Who was better? - Page 4

515 · #31 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2006, 05:09 PM

no. escaping wasnt a bad thing. Alson on Caen he failed at his assignment. I was simply just stating the fact that he didnt accomplish his mission.

Spinechicken · #32 (**permalink**) October 20th, 2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Alson on Caen he failed at his assignment. I was simply just stating the fact that he didnt accomplish his mission.

But he didn't fail his assignment! His assignment was to take the city, which he (or rather 3rd Canadian, 3rd and 59th British Divs) fulfilled. Certainly, he did not take it as planned on D-Day, but are we forgetting that no plan survives contact with the enemy? Equally, the point of taking Caen was to suck in the German Panzer Divisions in Normandy around the countryside to the south of the city. In the event, this occured to the North and West of Caen, but by the end of June there were elements of seven Panzer Divisions facing British forces, and a mere two facing American troops. That hardly sounds like failure to me.

If you are going to criticise Montgomery because he failed to take Caen "when he was supposed to", then, as I said, you must apply that to Generals like Bradley. His forces were supposed to take St Lo and Cherbourg by D+17 (June 23rd) - in the end the former did not fall until mid-July and the latter until June 29th. Does that mean he was a failure too?

Cheers,

-SC

fuhrer · #33 (**permalink**) December 23rd, 2006, 01:41 PM

rommel was the best i think , that is enough that he was respected by 8th eng army soldiers while the battles of north africa

Rommel · #34 (**permalink**) December 31st, 2006, 03:30 AM

Every one forgot someone by the name of George S. Patton Jr. he was better then monty

Jim O · #35 (**permalink**) December 31st, 2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rommel

Every one forgot someone by the name of George S. Patton Jr. he was better then monty

I don't think that he was forgotten (see my current avatar), it's just a different question.

Klaus · #36 (**permalink**) February 1st, 2007, 12:39 PM

Right about that. But feel free to make a thread with Patton. Could be interesting. After all he is one of more famous Generals in history. You could compare (for example) him to a french *snicker* hero.

Jim O · #37 (**permalink**) February 1st, 2007, 01:19 PM

Were there any French heroes?

Jim O · #38 (**permalink**) February 1st, 2007, 10:10 PM

In honor of the French I have added two new smilies: the guillotine

and surrender

. OK, call me politically incorrect.

Klaus · #39 (**permalink**) February 2nd, 2007, 05:10 AM

Well... Let's not forget Napoleon. Made the same mistake as Hitler...

He may not be a good example after all...

But there is one french Hero. He isn't in the history books. And never will be:

The man who invented eating snails and frogs. There is something heroic or pathetic about a man eating the worst rubbish you can imagine.

As the saying goes: "God invented the snails so even the lowest lifeforms could eat... and the french."

Mollypitcher · #40 (**permalink**) March 12th, 2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 515

Im going with Rommel on this one for a few good reasons.
-Fought in ww1. He was captured by the italians and escaped. Thought that was cool.
-After Germany was losing ground in Africa to the British. Rommel came in a took it all back and more.
-He was one of the best commanders during the war. He cared about his men.
-in command of France in 1944 and did a good job at it. Even though it was evenuatlly overrun by the allies.
-He did in no way believe in Nazism. He was opposed to it in all ways. He was involed in the assination on Hilter. He was found out and chose to die a hero instead of stand trial.

Montgomery on the other hand..
-Escaped from Dunkirk in 1940. He planned the Dieppe raid which failed.
-He adapted the planes of General Auchinleck, whice proved successful. yet he blamed all of the failures on Auchinleck while taking the success all for himself.
-He had a very high opion of himself and felt he was the only one who could adequately control a battle. He would not attack until he had complet superiority.
-He failed to take Caen when he was supposed to. He failed the clear the Scheldt Estuary to open the port of Antwerp. He then masterminded Operation Market Garden, which was a complete failure.
-Many of the other commands did not think well of him becuase of his egoism. Eisenhower refered to him as "the thorn in my side."

So all in all. Im going with Rommel. Yet this is just my little opinion.

And I'll go with your "little opinion" in a heartbeat and then some. Montgomery was far too cautious and had no stomach for risk. Timelines meant nothing to him and he wouldn't move until he was so secure there was no risk. His ego was incredible. He even tried to steal the thunder from Patton who was IMO his superior as well. Gotta go with Rommel even though I love the Brits.