- 27 Feb 2007 08:41
#1128049
There was way too much political interference and infighting going on. It didn't help that the former WW1 private Hitler overruled his Generals and caused such idiotic events like Stalingrad where he let the 6th Army die. For this and other brilliant strategies he was nicknamed "Adolf Groefaz" by the military behind his back (Groefaz being short for "Groesster Feldherr Aller Zeiten", greatest leader in history).
Here's a list of idiot decisions based on jealousy, political decisions and infighting I can think off right now:
Duncerce: The British expeditionary corps was surrounded by German tanks when Goering, chief of the Luftwaffe, complained that his Luftwaffe didn't have enough opportunity for victory and glory. So the ground forces were stopped in order to give Goering the chance for striking the final blow - and while the Luftwaffe waited 3 days for weather to improve to flying conditions, the Brits created their own miracle and saved their army.
Radar: For some reason Goering didn't permitt to attack the Radar stations along the channel.
Operation Barbarossa: The German Eastern front was initially equipped only with second class equipment which wasn't good enough for the intended invasion of Great Britain. The German army was ill-prepared for the Russian winter although the German field commander's handbook of 1917 told exactly what to expect and how to deal with it.
Rommel: For the longest time Rommel never received enough support to really win North Africa although he was well on the way to the oil fields of the middle east and the Suez channel. Jealousy in the German high command prevented that. When he finally pressed the point Hitler sent reinforcements - but he used the forces that initially were tasked to conquer Malta. So the Brits never lost their "unsinkable aircraft carrier".
New aircraft: The world's first jet fighter, the Me 262, was plagued by delay upon delay because Goering wanted it to be a fast bomber, so lot's of effort and time was wasted to turn a prime fighter into a fast but otherwise subpar bomber.
Bottomline: I think although the German army did their best to win the war, their commanders were trying harder to loose it.
Here's a list of idiot decisions based on jealousy, political decisions and infighting I can think off right now:
Duncerce: The British expeditionary corps was surrounded by German tanks when Goering, chief of the Luftwaffe, complained that his Luftwaffe didn't have enough opportunity for victory and glory. So the ground forces were stopped in order to give Goering the chance for striking the final blow - and while the Luftwaffe waited 3 days for weather to improve to flying conditions, the Brits created their own miracle and saved their army.
Radar: For some reason Goering didn't permitt to attack the Radar stations along the channel.
Operation Barbarossa: The German Eastern front was initially equipped only with second class equipment which wasn't good enough for the intended invasion of Great Britain. The German army was ill-prepared for the Russian winter although the German field commander's handbook of 1917 told exactly what to expect and how to deal with it.
Rommel: For the longest time Rommel never received enough support to really win North Africa although he was well on the way to the oil fields of the middle east and the Suez channel. Jealousy in the German high command prevented that. When he finally pressed the point Hitler sent reinforcements - but he used the forces that initially were tasked to conquer Malta. So the Brits never lost their "unsinkable aircraft carrier".
New aircraft: The world's first jet fighter, the Me 262, was plagued by delay upon delay because Goering wanted it to be a fast bomber, so lot's of effort and time was wasted to turn a prime fighter into a fast but otherwise subpar bomber.
Bottomline: I think although the German army did their best to win the war, their commanders were trying harder to loose it.
Last edited by soron on 28 Feb 2007 08:32, edited 1 time in total.
so in this case it was sort of a Freudian slip - again (Himmler ~ "Himmel" , German for "sky" which is probably why I associated him with the Luftwaffe)
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