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.

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

But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility.

If I had to take hell, I would use the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it.

The German soldier has impressed the world, however the Italian Bersagliere soldier has impressed the German soldier.

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

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