intended follow-up book, Panzer Attacks, based on his World War II experiences, was lost when Allied bombing destroyed his publisher's offices in 1943. 🔹 Through detailed tactical analysis and firsthand accounts, the book emphasizes the importance of speed, deception, and taking the initiative - principles that would later define Rommel's famous "Ghost Division" in WWII.