What do you think of Hermann Balck?

[Jinx1527]

Hermann Balck has always fascinated me ever since I read an alternative history of WW2 fiction online (I can't recall the name).

Within that work of fiction, as a side story, Balck was promoted to higher positions then he had attained in real life, and his capabilities and tactical genius where indispensable on the Eastern Front.

This fiction led me into researching a little about him, and I found that Balck seems to live up to his reputation, he really does seem to have been an exceedingly capable division commander.
I think I would say that given half a chance, he probably would have matched or exceeded Erwin Rommel's reputation in North Africa.

Check him out sometime, wikipedia doesn't have too much on him, but he shows up in a few places.

 

[Had a dad]

Good article

http://www.historynet.com/the-greatest-german-general-no-one-ever-heard-of.htm

 

[Nicolas I]

I personally prefer the contribution Viktor Balck made to humanity as "the father of Swedish sports" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Balck

 

[Jinx1527]

Good article

http://www.historynet.com/the-greatest-german-general-no-one-ever-heard-of.htm

Mmm I've read that article a while ago, great recommendation.

I personally prefer the contribution Viktor Balck made to humanity as "the father of Swedish sports" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Balck

I guess, from a humanitarian perspective, sports would probably be more beneficial then war. I guess I must agree!

 

[keynes2.0]

If a guy is primarily known about because of his autobiography I tend to be more then a little suspicious about his reported exploits.

 

[Nicolas I]

More on topic, I have read that Balck was a fine division commander but shined less when he was promoted to corps commander. Some write he reached his level of incompetence (Peter's principle). Though I must admit it was less obvious to have success during the continual retreat part of the war in front of ever growing Soviet power.

 

[Catt--42]

If a guy is primarily known about because of his autobiography I tend to be more then a little suspicious about his reported exploits.

Not exactly. F.W. Von Mellenthin, who worked booth on Balck's staff and on Rommel's, describes his tactical genius in detail in his book, Panzer Battles. From this book you get the impression that he was as capable as Rommel, without the latter's flaws.

 

[Catt--42]

I would suggest reading this long interview, made in the 80s. It gives a really interesting overview of the german military thought.

http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/CSI/doc...980_81/03_80_BalkMellenthin_OnTactics_May.pdf

 

[keynes2.0]

Not exactly. F.W. Von Mellenthin, who worked booth on Balck's staff and on Rommel's, describes his tactical genius in detail in his book, Panzer Battles. From this book you get the impression that he was as capable as Rommel, without the latter's flaws.

Isn't Panzer Battles a book that is taken with an extremely large grain of salt these days because of discredited stereotypes about Soviet hordes? German generals could do no wrong, it's all Hitlers fault, the Soviets never massively outperformed the Germans at an operational level in '43 and '44, etc. The epitome of the genre of a German general writting after the war about how great he was? The sort of stuff that lead to horribly innacurate understandings of the eastern front that persisted for decades? Leading to such ridiculous ideas like the Germans were outfighting forces 3-1...

 

[Gamer_1745]

This is why I think Divisional commander are important in a strategical level game. What makes one Panzer division different than another? Leadership! Yes, you can have divisions become more experienced over time at different levels because of difference in combat history. I do think even more important is the leadership and this can easily be handled by divisional leaders with different skill sets.

Yes, for those who don't want to micro them a good AI could handle it.

 

[Ruck]

Hermann Balck has always fascinated me ever since I read an alternative history of WW2 fiction online (I can't recall the name).

removed - Had a dad

So I think that Hermann Balck is far away from beeing "fascinating" and one should not compare him with Rommel.......

 

[Had a dad]

Ware crimes are not something that are permissible to be discussed on this forum, however in light of what was removed this thread is now closed.