hofbauer@utcsri.UUCP (John Hofbauer) (02/23/86)
Although this started as a specific topic, it now seems to have spread to all of WWII (European theatre). A couple of years ago I read a biography of Rommel and was fascinated by the significant role code breaking played in the North African theatre. Rommel's early successes can be partly attributed to German interception of Allied messages concerning the state of the theatre. The leak was due to an American attache. His name was Feller and Rommel referred to the intercepts as 'his little fellers'. This was eventually plugged and the allies, of course, later intercepted and cracked the German messages. As the tide turned Rommel was convinced it was due to this, but he couldn't convince his superiors. If you factor this out perhaps Rommel wasn't quite as great a field commander as legend has made him. But then greatness can also be measured by the ability to effectively use all available resources.