Quotes from Erich von Manstein

No Senior military commander can for years on end expect his soldiers to lay down their lives for victory and then precipitate defeat by his own hand.

There are only four types of officers. First, there are the lazy, stupid ones. Leave them alone, they do no harm. Second, there are the hard-working intelligent ones. They make excellent staff officers, ensuring that every detail is properly considered. Third, there are the hard-working, stupid ones. These people are a menace, and must be fired at once. They create irrelevant work for everybody. Finally, there are the intelligent lazy ones. They are suited for the highest office.

Even now certain of its formations were being moved off to the west, where the French and British, much to our surprise, had looked idly on as their Polish ally was being annihilated.

But in a situation like Sixth Army's, the German military code demands that when lives are at stake, the officers must take second place to the men. It

Strength of character and inner fortitude, however, are decisive factors. The confidence of the man in the ranks rests upon a man's strength of character.

A war is not lost until you consider it lost.