The best way to separate the great from everyone else was placing on their shoulders from the top commander down to each individual soldier better than anything else—responsibility. Not only were they responsible for their own units but they were responsible for “service to the people.” This leads to the introduction of an interesting German word, Verantwortungsfreudigkeit. German teachings as early as World War I uses this term, but particularly it is highlighted in the 1933 Truppenfuhrung. The 1921 doctrine of Fuhrung and Gefecht der Verbundenen Waffenin 1921-23, says that “the most distinguished leaders’ quality is the joy of taking responsibility.” Truppenfuhrung from 1933 goes thoroughly into it by stating that “All leaders must in all situations without fearing responsibility exert his whole personality. The joy of taking responsibility is the most distinguished leader quality.” This demonstrates how important the Germans viewed responsibility. Clausewitz also talked about that it is not new that an officer has to handle the responsibility he has on his shoulder. What is different and new that the Germans wanted the officer to enjoy responsibility. Why is it important for an officer to enjoy responsibility? Independence was what equipped an officer to handle uncertainty and still make independent decisions. But when faced with the horrors of the battlefield an officer needs more than just independence to keep him vigorous. When everything is difficult and everyone around him seems to have given up that is when the feeling of responsibility kicks in. It is the feeling that it is up to him to decide the outcome of the engagement when everyone else has given up and he experiences the “emptiness of the battlefield.” This is why “Verantwortungsfreudigkeit” or the joy of taking responsibility is what makes the officer “endure the situation” on the battlefield, and is why it is the most important quality for a leader.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 12:33:51 +0000
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