Rommel's Infantry Attacks published in the 1930s
Rommel wrote his tactical manifesto 'Infantry Attacks' in the 1930s, which became hugely influential in military circles.
Snapshot · Fin vs History
Nazis Are No Match For Knobbly Knees | Monty vs Rommel (Part 1/4)
Explore episode
Jun 29, 2026
Where this was said
The Escort Battalion
At 41:27 · chapter starts 35:25
Monty recovers from his lung wound only to rejoin in time for the Somme — which Fin notes is the darkest possible FOMO. Serving as a courier between front-line troops and distant generals, Monty observes firsthand that the class-bound British command structure is catastrophically inefficient: generals are nowhere near the action. This shapes his entire subsequent philosophy. The hosts reflect that WWI heroes were generally just men who got lucky — who 'slipped at the right time'. Fin's great-grandfather appears briefly, having been shell-shocked at Gallipoli, recovered, returned for the Somme, and survived to face Ypres. By 1940, Monty's organisation and preparation earn him praise when he fights a disciplined rearguard action near Dunkirk, possibly the only part of the British Expeditionary Force to acquit itself with any honour.
Rommel Captures 9,000 Italians at Caporetto
In October 1917, Rommel captured 81 guns and 9,000 Italian prisoners at Caporetto. As the hosts note, this wasn't that hard — Italian military incompetence is basically a constant throughout this story. The real logistical nightmare was figuring out what to do with 9,000 Italians who were immediately hungry, bored, and tired.
Rommel captures 9,000 Italian prisoners
At the Battle of Caporetto in October 1917, Rommel captured 81 guns and 9,000 Italian prisoners, an early sign of the ease with which Italian forces would surrender.
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