| Mute Bystander | 29 Jun 2016 3:18 a.m. PST |
Voted Napoleon but he had created enemies who would have hounded him for no other reason than hubristic vengeance. He was doomed to be hunted down and locked away with no trial for injuring their egos and aristocratic pride. No fan of his last years but an unjust end to his life. After Inchon, MacArthur surely, Custer before Greasy Grass. |
 20thmaine  | 29 Jun 2016 5:18 a.m. PST |
My instinct was Napoleon – but really Petain went literally from Hero to Zero. |
| John the Greater | 29 Jun 2016 5:47 a.m. PST |
Target rich environment. I had to go with Hood – he flamed out spectacularly. |
| Who asked this joker | 29 Jun 2016 6:42 a.m. PST |
Napoleon was not really past his prime. I'd argue that Waterloo was lost by his supporting cast more than him. The normally aggressive Grouchey failed to show for the big showdown. Ney was given too big of a role. Davout was ordered to sit in Paris. Suchet was in charge of holding the south with a few regulars and a bunch of National Guard. MacArthur tripped over his own ego. He was probably still able but his arrogance kept him from doing the right thing. |
| Old Contemptibles | 29 Jun 2016 7:45 a.m. PST |
He made terrible personnel decisions at the beginning of the Waterloo Campaign. The supporting cast he chose let him down, but he did choose them. It is all on him.
If he wasn't past his prime, he most certainly was not at his best. A younger, healthier Napoleon might have won Waterloo. He would have attacked the Allies immediately rather than waiting for the next day or for the mud to dry. |
| Frederick | 29 Jun 2016 7:49 a.m. PST |
Petain as well – the valiant lion of WWI who laid down like a lamb in WWII |
| rmaker | 29 Jun 2016 8:19 a.m. PST |
Petain didn't fail as a general – he failed as a politician, which is a whole different poll. One wherein he has lots of illustrious company (including Napoleon). |
| Who asked this joker | 29 Jun 2016 12:38 p.m. PST |
healthier Napoleon That's the key right there. Strategically, Napoleon's plans were as sound as any. After the first day of real fighting, he probably liked his chances a lot. Wellington and Blucher were probably feeling a little nervous too. I agree about Petain. His failing occurred as a politician. |
| Florida Tory | 30 Jun 2016 4:23 a.m. PST |
Definitely Petain. Remember Clausewitz' observation that war is politics. Rick |
 ColCampbell | 05 Jul 2016 7:50 a.m. PST |
I also voted for Hood – excellent brigade commander, good division commander, tolerable corps commander (if he had an army commander who could "ride herd" on him), awful army commander. He is a fine example of the peter Principle at work. Jim |
