If Mission Command is an approach to command and control, then can that approach be broken down? The question being posed is that during the events of Dunkirk did the German army have the principles of mission command and when as well as how did it breakdown? Dunkirk is seen as not only one of the biggest blunders for the Allies but also their greatest mural victory. However, for the Germans, they will suffer for this great victory later down the road. At the start of World War II (WWII) the machine that was the German Army had every aspect of mission command and was able to utilize them with deadly efficiency. Dunkirk will almost foreshadow how their army, Government and even their efficiency will begin to rot, moreover this battle also shows…show more content… The French had built the Maginot Line, located on the southern part of France with its Border on Germany. It essentially was a series of heavy fortifications that would prevent an invasion from the Germany(C). The plan for the defense of France was simple: the French commanded by Vice-amiral Jean Abrial would defend the Maginot line and the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) led by John Vereker or Lord Gort, would defend northern France on the border of Belgium and Luxenberg(C). With these battle plans drawn up and the orders to defend France and a free Europe, the allies waited as the darkness of WWII loomed. The wait ended on May 10th when the Germans invaded the Netherlands and set their sights on France (c). The German war machine had been making its way to France during the “lighting war” and the army had now approached France and the…show more content… Dog fights over France. the RAF meet the Luftwaffe at every opportunity around France during the event of Dunkirk to an aggressive means, C in the same way that they would fight during the event of the Battle for Britain. In addition, the weather would play a massive role in the protection of some of the Navy ships. However, as valiantly as the RAF fought and how the weather would act for these nine days, there was only one major factor that was attributed to this colossal failure. The lack of competence displayed by the German leadership here is almost unbelievable, especially at the point in the Second World War. For example, General Hugo Sperrle, who in turn was selected to lead the Luftwaffe, was optimistic about this, but he did almost no planning or preparations for it. C.C. Sperrle might have been excited about this operation, but he was also unfocused as he saw past Dunkirk, looking at central France and Paris. This lack of focus led to poor mission orders and poor commanders’ intent, leading to the failure of Dunkirk. Eventually Richthofen became the sole “planner”, again we see these same issues from him as we did Sperrle, no real plan came from Richthofen’s level as he was too overwhelmed to put anything concrete out. Meaning while the Germans had no plans and up until and no way of dealing
