Interesting detail that was passed over by the discussants.
I saw a version of the story about Balck saying he was going to continue the attack personally which had some additional dramatic detail. As I recall it, he had apparently suffered a leg injury and was limping. Balck told a soldier standing near the officers who were reporting to him to hand him his rifle. He then announced that he was going to continue the attack himself and began walking off, limping, in the direction of the enemy. At this point everyone promptly got moving and made the attack. Apparently there was nothing but disorganized French troops in front of them, who were not permitted time to prepare a defense because the Germans stayed relentlessly at their heels. Beyond those few Frenchmen, open country and open roads all the way to the coast …
Can’t remember where I read this. It would be a great scene in a movie. Here Balck is showing some humility and reticence, and not gilding the story, which is in character.
Perhaps the longer version of the story (bum leg and all) comes from Balck's memoir "Order in Chaos." As for division command on horseback in 1918, I strongly suspect that the chief of staff was located at a fixed command post that was well supplied with telephonic connections, as well as lots of mounted messengers.
From horseback!
Did they really? How did that work?
Interesting detail that was passed over by the discussants.
I saw a version of the story about Balck saying he was going to continue the attack personally which had some additional dramatic detail. As I recall it, he had apparently suffered a leg injury and was limping. Balck told a soldier standing near the officers who were reporting to him to hand him his rifle. He then announced that he was going to continue the attack himself and began walking off, limping, in the direction of the enemy. At this point everyone promptly got moving and made the attack. Apparently there was nothing but disorganized French troops in front of them, who were not permitted time to prepare a defense because the Germans stayed relentlessly at their heels. Beyond those few Frenchmen, open country and open roads all the way to the coast …
Can’t remember where I read this. It would be a great scene in a movie. Here Balck is showing some humility and reticence, and not gilding the story, which is in character.
Perhaps the longer version of the story (bum leg and all) comes from Balck's memoir "Order in Chaos." As for division command on horseback in 1918, I strongly suspect that the chief of staff was located at a fixed command post that was well supplied with telephonic connections, as well as lots of mounted messengers.
It’s possible with radio to command from the front, not so flexible with wire but still doable.
At Stalingrad Chuikov’s 62D army command post was 1Km or less from the front line.
Front, FEBA FLOT are obsolete concepts.
Who was the interviewer?
Links didn’t answer , I followed them. Was it Dupuy?
I am not entirely sure, but I suspect that the interviewer was Pierre Sprey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Sprey