Read this on steve quayles website, the article has a critical shortcoming; the literal translation is more 'an order is an order'; in the singular sense. "Orders are orders" draws upon the collective, I.e. we (vee) all had our orders (the universal opt out of responsibility)...make it singular and take ownership.
(Just google 'ist' und 'sind'...)
http://zerogov.com/?p=3411