The morale of the troops taking part was astonishingly high at the start of the offensive. They really believed victory was possible - unlike the higher commanders, who knew the facts.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Troops had high morale and believed in victory, while their commanders knew the objective reality was different.
- In plain terms
- Soldiers were hopeful and thought they could win, but their leaders knew they could not.
- What can you take from it?
- Morale can exist even when victory is impossible.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does knowing the truth help or hurt morale?
- Should leaders protect troops from harsh facts?
Another view
High morale does not guarantee victory and can lead to overconfidence.
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