U.S. Army Field Manual 3-0 teaches us that there are nine principles of war, objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity. (ARMY 2008) The nine principles of war represent the most important nonphysical factors that affect the conduct of operations at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. (Army 2008) At the battle of El Alamein, Rommel had Failures in six of the nine principles and successes in only three. Rommel’s failures in objective, offensive, maneuver, mass, security, and surprise lead to his demise in the African desert handing the British their first victory of WWII.
Objective ensures all actions contribute to the higher commands end state. (Army 2008) Rommel lost objective when he went on the attack against Montgomery at Alma el Halfa ridge. Montgomery noticed that Rommel had become predictable and was waiting for him, dug in, on the ridge. (National Geographic 2009 ) Montgomery’s defense’s where set up on top of the ridge and south of the ridge when Rommel made his predictable flanking maneuver around the ridge. (National Geographic 2009 ) Because of Rommel’s predictability he lost the object and to retreat back to El Alamein.
Offensive is synonymous with initiative. (Army 2008) Throughout the war Rommel had always seized the initiative, until El Alamein. After being turned away at the Alma el Halfa ridge Rommel had to return and set up defensive position at El Alamein. (Harvey 2008) Rommel no longer had the initiative, it was seized by Montgomery. Rommel had to sit and wait for Montgomery to attack on his terms under his initiative.
Maneuver concentrates and disperses combat power to keep the enemy at a disadvantage. (Army 2008) Until now Rommel had been the king of maneuver throughout the war. Rommel knew the always being on the attack kept the enemy moving backwards and kept