Favorite Battle

[Hagen]

Mine is the Battle for Berlin. Germany in its death throes was still making a decent fight of it. Hitler Youth, Volksturm, scratch units thrown together from stragglers and the foreign units of the Waffen SS. The last really had no choice but to go down fighting.

We've all seen the pictures, the Hitler Youth and the old man peering over the rim of their foxhole with panzerfausts. The burned out SPW 250 of SS Nordland, the lineup of old men of the Volksturm in a hodge-podge of civilian and military clothing, Hitler Youth bicyclists with panzerfausts mounted up by the handlebars.

All set against a backdrop of total destruction, ruined buildings, fires, so much smoke in the air that it seemed as if day time was turned to dusk. Wagners "Gotterdammerung" (Twilight of the Gods) has been used quite frequently in describing these final scenes of the Third Reich, a fitting description IMO.

So whats your favorite battle of the war??

[Brett]

Air
---

Last one of the war (18 Aug ’45). Japanese interceptors vs. B-32s (The “other” super Heavy US bomber, produced as a backup for the B-29). Interesting that an obscure plane would be involved at the end.

see B-32 Dominator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Sea
----

1. Last one of the war (post Japanese surrender). Chinese sailing junks were involved. After enormous technological advances during the war, the last battle
uses thousand year old technology and ends with the
ancient tactic of boarding.

Morrison, the official US navy historian, wrote about this battle in “Liberation of the Philippines” He finished with: “Sailors – never forget how to sail!”

2. Fri. the 13th, Nov. ’42, Ironbottom Sound, Guadalcanal. A very confused melee between a US cruiser/destroyer force and a Japanese battleship led force. The US splits the enemy force, prompting the command “Even ships fire to starboard, Odd ships fire to port!” US destroyers get within ½ mile of the battleship, so close it can’t depress its main battery far enough to shoot.


Land
------

Battle of Wau (the only joint German/ Japanese op of the
war?) I will repeat from my review of “Touched with
Fire”, so you don’t have to click over there:

The book covered what I consider one of the most
intriguing battles ever – the battle for Wau. Wau
was in the interior of New Guinea, base of the
irregular Aussie unit “Kanga Force”. This unit
raided the north coast during the Japanese drive
on Port Moresby & the Allied counteroffensive.

Finally, the Japanese struck back in Jan. ’43.
A German expat lead their force down a previously
unknown trail. The Aussies only discovered
this strong enemy force very late.

Wau’s only connection to the outside world was
an airstrip with a 12% grade. Bad weather broke
just as the Japanese were closing on the airfield.
C-47s flying reinforcements & supplies would
sometimes have to circle so Aussies could clear
the runway edge.


2. Battle of the Bulge.

3. battles between Stalingrad and the Caucasians,
Summer/Fall ’42. (???) As I remember
from “Hitler Moves East” by Paul Carrell –

The Germans had major forces in Stalingrad and the
Caucasians – and a 200 mile gap in between, with only
one division filling it. Very fluid fighting, reminiscent
of N. Africa (with camels used to resupply), except on
a much wider front.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to verify my
recollections on this.


4. Soviet attempt for a “super Stalingrad” to 3rd battle of
Kharkov Jan – Mar ’43. Soviets attack to try to trap
even more troops than at Stalingrad, by reaching the
NE black sea coast. Germans escape, and then counter
attack the overextended Soviets. After losing an
army at Stalingrad, IMO the most impressive German
victory of the war.

5. Battle of Leros, Nov. ’43. The last strategic
German victory of the war(?) Germany recaptures
the Aegean islands closest to Turkey, after the
UK took them following Italy’s surrender.

Churchill hoped to bring Turkey into the war.
Whether this was a total pipedream even before,
I don’t know, but after the battle it was completely
hopeless.

see Battle of Leros - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Commando Strike
--------------------

Skorzeny’s coup in Hungary, 16 Oct. ’44. I believe
he ordered his men to carry unloaded weapons to
prevent any nervous firing, and then just marched
on the Hungarian leader like peacetime. Without
any bloodshed, Skorzeny kept Hungary in the Axis.

[Jim O]

I have tended to favor the epic battles: Stalingrad for the courage under desperate conditions and privation, Kursk for the intensity, and Normandy for the planning effort, and the enormous coordination of air, sea, and ground forces.

[ptol]

Well, for me one of my "favourite" battles was Kursk, where so many russian and german tanks were involved in a "small" piece of land...!

[SRF]

Battle of Britain
All right, it wasn't quite as close as legend makes out (even if Fighter Command continued losing at the rate of early September it wouldn't have been out of the fight in time for the invasion to go ahead), but it was still a victory against the odds andrarely in history has so much been on the line.

[razorboy]

I have always liked all of the numerous battles that took place during "Operation Barbarossa". Those pictures showing the advance of thousands of men and vehicles over the vast expanses of Russia really do it for me.
Here are a few pics of a Diorama I put together a while back depicting the capture of one of the countlesss thousands of Russian soldiers taken prisoner, by advance elements of the Aufklarungs Bttln., 3rd SS Division on June 23, 1941. Hope you enjoy them.

Dave "razorboy" Creel





*See some other great WW2 models and dioramas at:
Lufttiger Models

[lufttiger]

For me, one thats close to Hagen, is the battle for "Seelowe Heights"

Even tho the surviving Germans ended up retreating into Berlin at the end,
they put up one hell of fight, and out foxed the Russians big time.

One of the great last stands of the war.

[Aussie Dave]

The allied D-Day Invasion landings on the Normandy beaches.
(The likes of which on a scale we will never see again.)

It was the turning point of the war and it meant Germany now had to fight a war on two fronts.
Planning, courage, determination and luck all played a vital part in its success.


Cheers,
Dave

[dgfred]

Anything about Stalingrad gets my attention, but I'm also a big fan of
Market Garden. I also enjoy reads on the Afrika Korps, Battle of the
Bulge, Iwo Jima and heck... all of 'em.

[gi-rene]

Originally Posted by dgfred

Anything about Stalingrad gets my attention, but I'm also a big fan of
Market Garden. I also enjoy reads on the Afrika Korps, Battle of the
Bulge, Iwo Jima and heck... all of 'em.

I agree... Hard to choose. Always been an OstFront fan. But now The Bulge, Guadal and Iwo have my attention more.