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Hmmm, the modern German military is renowned for emphasizing individual initiative down to at least the NCO level. One of the reasons the Wehrmacht was so comba

Hmmm, the modern German military is renowned for emphasizing individual initiative down to at least the NCO level. One of the reasons the Wehrmacht was so combat-effective at the tactical level.

lukan 3y ago
Yes, it is called Auftragstaktik. Basically they get a job, what to do, like secure that bridge, but no micromanagement or interference on how to do it. And today the german military might be one of the very few armies, to emphasize, that every soldier is individually responsible to evaluate whether an order is legit - or illegal. They activly learn, that it is their duty to refuse an order, that could be a war crime.
- richrichie 3y ago
  Don’t be deceived by conduct manuals. People are people. Westpoint officer cadets are demanded otherworldly ethics and conduct. In reality, most of them are ordinary mortals and career men who do run of the mill office politics (and all the muck that goes with it) just to earn the next rank.
  - lukan 3y ago
    Well, but it is a difference, if the focus on what to drill into the common soldier is on following orders first - which is what I believe still most armies do - or to emphasize to also question those orders. But sure, I am not saying that modern german soldiers won't be capable of war crimes. But I am saying, it is a different culture now. Opposed to the Wehrmacht - they learned to literally follow any order.
  - senderista 3y ago
    I was pretty damn proud when I saw this hidden-camera video of a goon (Polish mobster actually) in Ukraine's "International Legion" ordering American veterans to loot a shopping mall and they were like "fuck no, that's an illegal order". https://kyivindependent.com/suicide-missions-abuse-physical-threats-international-legion-fighters-speak-out-against-leaderships-misconduct/ https://kyivindependent.com/suicide-missions-abuse-physical-...

Hmmm, the modern German military is renowned for emphasizing individual initiative down to at least the NCO level. One of the reasons the Wehrmacht was so combat-effective at the tactical level.

lukan 3y ago

Yes, it is called Auftragstaktik. Basically they get a job, what to do, like secure that bridge, but no micromanagement or interference on how to do it. And today the german military might be one of the very few armies, to emphasize, that every soldier is individually responsible to evaluate whether an order is legit - or illegal. They activly learn, that it is their duty to refuse an order, that could be a war crime.

richrichie 3y ago
Don’t be deceived by conduct manuals. People are people. Westpoint officer cadets are demanded otherworldly ethics and conduct. In reality, most of them are ordinary mortals and career men who do run of the mill office politics (and all the muck that goes with it) just to earn the next rank.
- lukan 3y ago
  Well, but it is a difference, if the focus on what to drill into the common soldier is on following orders first - which is what I believe still most armies do - or to emphasize to also question those orders. But sure, I am not saying that modern german soldiers won't be capable of war crimes. But I am saying, it is a different culture now. Opposed to the Wehrmacht - they learned to literally follow any order.
- senderista 3y ago
  I was pretty damn proud when I saw this hidden-camera video of a goon (Polish mobster actually) in Ukraine's "International Legion" ordering American veterans to loot a shopping mall and they were like "fuck no, that's an illegal order". https://kyivindependent.com/suicide-missions-abuse-physical-threats-international-legion-fighters-speak-out-against-leaderships-misconduct/ https://kyivindependent.com/suicide-missions-abuse-physical-...