The general verdict among the German generals I interrogated in 1945 was that Field-Marshal von Manstein had proved the ablest commander in their Army, and the man they had most desired to become its Commander-in-Chief. It is very clear that he had a superb sense of operational possibilities and equal mastery in the conduct of operations, together with a greater grasp of the potentialities of mechanized forces than any other commander who had not been trained in the tank arm. In sum, he had military genius.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- German generals considered Manstein the most capable commander, praising his operational sense and grasp of mechanized warfare.
- In plain terms
- His peers thought he was the best general due to his operational skill.
- What can you take from it?
- Operational genius and understanding of mechanized forces define top military leadership.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines a great commander?
- Does peer respect equate to strategic success?
Another view
Peer verdicts reflect subjective opinion rather than objective strategic outcome.
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