The Need for Organisational Resilience - Chapter 4

expected.

A Wehrmacht soldier in front of the captured Fort d'Ében-Émael. In the background one can see Bloc 6 (Obj. 6) (BArch, n.d.)

Autonomy. From the outset, German leaders of each of the assault groups were given

considerable leeway to act. If this leeway could not be enacted by leaders, for whatever

reason, subordinates stepped into the breach and assumed authority. In the case of the

capture of Fort d'Ében-Émael, the nominated commander of the operation − Oberleutnant

Witzig – did not arrive on the scene until most of the defences were silenced. However, his

subordinate leaders took the initiative in continuing the operation and subduing the fort’s

defences. Subordinates quickly showed initiative, decisiveness and persistence in

accomplishing their given intent.

This degree of autonomy was exercised by many commanders in the field. For example,

General Heinz Guderian later reflected:

During the French campaign, I never received any further orders as to what I

was to do once the bridgehead over the Meuse was captured. All of my

decisions, until I reached the Atlantic seaboard at Abbeville, were taken by me

alone. (Guderian 2000, 251)

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