German forces could promote advanced ideas about mechanized warfare without being able to motorize the whole army. The British Army had largely motorized by the beginning of World War II, although some reserve formations were still converting. Pack animals remained useful for mountain warfare, particularly in the Indian Army. The comparison connects Germany's uneven army modernization with a naval force still overcoming the contraction imposed after World War I. In this assessment, practical deployment lagged behind promising theory.
Notable Point · 1:17:31-1:19:06
Why advanced doctrine did not mean a fully modernized force
Germany's interest in mechanized warfare exceeded its ability to motorize the whole army, a comparison that helps explain the practical shortcomings of its naval rebuilding.