Lastly, what is the opinion of the enemy?
Herr Maximilian Harden in a speech upon the causes of the German defeat, gave first place to the “physical shock of the Tank,” at which “Ludendorff had laughed.”
Speaking for the Minister of War in the Reichstag, General Wrisberg said:
“The attack on August 8 between the Avre and the Ancre was not unexpected by our leaders. When, nevertheless, the English succeeded in achieving a great success the reasons are to be sought in the massed employment of Tanks and surprise under the protection of fog....
“The American Armies should not terrify us.... More momentous for us is the question of Tanks.”
The G.O.C. of the 51st German Corps, in an Order dated July 23, 1918, remarks: “As soon as the Tanks are destroyed the whole attack fails.”
On October 23 the German Wireless published the following statement by General Scheuch, Minister of War:
“Germany will never need to make peace owing to a shortage of war material.
“The superiority of the enemy at present is principally due to their use of Tanks.
“We have been actively engaged for a long period in working at producing this weapon (which is recognised as important), in adequate numbers.