K had his moments. Haig is underrated. Or at least no worse than other high up Great War generals of all sides. Not quite sure why he gets so much more flak than the rest.
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
That German general (I think) who managed to tie down much larger British forces than his own in Tanzania in WW1 without any outside help (need to look up what his name was).
I'll go with General George C Marshall, at east as one of the most distinguished.
"In war he was as wise and understanding in counsel as he was resolute in action. In peace he was the architect who planned the restoration of our battered European economy and, at the same time, laboured tirelessly to establish a system of Western Defense. He has always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement, and disillusion. Succeeding generation must not be allowed to forget his achievements and his example."
--Winston Churchill
"His standards of character, conduct, and efficiency inspired the entire Army, the nation, and the world. To him, as much as to any individual, the United States owes its future. He takes his place at the head of the great commanders of history...The more I see and talk to him the more certain I am he's the great one of the age. I am surely lucky to have his friendship and support."
--Harry Truman
"Americans have never been so deeply indebted to any other soldier."
--Dwight Eisenhower
"In war he was as wise and understanding in counsel as he was resolute in action. In peace he was the architect who planned the restoration of our battered European economy and, at the same time, laboured tirelessly to establish a system of Western Defense. He has always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement, and disillusion. Succeeding generation must not be allowed to forget his achievements and his example."
--Winston Churchill
"His standards of character, conduct, and efficiency inspired the entire Army, the nation, and the world. To him, as much as to any individual, the United States owes its future. He takes his place at the head of the great commanders of history...The more I see and talk to him the more certain I am he's the great one of the age. I am surely lucky to have his friendship and support."
--Harry Truman
"Americans have never been so deeply indebted to any other soldier."
--Dwight Eisenhower
For naval commanders, I like (I can't recall whose name it is) the guy that won Midway.
For air-force generals, he wasn't really a general, but there was this American guy who basically publicised the idea of how easy it was to bomb ships from the air to the American navy. Too bad only the Japanese, and the Americans a little, took advantage of this extremely important development.
For air-force generals, he wasn't really a general, but there was this American guy who basically publicised the idea of how easy it was to bomb ships from the air to the American navy. Too bad only the Japanese, and the Americans a little, took advantage of this extremely important development.
You're thinking of Billy Mitchell I think. Mitchell was a powerful thinker but some of what he came up with was over-optimistic and bordering on dangerous - in fairness, criticisms which can be laid at the door of most of the inter war airpower theorists.
As for only the Japanese and the US taking advantage of the ideas, I think the Italian Navy could tell you that the Royal Navy took some of it on board too...
As for only the Japanese and the US taking advantage of the ideas, I think the Italian Navy could tell you that the Royal Navy took some of it on board too...
Your right, I guess I wasn't really thinking about the Royal Navy bombing those Italian Battleships to hell, since when I think Naval in WW2 I usually think submarines or the Pacific...
I dunno about best general of the 20th century but the best America came up with was definitely Marshall in my opinion. MacArthur? Bleurgh.
Yes - that's the one, probably the best example of a true guerilla force, certainly better than Lawence of Arabia's efforts, or even Tito's. He didn't actually surrender until several days after the Armistice
During WWI he was Russian general and in 1918 he led Finnish white army in Finnish civilwar. Mannerheim was a fine general. He also had an excellent staff. For example during the winter war Finnish army had better intelligence and logistics than soviets. Also the weather was good for Finnish army. Many soviets where from Ukraina etc. and they didn´t manage well on freezing - 30 Celsius weather.
In my opinion Mannerheim was a symbolic leader. In 1939 he was about 72 years old. He probably had one the best staff any general had during the war but I wouldn´t say that he was the top general on the 20th century. Finnish army also had many fine division and corps commanders who led their forces well. Finnish army was a team and that teamwork paid handsome dividend.
I think that Guderian or Manstein would be better choices because they developed mobile warfare doctrines. Mannerheim didn´t develop. He was quite a conservative commander who trusted his long experience and his subordinates. He used the old military wisdom quite well.
No I don't think so personally. Excellent general? Yes. Made the best of his resources? Yes. Better than Lawrence of Arabia? Probably not. If Guderian (or indeed DeGaulle if you accept that argument) ranks as one of the best then Lawrence ranks as one of the best too for producing one of the classic texts on low-intensity operations (in a field that is notably sparse in terms of theoretical texts).
Ludendorff???? You must be bloody joking. If Haig belongs on the rubbish tip then so does Ludendorff. Absolutely ghastly.
I think you'll find that I was the first to suggest somebody after the person who opened this thread.
