The Need for Organisational Resilience Chapter-6

threatening to encircle the battered Allied forces in the north. The Allies started a methodical

withdrawal, as the pressure became all too much. The diary of Lieutenant-General Brooke

mentioned:

I was too tired to write last night, and now can barely remember what happened

yesterday. The hours are so crowded and follow so fast on each other that life

becomes a blur and fails to cut a groove in one’s memory. (Horne 1990, 507)

May 16 th saw a renewed attempt by the German Chiefs of Staff, in

particularRundstedtsupported by Hitler, to put a brake on Guderian’s advance as they feared

their flanks were overly exposed. Despite clear and unmistakeable orders to halt the

advance, Guderian disobeyed his Chief of Staff, continuing what he referred to as a

reconnaissance in force. After a very brief respite, the Panzer forces were on the move

again. The most forward units risked being out of step with their motorised infantry units,

offering the allies a window of opportunity to strike.

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