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German soldiers Quote by Albertus Wright Catlin

“They say the German soldiers fight blindly, with only such knowledge of their objectives as is absolutely necessary to send them forward. We believe in giving our men thorough orientation and a realization of just what is expected of them and what they are up against. I showed the battalion…” quote by Albertus Wright Catlin
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““They say the German soldiers fight blindly, with only such knowledge of their objectives as is absolutely necessary to send them forward. We believe in giving our men thorough orientation and a realization of just what is expected of them and what they are up against. I showed the battalion commanders my map, indicating the points to be held, and through them passed on to the men all the information available. I hold that men like ours fight none the worse for knowing just what they are fighting for.””

Albertus Wright Catlin

About This Quote

Source Speech: 1918, Military Training Manual

Providing clear, detailed information to troops improves performance and morale.

In simple terms: Clear orientation helps soldiers fight better.

Key Takeaway

Give thorough briefings before missions.

Themes

leadership clarity military

Mood

strategic reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • combat planning
  • training
  • team coordination
  • mission execution

Key Concepts

orientation information expectations

Questions to Reflect On

  • How much detail is optimal?
  • What risks arise from over‑information?
A Different Perspective

Too much detail can overwhelm soldiers.

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