Query

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Hi!!!

I need some help on a quote. I remember reading it in Swedish but it didn´t report who said it so here it goes; (loosely translated to English) "An amateur studies tactics, an professional studies logistics"

Would be very glad if you could help me....

 

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Citat

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[Emperor of Europe]

The saying is: "Amateurs talk (tactics/strategy), professionals talk logistics."

H. Norman Schwartzkopf said so during Desert Storm quoting Erwin Rommel, but I suspect that the saying is older than WWII.

Regards,

EoE

 

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Funny quoting Rommel on this, who disobeyed this very rule when it was about all or nothing

 

[Emperor of Europe]

Originally posted by SoleSurvivor
Funny quoting Rommel on this, who disobeyed this very rule when it was about all or nothing

Dunno. Common history has it that Rommel ignored logistics, but I am not so sure that it is the whole truth. The Axis forces were placed in a terrible supply situation in Africa, and Rommel tried to do the utmost under those circumstances. Does that mean, he was bad at logistics? I am not sure. And I doubt that the timid advance of a general, who was more concerned about his supply lines, would have lead to a better fate for the Axis forces.

Regards,

EoE

 

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Wasn't the Blitzkeig about ignoring logistics in favour of a quick victory? The Germans seemed to put more faith in a quick victory than a slugging match that requires a big build up of supplies. In North Africa the Germans had no real choice. Attack with what they had or get defeated by the rapidly growing British army.

 

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Could the older Moltke be the originator of this quota ?

 

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Solesurvivor:

I think you're confused on Rommel. His quote was "[the North African desert] is a tactician's paradise and a quartermaster's nightmare."

 

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My point is the Malta story. You know, do we remove the threat or ignore it and push ahead, hoping the stockpiles from our recent vitory last long enough.