By "Did a lot of administrative work" I presume that Herr Oberst's aides did said work.
Ah, at times the Oberst has to execute the exigent issues personally in order to ascertain operations moving like clockwork. That said, this still leaves some room for exertion by administering the cane to start the aides in order to ensure that ample Marketenderware, crates of cognac, wine, and champagne are loaded onto the trucks before moving forward to the GRENADIER premises. Not to forget the bookshelf, carpet, and adequate lighting for the command post. And for Hasso, the Great Dane, a small herd of sheep needs to be confiscated to keep him busy and to prevent distractions by him biting off the legs of the map table during the issue of orders.
So much to take care of, you must excuse me...
"Mein Gott! It is now—how you say—
zero seven hundred! And yet, where are meine Marketenderwaren? Where are the crates of Cognac und the Château de-whatever-you-call-it Champagne, hm? Do you expect me to march into France with
mineral vasser, ja?
Leutnant Müller! You have the energy of a week-old strudel. I said the
Opel Blitz must be loaded—
loaded!—by sunrise! Not by... by Christmas! You boys think zis is a picnic?
Nein! It is a campaign of logistics, of elegance! A gentleman must never be without his Cognac! When the Oberbefehlshaber inspects, do you think he will ask, ‘Oberst, did you capture Bastogne?’
Nein! He will ask, ‘Oberst, where is the Champagne?’ And what will I tell him? That Müller forgot the corkscrew?
Pfui!
Get it done, ihr Faulpelze! If I do not see zis truck loaded in five minutes, you vill be
personally responsible for my sober condition!"
von Marwitz
