"Although throughout the 19th century the principle of Auftragstaktik was being incorporated into German military doctrine, it still met resistance. The term Auftragstaktik first surfaced in the early 1890s. It was coined by those who resented the process, as the term was to show disdain. Auftragstaktik was considered a threat to military discipline and, thus by extension, to everything military.... Auftragstaktik is based on an image of [a] man who values his individual dignity and freedom and who harnesses them to achieve superior strength. This concept is still valid for the 21st century. Based on the premise that leadership encompasses two aspects—being a role model and accepting responsibility—leadership requires competence, strength of character, trust, initiative, judgment, assertiveness, and decision-making ability at all command levels. Only Auftragstaktik enables the meaningful exploitation of the most sophisticated technology, and only Auftragstaktik allows mastery of the increasingly complex challenges of the 21st century. Most important, it takes the encouragement of superiors and the courage of subordinates to make Auftragstaktik work."[1]
"Ironically, the well-known WWII successes of Auftragstaktik came after it was already in decline, because of Hitler's intolerance for disobedience. Guderian spent most of the Battle of France making excuses for (and bending the truth about) how far his units were advancing."[2]
Name: Michael Turner
Location: Takadanobaba, a college district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, close to the science and engineering campus of Waseda University.
Occupation: technical translator (J-E) and co-manager of a ryokan. I do some writing as well.
- ^ "Auftragstaktik and Inner Fuhring: Trademarks of German Leadership" by Major Gen. Werner Widder, German Army, former chief of staff, Headquarters, Stabilization Forces, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; in Military Review, Sep 2002
- ^ 'Re: "Auftragstaktik"', Henry Spencer, 11 May 1988, RISKS Digest Vol 6 Iss 82