All I had to do was to cross the river, capture Brussels, and then go on to take the port of Antwerp. The snow was waist-deep and there wasn't room to deploy four tanks abreast, let alone six armored divisions. It didn't get light until eight and was dark again at four, and my tanks can't fight at night. And all this at Christmas time!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He describes logistical challenges of crossing a river, snow, limited tank deployment, and night fighting during Christmas.
- In plain terms
- He faced weather and timing problems during an operation.
- What can you take from it?
- Weather and timing can severely limit military operations.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can armies mitigate weather impacts?
- What alternatives exist when night fighting is impossible?
Another view
The account is limited to obstacles without noting any solutions.
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