Editor in Chief Bill | 31 Mar 2021 6:39 a.m. PST |
Which was the best on the battlefield? |
Legionarius | 31 Mar 2021 6:57 a.m. PST |
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RittervonBek | 31 Mar 2021 7:18 a.m. PST |
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Joes Shop | 31 Mar 2021 7:21 a.m. PST |
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John the Greater | 31 Mar 2021 7:37 a.m. PST |
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Mserafin | 31 Mar 2021 7:49 a.m. PST |
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Lascaris | 31 Mar 2021 8:06 a.m. PST |
Giap. Without him I'm not sure that the French lose decisively in Indochina. |
Frederick | 31 Mar 2021 8:17 a.m. PST |
On a battlefield I think it would be between Zhukov and Rokossovsky – given how he did at Khalkin Gol and in the 1942-43 battles I give a slight edge to Zhukov, although Rokossovsky was also an excellent battlefield commander Zhukov was unquestionably a great strategic general – as was Giap. On the battlefield, though, Giap lost a fair bit – but he was a superb organizer and recognized what he had to do to win the war |
Patrick Sexton | 31 Mar 2021 8:27 a.m. PST |
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Bashytubits | 31 Mar 2021 8:47 a.m. PST |
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Prince Alberts Revenge | 31 Mar 2021 10:11 a.m. PST |
Budyonny was pretty damn good until cavalry became obsolete on the battlefield. |
ataulfo | 31 Mar 2021 10:11 a.m. PST |
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Big Red | 31 Mar 2021 10:19 a.m. PST |
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mildbill | 31 Mar 2021 11:14 a.m. PST |
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LorenzoMele | 31 Mar 2021 11:14 a.m. PST |
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Blutarski | 31 Mar 2021 11:24 a.m. PST |
Chuikov led an interesting career. I'm not sure where his position should be on the pantheon of great Soviet generals, but his absolutely tenacious defense of Stalingrad does stand out as a signal accomplishment. Interestingly, he also was the general who (at least according to Wikipaedia) received the formal surrender of the German defenders of Berlin. B |
jurgenation | 31 Mar 2021 11:36 a.m. PST |
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Uesugi Kenshin | 31 Mar 2021 12:21 p.m. PST |
Not very original bu Zhukov & Giap. |
Shagnasty | 31 Mar 2021 12:53 p.m. PST |
As much as I despise him, Giap. |
Legion 4 | 31 Mar 2021 3:34 p.m. PST |
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Oberlindes Sol LIC | 31 Mar 2021 6:27 p.m. PST |
I don't have much to add. Zhukov's and Giap's achievements against huge, formidable, disciplined, and technologically superior forces put them at the top. |
Barin1 | 01 Apr 2021 6:13 a.m. PST |
Zhukov was a bit more than a general, he was extremely good on general strategy level of things, on the other hand he cared less about losses than some of his subordinates. I remember my grandfather was telling me that when the rumours were reaching the people that Zhukov was coming to their front it meant a lot of bloody fighting ahead. He named Rokossovskiy, Vatutin and Vasilevskiy as the best generals when, as a boy, I've asked him the same question. |
BBT2020 | 01 Apr 2021 7:28 a.m. PST |
Leon Trotsky--Father of the Red Army. |
4th Cuirassier | 01 Apr 2021 8:22 a.m. PST |
Hitler surely did most to assure Communist victory? |
Bobgnar | 01 Apr 2021 11:00 a.m. PST |
Ernesto Rafael "Che" Guevara de la Serna |
deadhead | 01 Apr 2021 12:29 p.m. PST |
Rafael, that I did not know. Lynch, his grandparent and Irish origin I did. Took a good photograph (but then piled it on and got a bad haircut). An asthmatic cigar smoker who forgot his inhaler. A total failure running Cuba's economy and central African revolutions. Not sure a Commandante rates general status, but that is as high as you could go in the Revolutionary army I guess. What he was…was brave, principled, dedicated, photogenic (but Cienfuegos was far "cooler") and truly a martyr to a cause, flawed or not. He was truly heroic, in dropping his middle class life of comfort for a life time of battle, but not the greatest communist general. Zhukov. He took over Soviet fronts when the situation seemed hopeless. Anyone can be a Patton, or Slim, or Gavin, or Monty when you arrive at just the right time. When you now have all the might of a military industrial complex behind you and massive superiority in numbers. It takes real skill to save one city after another when besieged 1941-2. Berlin, anyone can take, with 100,000 dead on your side |
Huscarle | 01 Apr 2021 1:55 p.m. PST |
Trotsky, without him the Red Communists would have failed, and what would have happened if he hadn't appeared to rescue their cause? |
Cuprum2 | 04 Apr 2021 4:53 a.m. PST |
I don't remember a single battle won by Trotsky. He is a great organizer, but not a military leader. In the Russian Civil War, the best red commander is Mikhail Frunze. He has not had a single defeat in his career. Moreover, he was just a professional revolutionary who did not have a military education, and he had to fight against real generals, and even those who had experience of the World War. Brilliant result. In World War II – no doubt Georgy Zhukov. |
BigNickR | 05 Apr 2021 12:29 p.m. PST |
Zukov versus Giap would have been a hell of a matchup… |
Mark 1 | 10 Apr 2021 7:53 p.m. PST |
Katukov. A critical tank unit commander from the defense of Moscow to the drive into Berlin. Made enough 90 degree turns with his Guards Tank Army to leave Patton looking like a noobie for his one single 90% turn to march to Bastogne. Not only visible for leading on the field of battle, but leading the fight on the home front to get the right focus on production of existing tanks, and on features for new tanks, based on the frontline experiences of his troops. Had the tendency to refer to his battalion and company commanders as "Professor Whokov and Professor Blankovic" when explaining the lessons of combat to the STAVKA. This has led to some histories describing his top units as drawn from tank schools or universities, but it was, rather, just his way of giving credit to those who knew their sh!t about what was happening at the front. Although he did have one unit of cadets on the line when he stopped the southern attack towards Moscow at Tula in 1941. Or so I've read. Wasn't there at the time, so I'm just a slave to my books and articles. -Mark (aka: Mk 1) |
Skarper | 11 Apr 2021 7:12 p.m. PST |
I commented before but maybe I forgot to send it. Anyway – For me I have to go with Võ Nguyên Giáp as a matter of loyalty to my adopted home. But objectively, the man was an excellent general who accomplished some near miracles. Far from an unblemished record – not general has that – but overall an impressive one. |