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Who was the best General?

Discussion in 'WWII General' started by PzJgr, Jan 11, 2001.

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  1. richard g

    richard g Member

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    Who? Not the foxy Rommel, surely. I can't vote for him, it would be unpatriotic.

    Did'nt Lightning Joe do an excellent job somewhere around Normandy, was it Cobra? I like good American Generals, like their attitude, but the glory seekers and b******t artists leave me cold.

    Can't find Admin, page 2 access is not working.

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    sand digger
     
    richard g, Jan 20, 2001
    #21
  2. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Does anyone even know of a Soviet AirForce commander? I can't remember ever hearing of one.
     
    Otto, Jan 22, 2001
    #22
  3. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Dear Richard, I needed the laugh-thanks.

    Otto, I will try to remember to get back with you on the Soviet air commander question, I might have a little info on some.
     
    C.Evans, Jan 22, 2001
    #23
  4. Killjoy

    Killjoy Member

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    On land the best overall has to be Rommel. Did any of the aforementioned do nearly as much with as little to work with?
    Scratch all the Russians, too!!!
    Patriots all, perhaps, but anyone with the resources to batter defences incessantly until they crack can SEEM a great general!!
    How about some sort of "Honorable Mention" for George Marshall. This guy wanted supreme command ETO so bad he could taste it, and ended up having to stay stateside so that social climber Ike could mollycoddle the British into thinking they were actually winning the war.... Of course his primary skill was evidently organization, so it may have been the best thing after all!

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    Novus Ordo Seclorum
     
    Killjoy, Jan 23, 2001
    #24
  5. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I've heard/read that before about Ike, how he was a great mediator and logistics specialists rather than a tactician. But his position demanded a great mediator and logistics man. He was the right man for the job, but not neccesarily a pure military tactical commander in the sense that a Rommel or a MacArthur was.

    [ 18. November 2003, 01:02 AM: Message edited by: Otto ]
     
    Otto, Jan 23, 2001
    #25
  6. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Carl,

    No need to go researching for me, I was just curious. I was just wondering why we hear of air commanders of every nation save for the USSR.
     
    Otto, Jan 24, 2001
    #26
  7. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    No problem, its also something I always wondered about from time to time. Trouble is, I always forget to try to look it up.
     
    C.Evans, Jan 24, 2001
    #27
  8. J.Mahoney

    J.Mahoney Member

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    My vote goes for Gotthard Heinrici. He did a good job at saving as many troops as possible while accomplishing what he was supposed to do.
     
    J.Mahoney, Jan 27, 2001
    #28
  9. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Heinrici is a good General and good choice. What do you think about Von Manstein? and Von Rundstedt?
     
    C.Evans, Mar 7, 2001
    #29
  10. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

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    Von Manstein = Great Strategist and should have been Chief of Staff OKW.

    Von Rundstedt = to this day, I cannot find anything that he did which puts him in the status of 'great general'.

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    "They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet or fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."
     
    PzJgr, Mar 7, 2001
    #30
  11. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Erich Von Manstein Von Lewinski, will always get two thumbs up from me, he was as classic a general as the Germans had.

    Gerd Von Rundstedt, was another classical German General. It would be hard for me to accurately say what he has done, its been too long since I read what I had on him but, he is often forgotten when he shouldnt be. If I remember to, I will let you know what I have on him providing that info isnt in storage.
     
    C.Evans, Mar 9, 2001
    #31
  12. Demosthenes

    Demosthenes Member

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    Anyone know how you get promoted?
     
    Demosthenes, Mar 10, 2001
    #32
  13. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    "Promotions and awards" depend on how many postings you make. Keep posting and you will see the changes.
     
    C.Evans, Mar 10, 2001
    #33
  14. AtillatheHun

    AtillatheHun Member

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    Well I dont know about all the others but I believe that General Patton was by far the greatest general in the war. Although he was not the greatest of strategists he was not stupid. He was also very ruthless and uncaring to the point that our own government had to go and get him after he disobeyed a direct order not to invade Russia and went on the move. His likes have not yet been matched by any general today.
     
    AtillatheHun, Mar 10, 2001
    #34
  15. SlickAG

    SlickAG Guest

    Georgy K. Zhukov, no questions asked
     
    SlickAG, Mar 13, 2001
    #35
  16. Peppy

    Peppy Idi Admin

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    Yeah, you are right, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that died under his command can't ask any questions!

    In my humble opinion, the best commander is not the one who wins, but the one who does the most with the least resources, in that case, you have to hand it to Rommel, always outnumbered, always punishing to the enemy, but chivalrous to the end.
     
    Peppy, Mar 13, 2001
    #36
  17. mart

    mart Member

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    I agree there, Zhukov was no general, he was a butcher that had the luck of vast personnel reserves. Give him same amount of troops that the germans used in attack and he would do a lousy job.

    Rommel was not only a good general, he also was hard but fair for his troops and those of the enemy. What he accomplished in NA with the limited resources, troops and those sorry excuses for soldiers called italians was incredible.




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    *** We shall not retreat, nor shall we surrender. If we cannot stay here alive, we shall stay here dead***
     
    mart, Mar 14, 2001
    #37
  18. JoCon

    JoCon Member

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    General George Washington was the best general ever
     
    JoCon, Mar 17, 2001
    #38
  19. JoCon

    JoCon Member

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    how did u get all those metals? you must be busy
     
    JoCon, Mar 17, 2001
    #39
  20. Otto

    Otto GröFaZ Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    This thread is too good to let die. I have been readign a little more about von Manstein recently. He came up with the 'sickle cut' plan to destroy France and was one of the main reasons for Russia's terrible losses early in the war.

    Also, Zhukov was very capable, especially against the Japanese in 1939. Although I don't think I'd like to be a soldier under his command!! :eek:
     
    Otto, Jul 14, 2001
    #40
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