Regardless of country. Who was the best general in the land, air or sea forces and why?

Land = Kesselring because he used what was available to hold back numerically superior forces and he was a Luftwaffe general to boot. Imagine what he could do if he had the right amount of resources. Great defensive commander.

Sea = Nimitz because like Rommel understood desert warfare, Nimitz understood naval warfare and was successful.

Air = Hap Arnold because he stuck with the daytime strategic bombing when all others recommended night bombing like the Brits. He was more successful in bringing the Axis to their knees. The Germans had more experienced soldiers but could not do without war material.

Who's your vote?

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Tschuss

On the land, I have to admit I like old "Smiling Albert" Kesselring myself. However, personal prejudice must prevail and I have to go with George Patton. I know, he never commanded an Army Group, but he had dash, daring, a good sense of ground, new what his men were capable of performing and PERFORMED!

On the sea, I like Halsey as well as anyone, although he did get hoodwinked in the Leyte Gulf business. However, I can't think of anyone better, (other than Lord Nelson) so I will go with Halsey.

In the air, THIS IS TOUGH!!! First, I have ZERO love for the Air Force as USAF almost killed me once, mistaking my tank platoon for their hard targets (this was in 1980). Thank God no one was hurt, but they also didn't hit the target either!!! (mixed blessings!)Ira Eaker did a lot of good work bringing 8th Air Force up to snuff so I guess I will go with him.

[This message has been edited by M60A1 (edited 11 January 2001).]

[This message has been edited by M60A1 (edited 11 January 2001).]

hmmm favorite generals??
i guess i would have to say Eisenhower on land because he helped keep the allies together in tough times...and also seemed to want to do his job well than be noticed for it. (unlike Patton or McArthur)
Although i don't know much about the many land generals
On the sea i liked Halsey because he was smart and aggresive. and even in the beginning of the war had an aggresive spirit.
In the air i would pick Jimmy Doolittle for i respect him for the Tokyo raid in 42 and had a reputable career with the air foce against germany too.

Great question PzJgr!!

On land I like Rommel, (surprise, surprise!) I don't think amyone did more with less. He commanded troop in France, shocked the British in North Africa, and had his "stop them on the beaches" policy been followed in Fortress Europe, D-Day would have been a disaster.

Sea, Carl Doernitz. He nearly brought England to surrender with just over 100 active, operational subs.

Air, I'm with you PzJgr, Hap Arnold because his daytime bombing tactics brought the Luftwaffe out to fight where it was destroyed.

I agree with you Otto, when you chose Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel and Doenitz. I would have to argue in von Manstein and GFM Model for ground commanders, and Adolf Ferdinand Galland as the best air commander. These cover air-land and sae, for the Germans.

Allied land-air and sea. George Smith Patton Jr. "Hap" Arnold, and Chester W. Nimitz.

I didn't realize this was a difficult question until I read all of the responses. All of the listed Flag officers are indeed good with good reasons. I did orginally put down Patton for land but he did have the advantage of material resources. Not that that would have stopped him as we found out in the battle of the bulge. Great choices from all.

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Tschuss

NIMITZ? he failed miserably in containing the royal navy and to hold the blockade of England. he was not that good at his job in my opinion.

Kesselring? He was just lucky that he could hide behind massive mountains. If kesselring would have had to fight on flat land, such as the desert, he would have been overwhelmed.

rommel was by far the most able commander. not without faults, but a true field commander, always in the frontlines. a good second would be General Patton, who might have been a little onorthodox, but he knew when and how to push on and on and on.

worst general must be one of the british fellows that failed in egypt against rommel....auchinleck or so..



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*** We shall not retreat, nor shall we surrender. If we cannot stay here alive, we shall stay here dead***

I believe that when they said Nimitz they meant the US Admiral in charge of the US Pacific fleet. did you mean the German Admiral Dornitz (spellings bad) he was Commander of the German Navy.

Dear Mart, were are talking about two different Nimitz's. The Nimitz I am talking about is the US Navy Admiral Chester W. Nimitz born in or near Johnson City, Texas USA.

You are correct, the Nimitz you are talking about is someone else who was a big failure for his country.

As for Kesselring, he did a good job in keeping the allies from gaining much ground. In fact, he was probably the most abelest of all German theatre Commanders. True he was excellent as a defensive commander, but what else can you do if you have almost nothing to fight with? Another great defensive commander was Gotthard Heinrici i.e. The Battles he was involved in before and after the Seelowe Heights.

I strongly agree with you Mart on Rommen and Patton.

I meant to say Rommel, not the misspelling.

My thoughts exactly. Offensive generalship is not the only type I considered. Kesselring did outstanding being out numbered as he was. Any commander will use whatever resources he can muster for victory. Kesselring used the mountains, Rommel used the open desert, Monty used overwhelming material as did Patton along with the deteriating state of the wehrmacht and the Royal Navy used the broken code of Enigma against the U-Boats.

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Tschuss

My favorites go for patton for the Americans.
Rommel and then von manteuffel for the Germans.
Zhukov for the Russians.
Kawaguchi for the japaneese.

Yes, definitely must not forget the Soviets. Zhukov did do alot for them. I have not heard of the Japanese general. What was his claim to fame? Great choices!

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Tschuss

I remember reading about Kawaguchi, in a book about Guadalcanal I think. Anyway, he was a good general that didnt just waste his men in suicide charges.

Zhukov, I always liked because he was the best russian general. He also beat the japaneeses, sometime during an early part of ww2.

Some top Soviet Generals were:

Georgy K. Zhukov
Konstatin Rokkosovsky (Spelling?)
Timoshenko
Budenny (Spelling?)
There is another great Soviet General I am thinking of but just cannot remember his name at this time. He was another great land commander. But these are to name just a few. Had Stalin not purged most or all of his seasoned and experianced senior commanders in the 1930's, I think the Germans would have been stopped much, much sooner-inspite of Stalins meddeling.

Could it be Chuikov? He was racing Zhukov to Berlin and I believe he won.

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Tschuss

you are all right, my bad. i mixed names concerning nimitz.



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*** We shall not retreat, nor shall we surrender. If we cannot stay here alive, we shall stay here dead***

I had forgotten about Chuikov, but the one im thinking of had either light brown or blonde hair. For the life of me, I just can't think of his name.

Dear Mart, no problem, imguilty of being mistaken a few times here already.

Land only.
Russian: Chuikov (Stalingrad)
American: Joe Collins
British: Montgomery?O'Connor
German: Kesselring
Australian: ?????? hint - commander of the 1941 Tobruk forces and of the 9thDiv. Defeated Rommel every time, including at El Alamein.

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sand digger

I know when I am being bated. All your choices are excellent-cept for one.

Who? Not the foxy Rommel, surely. I can't vote for him, it would be unpatriotic.

Did'nt Lightning Joe do an excellent job somewhere around Normandy, was it Cobra? I like good American Generals, like their attitude, but the glory seekers and b******t artists leave me cold.

Can't find Admin, page 2 access is not working.

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sand digger

Does anyone even know of a Soviet AirForce commander? I can't remember ever hearing of one.

Dear Richard, I needed the laugh-thanks.

Otto, I will try to remember to get back with you on the Soviet air commander question, I might have a little info on some.

On land the best overall has to be Rommel. Did any of the aforementioned do nearly as much with as little to work with?
Scratch all the Russians, too!!!
Patriots all, perhaps, but anyone with the resources to batter defences incessantly until they crack can SEEM a great general!!
How about some sort of "Honorable Mention" for George Marshall. This guy wanted supreme command ETO so bad he could taste it, and ended up having to stay stateside so that social climber Ike could mollycoddle the British into thinking they were actually winning the war.... Of course his primary skill was evidently organization, so it may have been the best thing after all!

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Novus Ordo Seclorum