Rommel's plans and the supplies that actually arrived

Rommel illustrates the difficulty of translating tactical ability into higher command. His position near the front became less exposed as his commands grew, so the criticism centres on logistical judgment. Dr. Clarke argues that Rommel repeatedly planned around supplies promised to him instead of the resources actually arriving. A challenge about his advance through France leads to clarification that this is a criticism of his planning, rather than a defence of it. The proposed remedy of giving him better logistics officers meets a further objection: the problem was his willingness to override their advice. His better periods in the desert are associated with pausing, fortifying, and building up supplies, followed by renewed difficulties when success encouraged him to stop listening.