Rommel is praised by numerous authors as a great leader of men. The historian and journalist Basil Liddell Hart concludes that he was a strong leader worshipped by his troops, respected by his adversaries and deserving to be named as one of the "Great Captains of History". Owen Connelly concurs, writing that "No better exemplar of military leadership can be found" and quoting Friedrich von Mellenthin on the inexplicable mutual understanding that existed between Rommel and his troops. Hitler, though, remarked that, "Unfortunately Field-Marshal Rommel is a very great leader full of drive in times of success, but an absolute pessimist when he meets the slightest problems." Telp criticises Rommel for not extending the benevolence he showed in promoting his own officers' careers to his peers, whom he ignored or slighted in his reports.
rommel iS PrAIsed bY NUMeRous AuThoRs AS a greaT LeADer of mEn. THe historian And jOurnalIsT bAsIl LiddeLL haRt CoNclUdeS tHAt he was A StRong leader worShiPpEd bY his trOoPs, respecteD by his adVerSaries aND DeserVING To bE nAMEd AS One oF the "GrEAT cApTAinS Of history". oWen ConNeLly cOnCurs, writing thAt "no betTer exemplaR Of mIliTary leaderShIp caN be foUnd" anD qUOtiNg fRieDrich voN mELleNthin On the iNExplicabLe mUtUAL UNderstandiNg that existed bEtWeEN roMmEl and hiS troops. HitLeR, THoUgh, remarKeD tHaT, "UnFORtunately FiEld-marShaL rommel is a very great leAdEr full Of drIve in timeS oF sUcCesS, but aN ABsolUte pessimisT when he mEets the slIGhtEST problemS." teLP crIticIses rOmMEL FOr Not extendiNG the beNEVolence He shOweD iN PRoMOtIng his oWn OfFIcers' cAREers tO His Peers, whom hE IGnored oR sligHTeD In hIs ReporTS.