Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

ETO front line. Was there a main front line?

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by Gramagrass, Aug 10, 2021.

  1. Gramagrass

    Gramagrass New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2020
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    7
    I am involved in a debate over ETO frontlines. One of the arguments was that the eastern front was the main front land most important front of ETO. Reson was size and casualties.

    As i agree that it was the largest and bloodiest frontline, i disagree it was the main front line for the ETO. I also state that the southern front, western front, and air front were just as crucial and gave reasons why.

    What are your thoughts?
     
  2. Takao

    Takao Ace

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2010
    Messages:
    10,103
    Likes Received:
    2,574
    Location:
    Reading, PA
    Whereever you were...and getting shot at or shelled...You were on the only front line that mattered.
     
    bronk7 likes this.
  3. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    9,505
    Likes Received:
    3,037
    Multiple fronts...which was the idea.
     
  4. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    The Eastern front produdeced the Biggesrt wins in ww2
     
  5. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    Messages:
    1,773
    Likes Received:
    568
    Location:
    London UK
    Hmm... As the OP said, the scale and number of casualties made the east front the largest land theatre. Two other "Fronts" should be considered. The war in the air and the war at sea, for control of access to markets and the world economy.

    I am not sure how you can apportion "Biggest Wins".
     
  6. Gramagrass

    Gramagrass New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2020
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    7
    Yes, but is it consider the main front in ETO?
     
  7. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    3,5 million POW's The first year. Any other country in Europe would surrender...
     
  8. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,288
    Likes Received:
    2,605
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I don't think there was a "main" front. While the Eastern front involved massive numbers on both sides, one cannot discount the idea of multiple fronts. The Western front, the Mediterranean front, the air war, and sea warfare all contributed to the Allied success.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2021
  9. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    As far as I am considered 3,5 million POW's s does it. But it did not.
     
  10. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    Messages:
    1,773
    Likes Received:
    568
    Location:
    London UK
    The Western allies took 1.5 million PW between 5 June 1944 and 31 March 1945 and a further 1.3 million in April 1945.

    I agree that western historiography neglected the Eastern Front, and the western public overlooked the extraordinary casualties of the war in eastern Europe. Those are not just in the scale of numbers but the proportions of population lost in e.g. Poland, Byelorussia and the Ukraine. These have been overshadowed by the holocaust in popular memory and political significance. The holocaust extended to the citizens of western Europe from a Jewish minority with powerful and articulate supporters.
     
  11. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Messages:
    18,254
    Likes Received:
    5,671
    I spoke with a Russian professor (U of Moscow) back in 1997. He said that they had been taught that the D-Day landings were no larger than the Dieppe raid. If you don't do the work yourself you'll have to hope that the people you read are honest and impartial. Good luck with that.
     
  12. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2002
    Messages:
    26,461
    Likes Received:
    2,207
    The Germans had no apppreciation. Later. It was Himmller who was sorry they l et the Russian work force die.
     
  13. bronk7

    bronk7 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2013
    Messages:
    4,753
    Likes Received:
    328
    Location:
    MIDWEST
    I'd add the Home Front, also--where all the stuff was made
     
    Sheldrake and CAC like this.

Share This Page