Of course they were stupid. Germany in April 1945 is a testament to their lack of vision.

Hitler fatally underestimated British and French resolve in 1939. His turning to Ribbentrop and asking "What now?" is the most convincing proof of his miscalculation.

Neither Donitz nor Hjalmar Schacht were Nazis. When Schacht got in the way of Gorings slash-and-burn approach to the economy he was fired. Speer wasa failed architect who came to office by accident.

What about Sauckel or Rosenberg, Ribbentrop or Himmler? Two lunatics, a self absorbed Champagne salesman and a failed Chicken Farmer.

Don't hold Goring up as being some form of capable visionary either. His failures are legion and legendary.

No. This bunch were thankfully mentally ill-equipped to win the war, but they were able to start one, and condemn millions to death. How a supposedly civilised country could have handed absolute political power to this bunch beggars belief even today.

Run a war economy? Groener and his office did far better in WW1 that was ever managed in WW2.

Jumbo

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"Capital! We're nearly out of ammunition! Now we can get at them with the bayonet!" General Paddy Gough, 1st Sikh War