lots of space is devoted to what battle is the most important, the most pivitol and the most important one of world war two, i ve hear that it was Stalingrad or Midway or Guadalcanal. cases could be made for Normandy for the Ardennes or a host of others, but for a single infantryman the answer is simple. The foxhole that I am in is the most important one in world war two, for me. and the battle to stay alive until 45.
Unless you're a German in Stalingrad and arguably the most important Foxholes are the ones the Roumanians were in... There is no "Single Infantryman". Warfare is a group effort from the smallest section to the largest Army groups.
and the normal infaltry men didn't had a clue when the war would be over nevertheless, great text, Kriegspfarrer
aziz When I first met my future brother-in-law (AA82nd.Airbourne Div) I asked him what was the first thing he did when he hit the ground, his answer was, "I get my shovel and I dig like ****".
Simon: If I may... interject in response to the comments made by Kriegspfarrer... Within even the largest and most sweeping battles and campaigns, the infantryman finds his war to be a very personal and intimate affair shared by his mate in a foxhole, or between a small squad of men unaware of the "big picture." They fight knowing their lives depend on each other, and they often engage in spectacularly unselfish and heroic acts... because of their bond of loyalty and love for their fellow troopers. At least that's how I choose to interpret it. Cheers. Tim
Amen to Hoosier. Often, those sacrifices are made not only for comrades but even strangers. Combat is a strange, awful, and wonderful thing. It's a shame that the English term "brotherhood" doesn't quite connote the same as the German "brudershaffen." Anyone looking for a most interesting book about war should try J. Glenn Gray's THE WARRIORS.
