Germany's Greatest General

[freebird]

I would also like to add to that list that Britain and now America outnumbered the Germans severely in all and every categories. Fair fight? 1 word: NO.

Not so fast, in several categories (tank quality, anti-tank gun effectiveness etc) the Germans had a clear advantage.

The same could be said of Patton. In my army I would want a General who thinks outside the box, is aggressive and trusts his abilities than blindly following orders - like von Paulus.

Yes, and that's why Patton would never make my best (strategic) General's list. Patton was effective partly because he had Ike & Bradley to watch over him, if he was a theater commander the Allies would have had huge problems because of his ego & reckless style

Marcel, I guess you've convinced me that I should have not picked Rommel, But he DOES belong on the list in my book. The question is now who should I have picked? Any Suggestions?

Guderian & Manstien are excellent choices, as shown by the poll votes

Even as it was, at the end of 1941, the amount of British combat-ready vehicles was actually lower than that of the Afrika Korps. So the Germans did not have that big a disadvantage as is claimed at that time.

Yes, and quality was a big factor too, the Matilda II was king of the desert in 1940, but the Crusader & Grant were no match for the 50mm Pz III and the (long) 75mm Pz IV

What intrigues me her though, is this notion that Germany could not win.....that the poor Germans were outnumbered and could not take risks.

To argue that the allies possessed a manifest destiny of winning is insulting to both sides, and completely wrong, at least for the period 1938-42

Yes, true. An effective naval strategy would have wrecked the British supply line to the desert.

[tail end charlie]

Someone missed out Von Blucher and Prince Eugen without which this post may be en francais. If only Germany existed then.

[tomo pauk]

That would've been just fine (to type this an francais); it was French government that reinstated Croatian language in early 1800s in the place it belongs. Not to mention building roads & hospitals in, once, neglected parts of Venetian Republic.

[KevinK.]

I'd have to go with Guderian. For all around ability at all aspects of warfare.

But the list would be Guderian, Rommel and von Manstein.

[Konig]

Generaloberst Paul Hausser for me.

Often overlooked. I like him best best because he stood up to Hitlers absurd and constant no withdrawal policy where ever he went.

[Coy]

Erwin Rommel: The History Channel tells me he tried to defect against Hitler.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Erwin Rommel: The History Channel tells me he tried to defect against Hitler.

Not really. His name just came up in a list of conspirators. How much he was actually involved is not known.

[parsifal]

yes, unfortunately Rommel was a pretty committed nazi. he did start to be disilusioned as the normandy campaign draqgged on, and he realized he could achieve victory, but he was never an active member of the conspiracy

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

yes, unfortunately Rommel was a pretty committed nazi. y

I honestly do not believe that either, but like I said, I do not believe he was part of the conspiracy.