"Divided — From D-Day to Market Garden, Did Allied ..." Topic

…Leadership Conflicts Prolong the War in Europe?

"THE ALLIED campaign in Normandy from June to August of 1944 ranks high in the annals of military history. Even Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, German senior commander in Normandy, was impressed with the sheer scale of the undertaking.

"Technically and strategically the landing in Normandy was a brilliant achievement of the first magnitude," he said. "The functioning of the Allied fighting machine, with all its complexity, surprised even me, and I already had a fairly high opinion of their powers."

Many people have commented that the history of war has been written by its winners. The Normandy campaign has been largely represented as a triumphant Allied success story. Noted historian Martin Blumenson believes that the Anglo-American alliance that directed it "was probably the most successful alliance in history."…"

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Armand

Just look at the daft questions posed, the basis for the entire article;

"Why was Caen, the top D-Day objective, not captured on D-Day but weeks later? Who forced the Americans to fight in the bocage – the hedgerow hell What stopped General Patton from closing the Falaise Pocket and capturing 200,000 German soldiers? Why was the opening of the vital port of Antwerp delayed for nearly three months? Why did Eisenhower stop Patton's unopposed advance into Germany through the West Wall?

Hard to know where to start with this lot, as so blooming obvious.

Thanks!

Armand

I had kinda hoped folk would join in though…..

I love "Patton's unopposed advance" for example. Or why the poor US ended up in Western Normandy, could it be to do with where they were based in the UK? Where they docked after crossing the Atlantic..?

Almost every question posed could be answered with one observation. The opposition, the German Army, was just incredible at reacting to any threat and its doctrine allowed individual units, from Army Groups down to platoons, to create a defence (defense) against any Allied threat.

I had kinda hoped folk would join in though…..

Why, mate? The subject and differences in national mythology have been ploughed down to bedrock. As usual it will turn into a Patton supporters versus Monty supporters bunfight and nobody will be left the wiser. (Just left nauseous, probably.)

Monty, Patton, Wellington, Napoleon, bricole, Hiroshima, who started/won <insert war of choice>- some subjects are best ignored.

Just look at the daft questions posed, the basis for the entire article;

"Why was Caen, the top D-Day objective, not captured on D-Day but weeks later? Who forced the Americans to fight in the bocage – the hedgerow hell What stopped General Patton from closing the Falaise Pocket and capturing 200,000 German soldiers? Why was the opening of the vital port of Antwerp delayed for nearly three months? Why did Eisenhower stop Patton's unopposed advance into Germany through the West Wall?

Hard to know where to start with this lot, as so blooming obvious.

It is indeed obvious. An author who has a clear bias is searching for excuses to explain away the failures of his favourite army. He is desperate to lay the blame for the mistakes of that army on another army.

Glup!

Armand