Dec 22, 2022·edited Aug 11, 2023Liked by Bruce Ivar Gudmundsson
We are frequently told that the Germans are the maestros of mission orders and giving scope to subordinates to give affect to the commanders intent. In this case the commanders intent was never communicated at all, or was completely disregarded if it was. The mythical Germans far exceed the capabilities of the actual Germans in using mission orders, at least in this critical battle!
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The expanding torrent of articles has overwhelmed the readers! No doubt when they have had a chance to retreat and regroup and assess the situation, they will begin to engage substantively.
Excellent summary of the issues surrounding the horrific battle of Verdun. Another reader commented that Auftragstaktic was not taken seriously. I would contend that the mission type orders are a tactical measure to carry out the commander’s intent. The Machiavellian politics at the highest command levels can’t be considered a deviation from mission type orders which in my opinion are zenith of professional warfighting at the tactical level. Great Armies are often defeated by the friction between high level senior commanders despite the tactical competence of the units they lead.
We are frequently told that the Germans are the maestros of mission orders and giving scope to subordinates to give affect to the commanders intent. In this case the commanders intent was never communicated at all, or was completely disregarded if it was. The mythical Germans far exceed the capabilities of the actual Germans in using mission orders, at least in this critical battle!
Congratulations! You have made the first content-related comment to one of the articles on this Substack. (The first comment was administrative in nature.)
The expanding torrent of articles has overwhelmed the readers! No doubt when they have had a chance to retreat and regroup and assess the situation, they will begin to engage substantively.
Excellent summary of the issues surrounding the horrific battle of Verdun. Another reader commented that Auftragstaktic was not taken seriously. I would contend that the mission type orders are a tactical measure to carry out the commander’s intent. The Machiavellian politics at the highest command levels can’t be considered a deviation from mission type orders which in my opinion are zenith of professional warfighting at the tactical level. Great Armies are often defeated by the friction between high level senior commanders despite the tactical competence of the units they lead.