Convince Quote by Manfred Rommel
![“It may be that [Erwin Rommel] believed it to be possible to convince [Adolf] Hitler to go away and to end the war, but Hitler never dreamed of doing something like that.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9c8/manfred-rommel-39046_convince_it-may-be-that-erwin-rommel-believed-it_77433.jpg)
“It may be that [Erwin Rommel] believed it to be possible to convince [Adolf] Hitler to go away and to end the war, but Hitler never dreamed of doing something like that.”
About This Quote
Rommel reflects on the missed opportunity of persuading Hitler to abandon his ambitions, highlighting the futility of attempting to change a dictator’s resolve.
In simple terms: Failed diplomatic effort
Key Takeaway
Powerful leaders resist rational persuasion
Themes
political power
war
leadership
psychology
history
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical quote
political insight
When to use this quote
- wartime diplomacy
- internal dissent
- resistance movements
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
negotiation
military strategy
Practical Applications
- historical analysis
- leadership training
Questions to Reflect On
- Could a different approach have altered the war’s outcome?
- What does this say about the limits of rational discourse with tyrants?
A Different Perspective
Some argue Hitler’s downfall required military defeat, not diplomatic persuasion.
![“My father [Erwin Rommel] believed that Germany should have a great interest to leave the war with a peace under conditions.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6d6/manfred-rommel-39046_conditions_my-father-erwin-rommel-believed-that-ger_2996005.jpg)
![“My father [Erwin Rommel] believed that [Adolf] Hitler has a gift of touching the important points, the essential points.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5bf/manfred-rommel-39046_essentials_my-father-erwin-rommel-believed-that-ado_795562.jpg)
![“[Adolf] Hitler needed, he didn't want to kill Jews, he wanted to expel German Jews, and therefore it's not entirely corroborating your theory.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b7/elie-wiesel-341_jew_adolf-hitler-needed-he-didn-t-want-to-ki_495750.jpg)
![“Hitler [had an] excess of imagination, which very frequently foresaw what would happen but also very often went astray.” quote by Alfred Jodl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b1/alfred-jodl-42861_excess_hitler-had-an-excess-of-imagination-whic_2318177.jpg)
![“[Erwin Rommel] explained why in short words, what the two generals' message and then he explained his position and he gave some reason for his position. And then he said, "The ten minutes are over, and I have to leave now." Then my father said goodbye. He also told that us that in I think twenty…” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d3/manfred-rommel-39046_died_erwin-rommel-explained-why-in-short-word_63616.jpg)
![“This is our problem, our dilemma, yes? We cannot celebrate and declare ourselves to belong to the victorious nations because our brothers and our fathers and grandfathers died in this battle [in Normandy], yes. I understand that the Americans and the British and French celebrate one of the…” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2fe/manfred-rommel-39046_battle_this-is-our-problem-our-dilemma-yes-we-c_97284.jpg)
![“So my father [Erwin Rommel] decided during the battle in Normandy, he knew really soon that it wasn't possible to win this battle. But my father decided pretty soon to, if necessary, to surrender on his own responsibility when the British or Americans penetrate the German positions.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a9/manfred-rommel-39046_battle_so-my-father-erwin-rommel-decided-during_535121.jpg)
![“[D-Day] means to me a beginning of the freedom of Europe. The freedom was the achievement of the military adversaries of the Germans.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6c/manfred-rommel-39046_achievement_d-day-means-to-me-a-beginning-of-the-fre_690307.jpg)
![“Of course, [Adolf] Hitler was a dilettante, but he was a completely amoral person. Yes, he had no morals at all.” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df8/manfred-rommel-39046_courses_of-course-adolf-hitler-was-a-dilettante_1080340.jpg)
![“It was very strange, because my father [ Erwin Rommel] received the first call at seven o'clock in the morning. And [Hans] Speidel told my father, "I will call you up in one hour when I see more clearly what's going on." After an hour, Speidel said, "Yes, the landing took place in Normandy." And…” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a6/manfred-rommel-39046_british_it-was-very-strange-because-my-father-er_2538770.jpg)
![“I think my father [ Erwin Rommel] would have given the same answer. The British and Americans and the French were too strong, too strong and the strategy of this battle was too clever. And the war may be - it would have taken some weeks longer before the German front was penetrated. And by the…” quote by Manfred Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08d/manfred-rommel-39046_answers_i-think-my-father-erwin-rommel-would-hav_3187954.jpg)
