The battle is going very heavily against us. We're being crushed by the enemy weight. We are facing very difficult days, perhaps the most difficult that a man can undergo

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

When there's no clear option, it's better to do nothing.

Manstein is a man of illusions. ... He believes Hitler will listen to facts.

In view of my services in Africa, I have the chance of dying by poison. Two generals have brought it with them. It is fatal in three seconds. If I take the poison, none of the usual steps will be taken against my family; that is, against you. They will also leave my staff alone.

In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.

To every man of us, Tobruk was a symbol of British resistance and we were now going to finish with it for good.