Best WWII General: Poll

Make your choice... explain why you think so.

I had to go with Guderian. His blitzkrieg kicked our ass in the most stunning victories ever seen. Zhukov was an awesome logistician, but he was really a better defensive general. Guderian was the master of offense.

Vladislav wrote:I had to go with Guderian. His blitzkrieg kicked our ass in the most stunning victories ever seen. Zhukov was an awesome logistician, but he was really a better defensive general. Guderian was the master of offense.

Can't argue with the logic there, but you have to look at Zhukov's achievements. He reversed the situation of every front he was assigned to. He did it with superior logistics and use of artillery. He was also the one who reformed the army into a mobile fighting force which was a much bigger task than Guderian ever had.

Vladimir79 wrote:

Vladislav wrote:I had to go with Guderian. His blitzkrieg kicked our ass in the most stunning victories ever seen. Zhukov was an awesome logistician, but he was really a better defensive general. Guderian was the master of offense.

Can't argue with the logic there, but you have to look at Zhukov's achievements. He reversed the situation of every front he was assigned to. He did it with superior logistics and use of artillery. He was also the one who reformed the army into a mobile fighting force which was a much biYgger task than Guderian ever had.

Yes I agree thats why I picked Zhukov.


Don;t forget he to fight to get what he needed from Stalin.
Guderian never had those problems

Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Are you saying Montgomery was incompetent?

Vladimir79 wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Are you saying Montgomery was incompetent?

I didn't say that, did I? But the British suffered many unfortunate defeats from Rommel, it was to their benefit therefore to claim that Rommel was a genius.

With all due respect to both Field Marshals, it is my opinion that Rommel was not in the same league as Guderian, for example.

soldieroffortune wrote:

Vladimir79 wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Are you saying Montgomery was incompetent?

I didn't say that, did I? But the British suffered many unfortunate defeats from Rommel, it was to their benefit therefore to claim that Rommel was a genius.

With all due respect to both Field Marshals, it is my opinion that Rommel was not in the same league as Guderian, for example.

Understood...

Vladimir79 wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:

Vladimir79 wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Are you saying Montgomery was incompetent?

I didn't say that, did I? But the British suffered many unfortunate defeats from Rommel, it was to their benefit therefore to claim that Rommel was a genius.

With all due respect to both Field Marshals, it is my opinion that Rommel was not in the same league as Guderian, for example.

Understood...

I think Zhukov is the best in that list, as the Russian military leader of WW2 who has not lost a single battle (to the best of my recollection). He was also brilliant as the strategist working at the General Staff.

Rommel was no doubts a competent military commander (as were most of the German Field Marshals with the exception of Keitel, perhaps) as well as very fortunate. Note that every time his "Afrika" corps suffered a defeat, - he was away due to illness, so the defeat was never linked directly with his name (of course one could argue that his troops were defeated because he was not around). Still it would be curious to see how Rommel would have done on the Eastern Front.

soldieroffortune wrote:
I think Zhukov is the best in that list, as the Russian military leader of WW2 who has not lost a single battle (to the best of my recollection). He was also brilliant as the strategist working at the General Staff.

Rommel was no doubts a competent military commander (as were most of the German Field Marshals with the exception of Keitel, perhaps) as well as very fortunate. Note that every time his "Afrika" corps suffered a defeat, - he was away due to illness, so the defeat was never linked directly with his name (of course one could argue that his troops were defeated because he was not around). Still it would be curious to see how Rommel would have done on the Eastern Front.

I always thought Rommel was defeated because he could not get the supplies he requested. If he did, the Suez Canal would probably be in German hands.

Vladislav wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:
I think Zhukov is the best in that list, as the Russian military leader of WW2 who has not lost a single battle (to the best of my recollection). He was also brilliant as the strategist working at the General Staff.

Rommel was no doubts a competent military commander (as were most of the German Field Marshals with the exception of Keitel, perhaps) as well as very fortunate. Note that every time his "Afrika" corps suffered a defeat, - he was away due to illness, so the defeat was never linked directly with his name (of course one could argue that his troops were defeated because he was not around). Still it would be curious to see how Rommel would have done on the Eastern Front.

I always thought Rommel was defeated because he could not get the supplies he requested. If he did, the Suez Canal would probably be in German hands.

"История не терпит сослагательного наклонения"

Many of the generals, most of the time had to fight without adequate supplies and reserves. What would have happened if the German armies fighting in Russia received adequate reserves in 1943-44, for example? - Instead of moving many battle hardened divisions to the West (as well as best Luftwaffe pilots - to protect Germany from the British and American bombers) ...

soldieroffortune wrote:

"История не терпит сослагательного наклонения"

Many of the generals, most of the time had to fight without adequate supplies and reserves. What would have happened if the German armies fighting in Russia received adequate reserves in 1943-44, for example? - Instead of moving many battle hardened divisions to the West (as well as best Luftwaffe pilots - to protect Germany from the British and American bombers) ...

Its not like they didn't try to send Rommel supplies. If the Nazis had realised Engima had been cracked, he would have had alot more.

I voted for McArthur. He defeated the Japanese which was the greatest threat.

Turk1 wrote:I voted for McArthur. He defeated the Japanese which was the greatest threat.

He surely did, but first the Japanese defeated him (he had to evacuate Philippines).
I voted for Zhukov.

I voted for Rommel, because his maneuvers in Africa almost had the British forces down to their knees.

I voted for Zhukov, because he led the soviet troops to victory in Easter Europe.

Voted for Zhukov. Of course. But favorite Russian commander is Konstantin Rokossovsky

But my choice for the best in defense and offensive operations would have to be von Manstein.
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=7901

And Generalfeldmarschal Otto Moritz Walter Model
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Model

I don't know whether i should choose Zhukov or Rommel....ofcourse, Zhukov lead the Soviet to victory, but Rommel strategic mind is to be praised. Unfortunately for him, no one gave a real shit to what he said....
Also there's the fact that
About Rommel - "He was a highly decorated officer in World War I, awarded the Pour le Mérite for his exploits on the Italian front. In World War II, he further distinguished himself as the commander of the Ghost Division during the 1940 invasion of France. However, it was his leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign that established the legend of the Desert Fox. He is considered to have been one of the most skilled commanders of desert warfare in the war.[1] He later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion in Normandy.
Rommel is regarded as a chivalrous and humane officer because his Afrikakorps was never accused of any war crimes. Soldiers captured during his Africa campaign were reported to have been treated humanely; furthermore, he ignored orders to kill captured Jewish soldiers and civilians in all theaters of his command."
About Zhukov - "was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who, in the course of World War II, played an important role in leading the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe to liberate the Soviet Union and other nations from the Axis Powers' occupation and conquer Germany's capital, Berlin. He also organized the less known training exercise Snezhok in which a nuclear experiment was conducted on the population of the Orenburg Oblast and the Soviet Army. He is the most decorated general in the history of both Russia and the Soviet Union."

Really don't know.

Great points re:Rommel MCS, He wanted the Panzer Divisions concentrated at the Coast, to throw the Allies back onto the sea as soon as they landed.
von Rundstedt insisted on concentrating the Panzer Divisions farther inland, and then closing up to the Coast once the Allies landed. von Rundstedt got his
way, and as the units marched towards the Channel, the Allied air forces cut them to pieces. Panzer Lehr lost 30% of its equipment on the 1st days march.

Rommel was proved right by the course of events.

Cheers to you.

Rommel.Zhukov tactics were to crude and he lost a lot of soldiers.

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Wouldn't be the first time. Non the less Rommel was a highly compatent.

I voted for Zhukov. I think his achievements are very outstanding, although his tactics were brutal, and too risky.

He led the USSR to victory, lifted the siege in Leningrad. He is my favourite

Source: History channel, and a number of military books I read. Forgot the titles.

Vladimir79 wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:Arguably, the fame of Rommel was inflated by the British historians on account of the fact that Rommel emerged victorious against the British troops.

Are you saying Montgomery was incompetent?

Yes, I say Montgomery was incompetent. An egotistical, self praising, over-cautious general who “developed” a reputation far in access of his abilities. Even with ULTRA intercepts, he was only marginally successful. Fd Marshall Slim was by far the best Allied general of the war.

ekacipta021292 wrote:I voted for Zhukov. I think his achievements are very outstanding, although his tactics were brutal, and too risky.

He led the USSR to victory, lifted the siege in Leningrad. He is my favourite

Source: History channel, and a number of military books I read. Forgot the titles.

History Channel is as good as watching Disneyland!

Vladislav wrote:

soldieroffortune wrote:
I think Zhukov is the best in that list, as the Russian military leader of WW2 who has not lost a single battle (to the best of my recollection). He was also brilliant as the strategist working at the General Staff.

Rommel was no doubts a competent military commander (as were most of the German Field Marshals with the exception of Keitel, perhaps) as well as very fortunate. Note that every time his "Afrika" corps suffered a defeat, - he was away due to illness, so the defeat was never linked directly with his name (of course one could argue that his troops were defeated because he was not around). Still it would be curious to see how Rommel would have done on the Eastern Front.

I always thought Rommel was defeated because he could not get the supplies he requested. If he did, the Suez Canal would probably be in German hands.

This is the nub of the situation – right here! Rommel was defeated by the Allied Air Force operating out of Malta and Gibraltar and the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet [who all had ULTRA intercepts and knew exactly when and when shipments were being sent to Rommel].

Without the interdiction on the supply lines – which starved the Africa Corps – Rommel would have linked up in South Caucasus. The Allies would have been defeated in the Middle East and Turkey would probably have joined the Axis Forces.