The Need for Organisational Resilience Chapter 5

German commanding officers as well as non-commanding officers was relatively high (Muth

2011, 101).

Student officers are trained to instil leadership in others in case designated leaders are

unable to enact the leadership role. The schooling of junior officers included war games that

required flexibility of mind, to make them think on their feet while facing novel situations

(Muth 2011, 165).

In this respect, creativity may be interpreted as disobedience. However ,

… the German and Prussian officer corps are the officer corps with the greatest culture

of disobedience – with maybe the exception of the French. The stories and events that

kept alive the virtue requiring an officer – even in war – to disobey an order “when

justified by honour and circumstances” were corporate cultural knowledge within the

Prussian and German officer corps and it is therefore important to recount them there.

(Muth 2011, 168)

[Text Box starts] Excerpt from Truppenführung (Handling of Combined-Arms

Formations), the German Army field manual of 1936

• Leadership in war demands leaders possessed of judgment, a clear understanding and

foresight. They must be independent and firm in making a decision, determined and energetic

while carrying it out, sensitive to the changing fortunes of war, and possessed of a strong

consciousness of the high responsibility resting on them.

• The officer is leader and educator in every field. Besides a knowledge of men and a sense of

justice, he must distinguish himself by superior knowledge and experience, moral excellence,

self-control and high courage.

• The example of officers and men in commanding positions has a crucial effect on the troops.

The officer who demonstrates cold-bloodedness, determination and courage in front of the

enemy pulls the troops along with himself. He must, however, also find his way to

subordinates’ hearts and gain their confidence by understanding their feelings and their

thoughts. His care for them must never cease.

Mutual confidence is the secure basis for discipline in times of need and danger.

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