Rommel in Command of the OStfront

[Panzermacher]

Good point Magna...but I gotta disagree with the Rommel not capable of larger command....I think he could have handled it. Read his book...(Like Patton once uttered, allegedly)

[MAGNA]

Oh well, we all see what seems right I spose. That's the beauty of this kind of question. We will never know whether we were right or wrong. I do feel that Rommel had a lack of experience in some facets of command and organisation that would have worked against him at such a high level.

Saying the word level is a bit misleading too. It implies that if Rommel was suited to combat command at multi divisional level he was somehow not good enough. This also is not the case. It is a matter of the right man for the job. Eisenhower would not have been the first choice as a divisional or army commander in the field due to lack of practical experience. Patton would have been unsuitable as overall allied commander as he may well have shot someone on his own side.

Rommel has his part to play but it must be in the right place otherwise we would probably be asking why someone who was so suited to field command of an army was put in charge of several.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

...Eisenhower would not have been the first choice as a divisional or army commander in the field due to lack of practical experience. Patton would have been unsuitable as overall allied commander as he may well have shot someone on his own side.

Rommel has his part to play but it must be in the right place otherwise we would probably be asking why someone who was so suited to field command of an army was put in charge of several.

Excellent points! Had Patton and Eisenhower been in each other's positions, events would likely have unfolded very differently. Similarly, had Rommel been in command in the east one needs to consider what would have happened in Africa as well. Would fewer Allied resources have been needed to finish of rhe Afrikakorps and would that have altered events on the continent? Would Churchill have had his way and convinced the Allies to invade the Balkans? Would that have provoked the Soviets into a not so cold war? Would a sizable portion of German forces have been cut off in the east and destroyed? Would Allied forces have had to deal with Rommel in the Carpathians? What of the Yugoslav partisans; how would they have dealt with Allied forces? As more invaders or as liberators? Who knows? It is interesting though to wonder.

[MAGNA]

The Allies in the Balkans is a scary thought. Especially when you look at it after Pm's starting query. The scariest thing to me about some of this stuff is that it could easily have happened.

[Panzermacher]

Good Points! I lookd at that too If Rommel Had left Africa what would happen there? I assumed it would be a mess and the Allies could have moved on the "Soft Underbelly" alot sooner..methinks.

Patton in Eisenhowers shoes? Well, alot of soldiers may have got slapped!

ITs always good to wonder the what ifs.....Like on the other side of it What if Rommel was the Ost front commander and totally bungled it? That's just as possible as him doing good things. HE may have got in charge on the Ostfront, and found out he was not a great Army commander and just mucked things up fiercely! I looked at that too, in my land of what ifs....

Me and a buddy once went into the Patton/Ike switch too and we decided after a quick debate....Ike was the best man for the job! Our beloved George would have just got his butt in a bigger sling!

[MAGNA]

Yes you are more than likely right. The sling would have been huge!!

Can you imagine George S. arguing it out with Winston S. ? Cigars and six guns at ten paces.

[Panzermacher]

LOL that would be a neat site to see...

[MAGNA]

Thats an interesting question about Rommel bungling the Eastern Front command. Would we then be asking why he was put in command when all he had done was lead companies of infantry in the First World War and one division in France ? And what if Guderian had been sent to Africa ? Would we be discussing whether he should have been put in charge of the Ostfront instead of Rommel ?

I have often wondered whether Rommel would have been a better choice for the 6th army in the summer offensive of 1942 instead of Paulus. Perhaps Stalingrad would not have happened ?

[Freightshaker]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

I have often wondered whether Rommel would have been a better choice for the 6th army in the summer offensive of 1942 instead of Paulus. Perhaps Stalingrad would not have happened ?

Paulus was a very capable commander and and was on the rise in the chain of command. Consider his performance in Summer 42' and the fact that he did almost take Stalingrad. Russian lines were a mere 100 meters in front of the Volga in places.

Paulus's downfall was his unwaivering loyalty to Hitler and his oath of allegiance. The oath went right out the window after capture, along with his adoration of Hitler since he saw Hitler for what he was.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Freightshaker

Paulus was a very capable commander and and was on the rise in the chain of command. Consider his performance in Summer 42' and the fact that he did almost take Stalingrad. Russian lines were a mere 100 meters in front of the Volga in places.

Paulus's downfall was his unwaivering loyalty to Hitler and his oath of allegiance. The oath went right out the window after capture, along with his adoration of Hitler since he saw Hitler for what he was.

I agree. Paulus did well with what he had considering what he faced in Stalingrad and the orders of his superiors. Should he have disobeyed those orders and organized a break out and retreat is a separate issue.