Ludendorff was a great man, a man of genius, in conception, a man of indomitable energy and great gifts.

But this man required a political brake, so to speak, a political element in the Wilhelmstrasse capable of balancing his influence, and this was never found.

It must fairly be admitted that the German generals achieved the gigantic, and there was a time when they were looked up to by the people almost as gods.

It may be true that all great strategists are much alike; they look to victory always and to nothing else.

Moltke himself, perhaps, was nothing more, but he had a Bismarck to maintain equilibrium.