What were Hitlers greatest military errors of WWII?
- coyote12b
- nuetral
- nuetral
- FuriousD2005
- navy1123
- SAL44
- SAL44
- SAL44
- Rommel59
- bmf
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» coyote12b - Hitlers biggest errors.
Hello everyone. Well Idunno, you've got some great material so far, here's some opinions I hope will help you out.Lots of excellent points from the others already, very diverse viewpoints.
My views can be summed up in three points;
1 Timing - Too early. Waiting until 44-46 as originally planned would have better served Germany.(Russia was a huge thorn, but that's a different topic altogether).
2 Economy - It was mentioned already, and rightly so. It must have been Hitlers ego that caused him not to turn Germany's industry over to a wartime footing. It's estimated that up to 6 million men could have been freed up for the Wermacht if women were allowed to work in the factories. (Hitler actually stated that German women were too frail to work in factories).???? Other than ego I can't possibly think what would be running through his head. Matching Britian, France and Russia's industrial output should have been first on his list.
3 A two front war - Read a book Hitler. A two front war has always haunted Germany. Even Rome tried to avoid a two front war when possible. It's one of the basics of strategy and tactics. As much power in one place at one time, hopefully by surprise.
Well, gotta go, hope that helps you out. It's been fun guys, see you next time.
-- posted by coyote12b
» nuetral - to Tarkin
Your analysis of history is flawed.If Hitler knew he could not defeat Russia, why did he attack it? An illogical argument.
The majority of creditable sources suggest that Hitler thought that the invasion of Russia would be a walk over. Even when he failed to capture Moscow, it is suggested, that he still believed that victory was possible.
Now if the Russians were to attack Germany through Poland, they would be playing into the hands of the Germans, for the following reasons:
1, The Germans would have a much more narrow frontage to defend, which would have led to a far more effective defense, compared to their historical defense, deep in Russia and overextended.
2, German logistics and supply (two of the chief factors in Germany's defeat in Russia) would be substantially improved, so much closer to the German frontier, aiding Germany's defense considerably.
3, Their would be no Russian winter, the winter in the Polish region, is nowhere near as severe, as in Russia. Another major reason for the German defeat historically.
4, The Russians performance in offensive war, attacking other countries, is poor, the Russian-Finnish war, Afghanistan etc.
The Russian soldier only seems to perform well, when defending his own homeland. Their determination in Poland and Germany in 1944-45, was largely generated by years of fighting to defend their homeland and the destruction inflicted on Russia by the Germans.
As shown in the Russian-Finnish war, the Soviet soldier was very poorly motivated, the Finns made complete fools of them. The Finns were hopelessly outnumbered, but inflicted terrible casualties on the Soviets.
4, By concentrating their forces near the German frontier, the Russians would be playing into the hands of their German counterparts. This would have given the Germans, ample opportunity to encircle and destroy them. Historically, the Russian were saved to a large degree, by withdrawing into the huge Russian interior, avoiding encirclement.
The Germans would have used the superior power of defense to wear down the attack. And then use their superior tactical and logistical ability, to launch an effective counter attack.
Such a response, would have probably encircled much of the Russians, and in the process, destroy them.
4, Don't forget that the competence of the Russian army in 1941, was very poor, while the German army was the finest in the world. And unlike the Finish, the Germans had a huge industry and millions of men.
Also, the Germans had the benefits of superior doctrine and tactics ( at that time, 41-42), compared to their Russian counterparts. Additionally, during the war, they demonstrated that their skill in defense was unparalleled.
5, Many Soviet provinces did not believe in the benefits of communism, for example many Germans were greeted with open arms initially, they were actually seen as liberators! This further raises the question mark, of how motivated the Russian soldier would have been.
Finally, don't believe all the Russian literature you read, the Russians have the reputation to bullshit more than most. For example, one Russian general, who I saw on TV, claimed that Russians had invented 74% of the world's inventions.
What does that tell you.
-- posted by nuetral
» nuetral - to Tarkin
To further elaborate.You claim that the Russians performed poorly because they had been trained and equipped only for offensive action. If true, how stupid, even in offensive campaigns you have to have ability to defend ( when the enemy launches a counterattack), if you do not have the training and ability to defend, then you will surely fail.
That Suvorov uses this as a excuse, is ridiculous. All officers and men should be trained in the art of offense and defense, since during a war ( whether offensive or not) both these skills are critical for success. If Russian officers didn’t train and equip their forces for defense then it show’s how stupid they were.
Additionally, there was always the possibility that Germany would attack, as they did historically. For the Soviets, not to be aware of this possibility and prepare to for it, shows again how stupid and shortsighted they where ( not being trained and equipped for defense). Now I don’t believe the Russian were this stupid but from the statements you make above, you give this impression.
You use the fact that Russia was beefing up and reorganizing their forces prior to the German attack, to support your argument that the Russians where planing to attack Germany. But there is also the possibility that the Russians where simply increasing their strength, as merely defensive measure. The possibility of a German attack was great, so maybe, the Russians where beefing up there defenses as a protective measure.
You state that Stalin in his purges in the 30’s eliminated much of the Soviet Union’s incapable commanders. These purges in fact, resulted in the death of many of Russia’s most talented commanders. The purge was a major factor that aided the Germans in their attack in 1941, since Stalin had killed off many of the brains of the Red Army.
It also seems that Suvorov is broadcasting bullshit, 100,000 bombers?
-- posted by nuetral
» FuriousD2005 - hitlers biggest errors
u all have great ideas and they helped me with my research paper, but i believe if Hitler had not issued a stop order to his armor at Dunkirk he could have annihilated the British Expeditionary Force. This would have enabled an easier invasion of Britain. Had he taken Britain out of the war, he would have been free to attack Russia with the bulk of his army. This way he could achieve the lebensraum he wanted and still have a one front war. Had he done this, the U.S. could have been looking at a war against a Nazi Europe and perhaps a Nazi Asia.-- posted by FuriousD2005
» navy1123 - he was a moron
Hitler made the mistakes of leave ing the decision to japan on wheter or not to attempt to make a "decisive" blow on the american fleetwe have already established that he enetered war to quickly but he still could have won i do believe ne way he was a great tactician and had some of the mopst brilliant generals in history "ex.Rommel"
-- posted by navy1123
» SAL44 - well i am doing a school research paper discussing hitlers...
i am doing a research paper on Hitlers military strategy discussing all his weapons such as the luftwaffe panzors u boats all his important stuff like that so if anyone could help me out plz do so and if u really like me put it in paragraph form ;) haha jk u dont have to but also could you include his mistakes also at the end.-- posted by SAL44
» SAL44 - Re: Its a school research paper and i need help.
In response to message posted by Idunno:sense u did this report could u kinda hook me up cuz its due in like two days and i dont haev anything PLZZ also could people discuss his weapons also like panzors and luftwaffes stuff like that PLZZ
-- posted by SAL44
» Rommel59 - Re: Hitler's strategic errors
In response to Hitler's strategic errors posted by nuetral:you just got it all wrong, I'm europian and have been studieing WW2 for more then five years now.
1) you say he shouldn't go to war against France and Britain. he conquerd half of France in two weeks. if he attacked Dunkirk, the Brittisch wouldn't have an army anymore. THAT was a mistake.
2) you say he couldn't invade Britain because he hadn't got the capability. wrong, a landing in Britain in september 1940 would have defeated Britain but hitler canceld the invasion because he wanted to destroy Russia. THAT was a mistake
3)Z Plan was only for building more surface vessels. no U-Boats. Doenitz even protested against this plan and when the U-boats were very effective, plan Z was put on hold to give full priority for building U-boats.
4) you call Pearl Harbor Stupid. i studied the Japanese situation. there where two things they could do. attack the Ameericans in order to get full controll over the paciffic or fight Russia and create a second front. Russia was no option since the east parts of Russia didn't had any resources the Japs needed. so the only option was America. and hey, one strike and the pacific fleet was out of action for six months!!!! that attack was brilliant. (objectivly spoken because that attack signed their defeat)
5) of yes, he did wanted Spain to join the war. a meeting between him en General Franco, head of spain, was arranged in on the French-Spanish border. after witing for hours before Franco showed up and after hours of talking there was no result. Spain decided to stay neutral but they did help the Germans by allowing U-Boats in their ports (if only for repairing and supplying)
and even spied Gibralter.
next time, read a decent work before you write such big mistakes about world war two
-- posted by Rommel59
» bmf - yea ..
some of you have good ideas but in general you don`t know what are u talking about ... you say that russians were stupit people but in a state where one man has all the power it`s enought for him to be absolutley a moron ( such as stalin ) hitler was not stupid ( at least at the begining of the war ) some of hitler`s generals admired his offensive genius. every body know hitler was sick and ipotent this let to his mistakes.in my opinion what the germans whould have 2 do:
1) conquer poland , france , the low countries and spain.
2) concentrate all the luftwaffe on england mainly radar stations and airports
3) they did all they can do in the atlantic there i have only one objection ... CHANGE THE FUCKING ENIGMA CODES (more often)!!!
4) he souldn`t attack russia , atleast not yet
5) focus 1/3 of german military power to quickley take N africa , the suez , and modern day irak ( for the oil)
6) give priority to jet propelled aircrafts , and nuclear activity
7) he sould find o commnon strategy with his allies
8) HE SOULD`N DECLARE WAR ON AMERICA ( STUPID MOTHER FUCKER )
9) ellect a propper ministry of economy and another chief of luftwaffe coz goering was an absolutley fool
10) focus tank factories on the panther and tigers ( for SS dividions ). i sould add they had infrared devices that they were stupid enoght not to emply on all tanks ( it`s true view this link http://www.wargamer.com/Hosted/Panzer/pa... )
11) focus economy on just the best designs ( reserch and test 1,2 baybe 3 designs and find the best features on them and develop the best tank , aircrafts , guns , rifles in huge numbers oposite to building extremly various designs )
that`s all folks who wants to contact me to talk about more such stuff u cand find me at evil2knievel@yahoo.com
salut
-- posted by bmf
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