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re: WWII buffs: let's talk about Germany's biggest strategic blunder
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:03 am to HempHead
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:03 am to HempHead
This
Though Germany was ahead of its time with the production of synthetic oil, it did not have the energy resources to maintain a prolonged attack.
Additionally, Germany allocated too many resources towards its "final solution".
quote:
I think the answer is fairly simple. Germany should have captured the oil in the south rather than marching to Moscow/Stalingrad. They could have cut off the power in the country, rather than invading during the winter....which has never, ever been successful.
Though Germany was ahead of its time with the production of synthetic oil, it did not have the energy resources to maintain a prolonged attack.
Additionally, Germany allocated too many resources towards its "final solution".
0
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:06 am to Jim Rockford
Dragging the US into the war and invading the Soviet Union were their two biggest blunders. Had the US never entered the war they would have been ok. Had they never invaded the Soviet Union, they probably would have held off or defeated the Allies in the west. And after the west was taken care of they would have taken over the Soviets pretty easily after building their forces back up. Their timing fricked them. People underestimate how powerful the German war machine was.
This post was edited on 8/20/14 at 12:07 am
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:12 am to CherryGarciaMan
quote:
Germany should have captured the oil in the south rather than marching to Moscow/Stalingrad
I've heard for a while that Stalingrad had little to no strategic value to the Germans. That was just a massive ego trip for Hitler because the city was named after Stalin.
If I'm not mistaken the Soviets were perceived as weak because of their struggles in their war against Finland, especially in comparison to Germany's swift victory in Poland. As far as Germany was concerned they were going to roll over Russia, which they did for a time. But going for Stalingrad was the big blunder.
I agree with some other posters though.
Not being able to subdue Britain and then invading Russia put Germany on a lot of fronts at once. Also, weren't the forces that came in and whipped out the German forces at Stalingrad from the East? But Japan and Russia signed a neutrality act that allowed Russia to free up some sources to come hit Germany.
Given the Soviet struggle in Finland and the ongoing amenity between the Soviets and Japan I'm sure attacking Russia didn't seem like such an unconquerable task.
This post was edited on 8/20/14 at 12:14 am
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:17 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
And speaking of the Italians, I believe they actually were the Germans' biggest blunder.
Idk if I'd go as far as THE biggest blunder, but the Italians were an ally on paper only. They offered next to nothing for the Germans and in reality forced them to divert quite a few resources like you mentioned (including some of their most elite tank commanders) to clean-up Italy's mess.
Italy was a joke in WWII.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:20 am to FootballNostradamus
Watched a program on the war in N.Africa a couple of years ago so I can't remember all the details but I remember them mentioning how little resistance the Italians offered the Americans in N. Africa. As far as many of them were concerned they had no issue with the U.S. and in fact had a lot of family in the U.S.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:20 am to Henry Jones Jr
quote:
People underestimate how powerful the German war machine was.
Actually they were a lot of smoke and mirrors. They didn't have the resources for a sustained war and they knew it. They needed a quick victory and they didn't get it. Hence the blitzkrieg. Hence the attempt to beat Britain and Russia before they really got into the war.
It was all or nothing and they got nothing.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:53 am to Kafka
fwiw i liked your threads
Posted on 8/20/14 at 12:59 am to TxTiger82
The thing is Germany didn't try to beat Britain.
They tried to terrorize them into submission by bomb raiding the cities (London) rather than strategically bombing their air fields.
Hitler was no match for Churchill when it came to determination, however, and Winston would not allow himself nor his country to backdown.
Another strategic blunder on hitler's part
They tried to terrorize them into submission by bomb raiding the cities (London) rather than strategically bombing their air fields.
Hitler was no match for Churchill when it came to determination, however, and Winston would not allow himself nor his country to backdown.
Another strategic blunder on hitler's part
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:09 am to CherryGarciaMan
I don't think Hitler had the strategic prowess the Allies did. His strategy seemed like a michael bay movie, just blow shite up.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:09 am to Jim Rockford
Their inability to keep the Americans out of the war.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:10 am to CherryGarciaMan
Where to start on this one?
Lack of strategic bomber force
Final solution
Naval forces working essentially alone instead of in a group
Three front war
Declaring war on America after Pearl Harbor
Wonder weapon fixation
Overly complex panzers
Cancellation of Operation Sea Lion
Jet fighter was changed to a bomber hindering development
Lack of strategic bomber force
Final solution
Naval forces working essentially alone instead of in a group
Three front war
Declaring war on America after Pearl Harbor
Wonder weapon fixation
Overly complex panzers
Cancellation of Operation Sea Lion
Jet fighter was changed to a bomber hindering development
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:17 am to Jim Rockford
Disagree about Spain. Spain was in shambles and would likely provide no help to the cause apart from being occupied. Occupying Spain would spread the Germans even more thin on all fronts making an invasion easier. Plus half of Spain would've sided with the allies. Allies would've probably skipped N Africa and Italy and started in Spain. Thus speeding up the process easing the eastern front and possibly making Normandy unnecessary.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:19 am to TxTiger82
I don't know if the German resources were ever good enough without conquest, but it makes it seem the biggest blunder was starting the war too soon.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:27 am to Celery
quote:
Disagree about Spain. Spain was in shambles and would likely provide no help to the cause apart from being occupied. Occupying Spain would spread the Germans even more thin on all fronts making an invasion easier. Plus half of Spain would've sided with the allies.
Between that and getting crushed in the Russian winter you might as well have called Hitler the second coming of Napoleon.
quote:
Overly complex panzers
Weren't the Tigers more of an issue in this department? Yes they were great big powerful tanks but it took so much resources and were built in such small numbers they may as well have never been constructed.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:31 am to theGarnetWay
Not only that, but the Russians had very capable tanks and much more of them. The numbers game.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 1:53 am to theGarnetWay
quote:
Between that and getting crushed in the Russian winter you might as well have called Hitler the second coming of Napoleon.
Good point. I didn't even think about the similarity til your post.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 2:06 am to Jim Rockford
Once the allied forces were in place Germany won no more victories. Bringing Spain along would have been problematic but easily overcome.
US would have amassed troops in Eastern Eupore/Russia and marched West. France would have been liberated last and probably left in ruins but I don't really care.
German was the key. A single objective of invading Germany and driving a stake into the Axis power heart would have killed off Italy and the African campaigns. Japan would still need to be dealt with.
Remember we had the A bomb first. We could have nuked Berlin as well.
In short, Hitler had no real chance. Too many fronts to defend against a superior enemy.
US would have amassed troops in Eastern Eupore/Russia and marched West. France would have been liberated last and probably left in ruins but I don't really care.
German was the key. A single objective of invading Germany and driving a stake into the Axis power heart would have killed off Italy and the African campaigns. Japan would still need to be dealt with.
Remember we had the A bomb first. We could have nuked Berlin as well.
In short, Hitler had no real chance. Too many fronts to defend against a superior enemy.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 2:19 am to ShermanTxTiger
That moustache was never a good look
Posted on 8/20/14 at 2:28 am to ShermanTxTiger
His blunder was starting the war in the first place. He overestimated German power. As soon as he invaded Poland he threw Germany into a war they could not win in the long run.
Posted on 8/20/14 at 3:11 am to Jim Rockford
It was opening up 2 fronts and having to split his forces.
Hitlers hard on to take Stalingrad when he was 20 miles from Moscow.
Declaring war on america after japan bombed pearl harbor.
To much command had to go through him he did not trust his field generals.
His fascination with the occult and bigger is better machinery.
His fascination with taking on the RAF and bombing Britain.
Hitlers hard on to take Stalingrad when he was 20 miles from Moscow.
Declaring war on america after japan bombed pearl harbor.
To much command had to go through him he did not trust his field generals.
His fascination with the occult and bigger is better machinery.
His fascination with taking on the RAF and bombing Britain.
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