Captain’s List — Erwin Rommel #88
Corsair’s Profiles in Leadership Series
The captains of fiction and history have much to teach us. They are leaders who often serve in times of great challenge and turmoil. Articles in this series focus on an individual captain and utilizes their quotes, their writings, and their actions to inspire core leadership elements in all of us.
Hauptmann Erwin Rommel
History is written by the winners, so what does it say about a ‘head man’ who achieved his reputation on the losing side of two major world wars? In this article we will look at two attributes of leadership which always seem to breakthrough. Honor and courage are universally respected aspects of character and leadership.
For readers who may not be familiar or are more accustom to the series’ prior focus on fictional characters, Erwin Rommel was a German military leader who served in both the first and second world wars. He was the son of a teacher and between the wars served in that capacity as well.
His exploits on the battle field were the stuff of legends. His position as an outsider to the ruling Nazi party of Germany also endeared him to many. Ultimately, it was that quality that would lead to his death. Because opposition leaders had selected this revered and iconic leader as their replacement for Hitler, he was ultimately forced to take poison when the coup failed.
Honor
It would be easy for history to remember a losing general with disdain. It might serve those who ultimately defeated him to inflate his exploits or paint him with malicious intent. But Rommel’s defeats came mainly and ultimately at the hands of Hitler. His legacy is characterized repeatedly with words like chivalry, honor, and even the last knight.
His memoirs were titled War Without Hate. Authors and historians routinely confirm Rommel’s actions to avert the influence of the SS and other Nazi atrocities in Africa. He was a legend in his own time and lauded by opponents like Patton, Montgomery, FDR, and Churchill for his skill and virtue.
Honor is a powerful attribute and one that should never be underestimated in leaders. Rommel’s honor rallied his men and endeared him to the people he needed for support. If it ultimately lead to his death, it was one of many huge risks this leader was willing to take.
The Blue Max
Rommel was a highly decorated veteran of the first world war. He first received the Iron Cross for his actions in France. Later, he received Pour Le Merite, the German equivalent of the Medal of Honor in 1917 for his work on the Italian front. Shortly afterward he was promoted to Captain.
Each of these awards was earned for exploits that would typically be reserved for movies. In France he defeated an entrenched French force with only three men under his command. In Italy, he surrounded and forced the surrender of a battalion of Italian infantry by using a handful of German infantry to encircle them (firing their guns in the night to appear as if they were the superior force).
Courage
Courage in leadership can be a double edged sword, a fact in no way lost upon Rommel. His willingness to take risks, to stick to principles, and to exploit opportunities may have been second to none. A leader who is bold and decisive can often compensate for other shortcomings and mistakes.
Rommel was often compensating for shortages of men, supplies, and support. He also compensated for his own weaknesses as a commander. Patience and a steady hand were not attributes often applied to “The Desert Fox”. Whether this was a function of his situation or his character, he compensated well with his boldness, his opportunistic exploitation, and his drive.
“Rommel An Der Spitze”
Long ago, Generals changed our sense of leadership. Military leadership at the executive level is performed from the command center, HQ, or basically the back office. Napoleon’s use of the observers position may have popularized it but, by the 20th century, leaders were in the rear. Not Rommel.
Rommel’s Afrika Corps was the exception. He was often known for leading from the front tank. He was the point of the spear. He felt this allowed him to better exploit the rhythm and momentum of the battlefield. He felt it sped his communications with the lead elements of his force. He felt he should lead.
We are unlikely to see another modern general on the front lines with their troops. Today, even business leaders shy from the “front lines” of their organizations. When they do engage, we turn it into reality TV shows like Undercover Boss. For Rommel this would have been unimaginable…
Honor and courage were critical to the success of Rommel. They were not his lone assets. Innovation, risk taking, flanking maneuvers, and lightning offensives filled an arsenal of leadership skills which frustrated his opponents and built his legend. But we will keep this article short and decisive, Rommel would have preferred it.
For more on Erwin Rommel consider:
Corsair’s Profiles in Leadership, Captain’s List is an article format created by Corsair’s Publishing in conjunction with our parent company Corsair’s Ventures. This series seeks to focus the reader on core components of leadership by utilizing the larger-than-life and often fictitious stories of the great captains of history.
