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pepperthephoenix's Reviews (821)
This was an amazing biography. I have not read one this impressive since Robertson's Stonewall Jackson biography. Fraser does an amazing job detailing not only the tactical genius of Rommel but also the atmosphere of Nazi Germany and why it was so easy for so many to fall for Hitler's charm. My only problem with this book is that Fraser went out of his way to convince everyone that Rommel had no idea about the atrocities of the Nazi regime and he was just a naive general who had been fooled by Hitler like everyone else. I find this hard to believe as Rommel was close with Hitler, admired him, and often ate with him and had in-depth conversations with him. At the same time I do not believe Rommel was directly responsible for any of the atrocities as that does not fit with his character. I personally believe that Rommel had a general idea of what was going on and simply turned a blind eye for his Germany. Rommel was NOT a Nazi, but he was a loyal German and I think he wouldn't mind if a few 'inferiors' disappeared for the betterment of Germany. I'm also not sure how much he would want to believe. I think it is hard-to this day-to fully understand the horrors of the Nazi regime and Rommel could very well have put on blinders, even when the evidence was staring him in the face.
An interesting element of Rommel's character is his 'participation' in Valkyrie. Fraser makes it plainly clear that Rommel did not want Hitler dead and makes a compelling argument that Rommel was aware of the plot to dispose Hitler, but not the assassination. This fits in with Rommel's character and the general nature of the conspiracy. Rommel had lost faith in Hitler, but he was not one who liked to destroy a conquered opponent and I believe he still had a sort of gratitude towards Hitler-even at the very end. Hitler had returned pride and efficiency to Germany, had given Rommel his military career, and for a brief moment returned glory to Germany. I think for someone of Rommel's nature that would be hard to forget, even though he also realized that Hitler was insane, militarily blind, and destroying his Germany.
Rommel is a very complex character and Fraser does well with his material, but I felt slightly disappoint that in an attempt to protect Rommel from Nazism, he made him two dimensional instead of three dimensional. Rommel's appeal is the fact that he was a 'good' man and an incredible general fighting for Nazi Germany. His tragedy is that he had given his immense talents to a mad man. I do not doubt that Rommel was a 'good German', but the tragic power of his legacy is diminished when one does not take into account all of his aspects-the good ones and the evil ones. Rommel is the perfect example of a good man used by evil and I think Fraser missed a great opportunity to explore this tragedy by using kid's gloves around Rommel's participation in the Nazi regime.
An interesting element of Rommel's character is his 'participation' in Valkyrie. Fraser makes it plainly clear that Rommel did not want Hitler dead and makes a compelling argument that Rommel was aware of the plot to dispose Hitler, but not the assassination. This fits in with Rommel's character and the general nature of the conspiracy. Rommel had lost faith in Hitler, but he was not one who liked to destroy a conquered opponent and I believe he still had a sort of gratitude towards Hitler-even at the very end. Hitler had returned pride and efficiency to Germany, had given Rommel his military career, and for a brief moment returned glory to Germany. I think for someone of Rommel's nature that would be hard to forget, even though he also realized that Hitler was insane, militarily blind, and destroying his Germany.
Rommel is a very complex character and Fraser does well with his material, but I felt slightly disappoint that in an attempt to protect Rommel from Nazism, he made him two dimensional instead of three dimensional. Rommel's appeal is the fact that he was a 'good' man and an incredible general fighting for Nazi Germany. His tragedy is that he had given his immense talents to a mad man. I do not doubt that Rommel was a 'good German', but the tragic power of his legacy is diminished when one does not take into account all of his aspects-the good ones and the evil ones. Rommel is the perfect example of a good man used by evil and I think Fraser missed a great opportunity to explore this tragedy by using kid's gloves around Rommel's participation in the Nazi regime.
