Who Is Your Favorite Field Marshall?

Who is your favorite Field Marshall of the second world war and why?

I have two

Gerd von Rundstedt - September 1941 the capture of Kiev in a double encirclement that resulted in a large haul of Soviet Pows being captured.

Although Sepp dietrich was not a Fieldmarshall I still consider him a competant leader and fighter. Greece and Yugoslavia being among the list of his battle honors.

 

Nice for consistency. Opening a thread on Field Marshalls and hijacking it by himself in the first post must be a first. So is this over marshalls or non-marshalls?

Choosing only one I'd go for Marshall of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky, commander of Central Front during the Battle of Kursk successfully defending against General Model's 9th Army, and commanding said Front during Operation Kutuzov in the counter-offensive following stoppage of Unternehmen Zitadelle, reeling back same 9th and 2nd Pz Armies. Author of the plan for Operation Bagration (aka Destruction of Army Group Centre) in June 44 and taking part in it as commander of 1st Byelorussian Front (smashing good old 9th Army again )

 

No hesitation for me:
Alanbrooke.


Such a mild & unassuming man without any of the blood & thunder associated with his more 'glamorous' contemporaries of similar rank.
Did every part of the job he was given to the utmost degree - above and beyond any reasonable call of duty.
Faced down Churchill, put the right men in the right places, built up an army that had been devastated in a very short time to a solid fighting force, etc. etc. etc., truly understood the war as a whole on all levels, from field commands to the most delicate diplomatic politics.
And when the work was done, retired to peaceful relative obscurity.

It's an overused word but I'd definitely call him a genius, and place him equal with Churchill as an individual that kept this country free of occupation and subjugation by the Nazis.

Cheers,
Adam.

(I'm quite keen on him... can you tell? )

 

Easily Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. His tactical brilliance aside, in an army of sycophants and war criminals, he was known to have become very critical of the Nazi regime, and to be quite disillusioned with Hitler.

His Afrikakorps was never accused of any war crimes, captured Commonwealth soldiers during his Africa campaign report to have been largely treated humanely, and orders to kill captured Jewish soldiers and civilians out of hand in all theaters of his command were defiantly ignored. He even supplied an Allied field hospital with medical supplies.

 

What about General George Marshall, US Army Chief of Staff and author of the post-war Marshall Plan?

 

What type? After all some were better in offensive capability and other in a defensive, not forgetting the odd all rounder.

 

And a bird watcher to boot....Agreed, without him Churchill would not have been well...errr...Churchill, and Monty would have been assigned to the dustbin of history on many occasions. The UK owes him a great debt.

 

What other countries BESIDES Germany had Field Marshals? Kind of a loaded question isn't it? Another non-German one would be Douglas MacArthur, Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. This runs along the same old lines as the "Favorite General" type of thread and with the same kind of result.

 

No.
Not until you loaded it...
Only an open question originally posted there that I can see.

Why?
Surely 'Favourite' allows for pure subjectivity.
I like Alanbrooke, he likes Rommel, he likes Marshall.
What's wrong with that?

Cheers,
Adam.

 

You're discriminating against me, I like Rokossovsky

 

Loaded as in the aspect that he was looking for GERMAN Marshals. I can bet you he wasn't looking for any other country's Marshals.And from his original question and choices its just another "Favorite German General" thread.

 

Where?
Post unedited and no mention of specifically GERMAN Marshals at all.

Watch that old knee, it's a bit Jerky.

Cheers,
Adam.

(And apologies Za, I just couldn't be bothered to spell Rossososookosososokovskikov. )

 

Sorry but from this and the other posts he has made along with the SS member name It appears to be he has a leaning towards the Germans especially the SS LOL.

 

That's quite biased of you.



Cheers...

 

Von poop, I think it is simply disengenuous of you to bring up Jerky just because JC wears that funny hat...

Ill get me coat....

 

Not really bias. Experienced LOL. You hang out on these types of forums long enough you get a feel for them LOL. You get someone who uses an SS rank as a member name. Has stated he wanted to serve in the Waffen SS. Asks people who thier favorite Field Marshal is then lists two German ones..........Kinda sets a precedent doesn't it. And BTW my favorite German General is Erich von Manstein. Why? His record speaks for its self.

 

Don't have a favourite, but have a LEAST favourite,

Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey.


John

 

No one has mentioned Monty yet? LOL

 

Thats interesting. Why is he your least favourite? Would you rate him higher though than Bennet?

Fieldmarshal, general, its all rank to me....best thing for a soldiers moral on the battlefield is a dead general....doesnt really matter who's side either, or so I've heard...

 

You just had to didnt you....well if any one now goes and mentions Patton....Im off...whoops no...he didnt get there...in which case by virtue of the fact that my elders and betters know best and promoted Monty to Fieldmarshal then I nominate Monty...no I meant Slim.....No I meant Rommel...oh forget it can we do this for Admirals...a much nicer bunch should come out...