Favourite battle of ETO...

Which is the battle you like or enjoy studying the most? And it could be fine that everybody explained why.

(You can choose up to 3 options)

 

Well, I was the first to have a go and the my choice is probably pretty obvious ; -

1) Air war over Europe ( because the men and machines fascinate me )
2 ) ARNHEM ! ( because it's the 'perfect', self-contained battle to study )
3 ) The Bulge - the greatest pitched battle of the European Theatre and I would say the most dramatic.

All three have two advantages for me :
1) There is plenty of reading material to study, including many first-hand accounts
2) I can visit the battlefields/airfields.

 

Why I knew about your answers, Martin?

But your reasons are very practical. It is really not very easy to visit El Alamein or Stalingrad battlefields compared to the Low Countries and some airfields...

 

This is a rather strange poll, but I have voted for North Africa. This war has been tensing and rather fair, without (many) war crimes.

 

I like the battle of the Atlantic the most because of the u-boats. I find them fascinating. Also, there is plenty of information on U-boats. For lots of great u-boat information go to Uboat.net

 

Here's my three.

1.Stalingrad-Caucasus-Kharkov
Massive clashes of men and machines. I'd lump in Kursk if I could, too.

2.Berlin '45
I'd add Vienna and the other falling cities of the Reich as well.
In the last ditches the Germans fight for their homes and lives, the tables having been turned so drastically. A rushed but fascinating evolutionary explosion of weaponry finds its way onto the field but it still cannot make a difference in untrained or war-weary hands.

3. North Africa
For the "gentleman's war" reasons oft-mentioned. It's unusual to read about a conflict where each side held the enemy's lives in such relatively high regard. Possibly the inhospitable enemy of the harsh environment that they both had to fight brought them together?

 

As in agreeance with Martin.........the air war in the ETO, due to the fact I lost two German cousins flying in the luftwaffe during the war.
For ground battles, too numerous to count

~E•µAß╟

 

Error 36554654: Unable to Compute, Stack Overflow

That is, I simply cannot choose three from that list. I would just be leaving out one of my favourites.

Can't even pick three related to my favourite area, the Eastern Front...

 

I choose Air War as well. But I had a hard time picking 2-7. I am a Jack of all ETO campaigns but master of none...

 

I chose Operation Overlord as my first. D-Day always has fascinated me, not only because of the sheer enormity (is that a word) of it but also the sacrifice, organization and using any and every situation for the Allied advantage. It's just amazing how many men sacrificed their lives to begin a very intense campaign across Europe. I've always loved D-Day and hopefully one day will know as much as I like about all the topics posted on the poll. I also chose the Atlantic for the very simple reason of the intensity of the U-boats vs. the Allies and the depth charges, torpedoes, that's all.

 

I only choose one:

Barbarossa 1941

Because of the epic scale and importance of that campaign in world history.

Cheers,

 

G'day

My choise would be
1;Market Garden
2;Overlord
3;Phoney war
And Nr 3 meaning the whole build up to WWII. All the politics leading up to WWII are very interesting to read.

Cheers Popski

 

European Air War for me - a relatively new field of combat that characterised the Second World War. Great strategic importance, amazing developments in technology, colourful characters and exciting memoirs.

 

So far it's airwar out in front with poor old Italy waaay behind....

 

Perfectly reflecting the anglo-American majority of posters on this board.

Well, I guess the question isn't too interesting for the maaaaaaany posters from Japan we have here on this board.

Cheers,

[ 07. November 2003, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: AndyW ]

 

Air war
Atlantic
Overlord-Normandy

 

I love the smell of sour grapes in the morning.

Cheers.

 

this does surprise me greatly that air war is in the lead or at least for the time being.......c'mon you guys vote ! Martin maybe we need to come up with some interesting air-war questions for the enjoyment for those interested ?

~E

 

I voted but had no time for a reply. I voted (of course) for Stalingrad. Need I say more?

 

U mean the air-war over Stalingrad right ?

~E