Infantry Attacks (book)

"Infantry Attacks" (in German: "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. It was published in 1937 and helped to persuade Adolf Hitler to give Rommel high command, although he was not from an old military family or the Prussian aristocracy which had traditionally dominated the German officer corps. It is still reprinted from time to time.

Rommel planned to write a successor called "The Tank In Attack" (in German: " Panzer greift an") about tank warfare, and gathered much material during the North Africa campaign. However he died before completing this work.

Rommel's book, written as a day to day journal of his WWI 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". The book was referred to in the 1970 film Patton, when George C. Scott yells, "Rommel, you magnificent bastard. I read your book." [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066206/quotes Memorable Quotes from Patton] , imdb.com. Retrieved January 20, 2007.] However, in the scene where Patton is woken by his aides with news that Rommel's attack is in progress, the camera focuses on a book on Patton's bedside table which is entitled "The Tank in Attack", a book which Rommel had planned to write but never completed.

In 1943, an abridged version titled, more simply, "ATTACKS!" was released by the US military for officers tactical study.

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