Rommel in Normandy: Reminiscences

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Summary: Rommel's Naval Advisor
Review: The author, German Admiral Friedrich Ruge, served as the top naval advisor to German Field Marshall Rommel, who was in charge of thwarting any Allied landings along the French coastline during World War II. Adm. Ruge joined Rommel's staff in November 1943 and provided advice regarding how to construct beach barriers that would prevent Allied landing craft from coming ashore along the Normany beaches. Adm. Ruge met almost daily with Rommel to provide a naval perspective as to how he thought the Allies naval tactics would be used along the Normandy coast, and how they would attempt to land. He continued to advise Rommel during the June D-Day landings, and saw Rommel up until just a few days before Rommel was asked to commit suicide -- after plotting against Hitler. As the author notes, while the book is not a comprehensive description of the actual invasion, it provides the rare insight of the German naval offier who advised the "Desert Fox" about the sea -- 250 pages of "I was there" perspectives. The book is enjoyable to read; it is neither ponderous nor tedious. Ruge provides almost a daily view as to how he and Rommel prepared for the Allied invasion -- what types of beach barriers were constructed, where various weapons were to be emplaced, and how various military units were situated along the beaches. I wrote to the author back in 1968, and he was kind enough to send me his autographed photograph and a few comments about his naval career. His comments reflected his book: they made for an enjoyable read. Ruge wrote several other naval-theme books about WWII, also. (...)