Source

Kiev, October 12

[…]

I fully share your views; in particular, I also believe that the brilliant victory that fate had pretended would be ours in August 1914 would not have been to our benefit. But the fact that the war lasted more than four years and will now end in such a way that it comes close to defeat was not inevitable; we have ourselves, our folly and hubris to blame. For years and years my great concern has been that Ludendorff would overstretch our strength, as has now happened. Ludendorff, whom I hold in high esteem as a soldier, unfortunately never had any understanding of psychological effects and consequently just as little understanding of politics. He believed he could give orders where this was not possible, and unfortunately had many young, immature minds (and older ones too) in his environment who did not act favorably, who rushed him to show so-called energy where it was necessary to weigh things calmly and with forethought. Of course, they also wanted to remain in his favor by this sharp demonstration of energy, which they easily succeeded in doing, since Ludendorff is not a great judge of character and is easily taken in when things are presented to him with loud, energetic-sounding phrases. – Old Hindenburg, who possessed many of the qualities that Ludendorff lacked, in particular an Olympian calmness, could have complemented Ludendorff if the latter had not been the far stronger personality. Thus, although outwardly the Hindenburg-Ludendorff marriage appeared to be a brilliant one, Hindenburg’s opinions were too weak and Ludendorff’s too strong to make a true commander. Each of them was not a commander in his own right; the right mixture was lacking for the perfect combination of a commander – unfortunately a thousand times over. Insightful people and insiders had therefore been worried for a long time. – Fate did not place the only general and statesman that Germany has had since Bismarck at the head of the German army; old Schlieffen took the secret of the man of Sedan, the secret of victory, to his grave. – In Alten’s Lexicon (upstairs in the large bookcase on the outer shelf) there is a splendid article on “the general,” written by old Schlieffen. I’m sure you’ll be interested to read it. […]