---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The responsibility of commanding the…"
description: "\"The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me, and the task was assigned to my Army Group.\" — Gerd von Rundstedt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg"
---

#  The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me…

![“The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me, and the task was assigned to my Army Group.” quote by Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg)

> “The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me, and the task was assigned to my Army Group.”

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Command responsibility for an invasion placed the burden of strategic decisions and outcomes on his leadership.

**In simple terms:** Leaders bear full responsibility for actions.

Key Takeaway

Accept accountability in leadership roles.

Themes

leadership military strategy responsibility

Mood

solemn reflective

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

- military planning
- crisis management
- policy making

Key Concepts

history ethics command theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What ethical limits should leaders consider?
- How does accountability affect decision‑making?

A Different Perspective

Moral dilemmas arise in war.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/)

[Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/)

> [Even while we busily attend meetings, contribute money and perform our assigned tasks, we suspect that we may be helping to create a force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shea/even-while-we-busily-attend-meetings-contribute-money-and-perform-our/)

[Robert Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shea/)

> [There must be a rule of thumb in pop-culture archaeology that states that the allure of any topic is inversely related to its assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/there-must-be-a-rule-of-thumb-in-pop-culture-archaeology-that-states/)

[Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/)

> [I love to read. I was in AP English in high school, and we were assigned books every few months. 'Moby Dick' and 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-boldman/i-love-to-read-i-was-in-ap-english-in-high-school-and-we-were/)

[Spencer Boldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-boldman/)

> [“You have been assigned this mountain so that you can show others it can be moved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-robbins/you-have-been-assigned-this-mountain-so-that-you-can-show-others-it/)

[Mel Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-robbins/)

> [Bahrain lies at the epicenter of Gulf security and any violent upheaval in Bahrain would have enormous geopolitical consequences. Global economic stability depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/bahrain-lies-at-the-epicenter-of-gulf-security-and-any-violent/)

[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/)

> [Here's how adaptation works - almost everything in the movie is in the book in some form. But it's as though the deck has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/here-s-how-adaptation-works-almost-everything-in-the-movie-is-in-the/)

[Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/)

> [“All the world's a circus. Sometimes you choose your act and sometimes it's assigned to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/all-the-world-s-a-circus-sometimes-you-choose-your-act-and-sometimes/)

[Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/)

> [In college, I was a researcher/writer for 'Let's Go: Europe,' assigned to Crete and Cyprus. I was supposed to go to England, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/in-college-i-was-a-researcher-writer-for-let-s-go-europe-assigned-to/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [Executives will talk about the importance of passion, but what they really mean is finding somebody who will work nights and weekends on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/executives-will-talk-about-the-importance-of-passion-but-what-they/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's pathetic, but I don't really remember my first time reading 'The Great Gatsby.' I must have read it in high school. I'm pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-choi/it-s-pathetic-but-i-don-t-really-remember-my-first-time-reading-the/)

[Susan Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-choi/)

> [I got lucky and got assigned to Hubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-got-lucky-and-got-assigned-to-hubble/)

[John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/)

> [I was assigned boy at birth but I have always known I was a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-rocero/i-was-assigned-boy-at-birth-but-i-have-always-known-i-was-a-girl/)

[Geena Rocero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-rocero/)

> [I was assigned female at birth. My gender identify is non-binary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-was-assigned-female-at-birth-my-gender-identify-is-non-binary/)

[Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/)

> [The combat exclusion policy was adopted during the Clinton Administration in 1994 and says women can 'be assigned to all positions for which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-dill/the-combat-exclusion-policy-was-adopted-during-the-clinton/)

[Cynthia Dill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-dill/)

## More by Gerd von Rundstedt

> [If was, increased by a lack of railways in Russia - for bringing up supplies to our advancing troops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/if-was-increased-by-a-lack-of-railways-in-russia-for-bringing-up/)

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

> [Nothing would have been changed for the German people, but my name would have gone down in history as that of the greatest traitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/nothing-would-have-been-changed-for-the-german-people-but-my-name/)

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

> [It is madness to attempt to hold. In the first place the troops cannot do it and in the second place if they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/it-is-madness-to-attempt-to-hold-in-the-first-place-the-troops-cannot/)

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

> [Another adverse factor was the way the Russians received continual reinforcements from their back areas, as they fell back. It seemed to us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/another-adverse-factor-was-the-way-the-russians-received-continual/)

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

> [Make peace, you fools!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/make-peace-you-fools/)

[Gerd von Rundstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

[Explore all 6 Gerd von Rundstedt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/)

## More Army quotes

> [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/)

[Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/)

> [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/)

[Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/)

> [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/)

[James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/)

[William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/)

> [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/)

[Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/)

> [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/)

[Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/)

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

[Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me, and the task was assigned to my Army Group.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gerd von Rundstedt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-invasion-fell-to-me-and-the-task/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Army"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-invasion-fell-to-me-and-the-task/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/gerd-von-rundstedt-55858_army_the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-inv_2680299.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The responsibility of commanding the invasion fell to me, and the task was assigned to my Army Group.” — Gerd von Rundstedt",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Gerd von Rundstedt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-von-rundstedt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The responsibility of commanding the invasion...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-invasion-fell-to-me-and-the-task/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-von-rundstedt/the-responsibility-of-commanding-the-invasion-fell-to-me-and-the-task/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
