Germany's Greatest General

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I would like to see the explanation for that.

[Njaco]

Russian author.

Would Sepp Dietrich fit in here anywhere? Did he reach General status?

[magnocain]

Ok. This is taken fromThe History Buff's Guide to World War II by Thomas R. Flangel.
P.S. sorry for the blurry words. Basically it says Rommel was all reputation.

[Thorlifter]

Very interesting Magnocain. I wonder if this text is regarded as fact or opinion.

[Lucky13]

Good question....my top three in no particular order...Heinz Guderian, Erwin Rommel, SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner of the 5th SS Division Wiking...

[Njaco]

Wow, forgot about Steiner. Did some courageous things around Berlin in '45.

Mere opinion on Rommel. Love the quotes:

"his maverick, reckless exploits were lethally out of place..."

"Eventually beaten back, Rommel at least captured its vital port of Tobruk..."

"Though he won ground and frightened the Commenwealth..."

Ummm, sounds like he was somewhat effective..and these gems:

"He managed, however, to waste fuel and equipment earmarked for the impending invasion of Russia.."

"Rommel's desert adventures compromised Axis strength in the Mediterranean...."

Those two passages seem to contradict each other. Nowhere is any blame placed on Hitler for the bungling moves in NA.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Thorlifter

Very interesting Magnocain. I wonder if this text is regarded as fact or opinion.

Nothing but opinion I believe. Just like you can make anyone look like gold, you can drag anyone through the mud with the right words.

[Udet]

I´d dislike the notion of having General Walter Model included on the "other" poll option for he was one of the most skilled and brilliant commanders of the entire war.

His feats and deeds are several but one that in my view would deserve special mention is Zhukov´s "Operation Mars" launched in late November, 1942 in the Rzhev sector, near Moscow, where Model was in command of the 9th Army.

Their intention was to encircle the German forces in the sector and to annihilate them thus erasing the risks of further German thrusts towards Moscow.

Model´s forces in the area completely gutted and devastated the overwhelming soviet forces committed in the sector. After some initial gains, the soviet forces were promptly halted, several of their large units would be encircled and annihilated and all ground the Germans had lost after the initial blow was retaken.

Model turned what started as a defensive battle into an offensive thrust causing the soviets the type of losses in both men and material they were so accustomed to swallow.

[Njaco]

Sorry about that Udet. I was trying to remember all the Generals and those few came to mind. But I wouldn't argue he wasn't a good general. Should be on the list. But I'll still stick to my top three.

[The Basket]

Rommel was a wonderful propoganda tool and became a legendary figure.

But if you read comments form General Halder or Keeselring...they had quite a different opinion.

Hitler had no real interest in Africa and it was only Rommels drive which made it happen. He never had the resources to fight the battles he wanted but fought them anyway.

[A4K]

He once had his troops enter a town with strong British ties, pass through and exit it, then reconverge with the incoming troops, and enter it again, then re-exit and once again enter...the result being the same troops entered three times, and British spies duly reported back a force three times larger than it actually was.
That's one of the reasons he has my vote as best German General.

(The Schwarze Kapelle even wanted him to be 'stand in' chancellor during their final planned coupe, only failing due to telephone communications not being cut with the SS headquarters, and resulting in the assassination of a number of key figures of the German General staff, including Rommel (via cyanide). Read 'bodyguard of Lies' for the full story.)

[plan_D]

I'll continue ... until you're all convinced

9th Dec. - the Luftwaffe Field Division took up positions on the 336th Divisions left flank (which had been broken by the Russian 1st Armoured Corps). The two infantry units held the line of the R.Chir from Nizhna Chirskaya to Oblivskaya, 11.Panzer Division was the mobile reserve.

Balck was called upon time and time again to restore the front on the river Chir; during these actions he continually showed speed and skill which is attributed only to the famous German generals.

On 11th Dec. Balck received his first message of a breakthrough; Soviet forces had broken through Lissinski and Nizhna Kalinovski. These two breakthroughs were 22km apart as the crow flies. Balck acted quickly and force marched the 11.Panzer Division to Lissinski to arrive there at dawn on 12th Dec. The Soviet breakthrough was quickly destroyed upon the arrival of the German armour. Balck did not split his forces and hit with everything at hand to ensure success.
Without stopping for rest Balck ordered the 11.Panzer Division north-west to the breakthrough at Nizhna Kalinovski. After a march of 15 miles after the morning battle the 11.Panzer Division struck at the Russian bridgehead and compressed it.

On the morning of 13th Dec. Balck was met with a crisis during his assault on the bridgehead. While pushing for the final attack the 11.Panzer Division was struck on its right flank by a large Soviet force. One battalion was surrounded and Balck quickly ordered his force to disengage the bridgehead and turn against the new attack. The encircled battalion was freed and the new assault was blunted. Balck and his division then had to rest which unfortunately left the bridgehead intact. Balck had pushed his men and machines to march by night and fight by day for eight days straight - an amazing achievement for Balck and most certainly the men fighting under him.

The 48th Panzer Corps was ordered to join Hoth's 4th Panzer Army in the relief attempt on Stalingrad on the 10th Dec. This led to Balck and his 11.Panzer Division being pulled from the line on the 15th Dec. and moving to Nizhna Chirskaya to force a crossing of the Don there. The Luftwaffe Field Division were left to cover the Soviets at Nizhna Kalinovski. The plan was for Balck and his 11.Panzer Division to cross the Don on the 17th and cover the 4th Panzer Army's left flank ... but this was not to be.

And I'll continue later...

[Flightcommander]

i voted for rommel, cuz i tried to read a 3000 autobiography of his....
it bored me to tears.

[Flightcommander]

is pretty good and great general tho

[Njaco]

Reading 3000 autobiographies of the same person would probably bore me too!