Mission command is often cited as a key reason for the German tactical-operational successes in the wars from 1866 to 1945. This study examines this leadership principle for the German Army for the first time by comparing theory and practice. The results challenge the previously established image of mission command. Not only does strict leadership play a far more significant role than previously assumed, but the degree of autonomy and initiative among lower leaders also heavily depended on the leadership understanding of the commanding officer. Ultimately, the perception of what was meant by mission command and how it should be practiced was by no means as monolithic within the Prussian-German military thought as research has often suggested to date.