Best Infantry of the War

[DirtyDick]

I would be interested to hear the views of Forum members as to which nation had the 'best' infantry, man-for-man, during all or part of WW2. Perhaps it was no single country, but many, and ideally one should desist from comparing a Paratrooper or Ranger to a 2nd Line German conscript called up in 1944-45, but rather like for like.

'Best' is often a subjective assessment and can also be an ambiguous and misleading summary, and dependent upon, among other things: morale, the enemy being fought, equipment stage of the War influencing training and recruitment, inspired leadership etc. etc.

E.g: the Russians created a formidable fighting force and suffered horrendously, but could it be argued that the training of the individual Russian soldier was often very fleeting and their sheer numbers and the resolve of the political-military structure brought eventual victory. In 1940 the French Army was 5 million strong, but many were badly-equipped, middle aged conscripts - perhaps veterans of WW1 - who had long since grown unfit and lost their edge; many others were 20 years old and recently conscripted. Just a few examples. However, the smaller Free French Forces were far more professional, so

However, when looking at the calibre of sections, platoons and units upwards, which nations' military most impresses you and for what reason?

As stated, this is necessarily a simplistic and divisive question, but if people give their reasons it may well lead to interesting information with regards to selection, training and morale etc.

Ho, hum ... I think that is all...
Richard

[Paratrooper]

For America...
1.101st Airborne-They lost many bust still never gave up while surrounded in bastone.
2.29th infantry div.-They where main assult force on omaha beach.
3.1st Marine corps-For there many losses(Guadacanal)and victorys.
4.1st Rangers-Leading us into the European Theater w/ operation torch
5.2nd armor division-for ther emany stunning victorys.

Do you agree?

[strangelove]

best infantry i.m.h.o. were ss troops (cruel and ruthless)...

[Paratrooper]

yes the SS where very good but they didnt win enuf battles to make a difference

[Kieron Hill]

The British (one particular Regiment The Queens).

In my quest to research my granddads military history I came across his Infantry Battalion “The Queens West Surrey Regiment”. I’ve had the privilege of reading various first hand accounts of these brave Valliant, courage’s infantry men. From the beaches of Dunkirk to North Afirca, Italy and throughout Europe.
The following are just a few reasons I feel his Regiment was the best fighting Infantry Regiment throughout WW2 (obviously my opinion has not been influenced whatsoever).


They were great battalions, those battalions of the Queens Royal Regiment, and they had a record of continuous front line service that could probably not be equalled by any other infantry.


Major General G.L Verny
23rd February 1955


The Queens Royal Regiment was an example and inspiration to us of the Royal Navy. Written by The Naval Commander-in-Chief on The Queens evacuation from Dunkirk.

In 1943, 131 Brigade (1/5, 1/6 and 1/7th Queens Royal Regt Battalions) led the advance of the 8th Army from Tripoli to the Mareth Line and when Rommel turned on his pursuers at Medenine. The brunt of his attack fell on the Queensmen. The Queens battalions supported by artillery thoroughly defeated two Panzer Divisions.
Their losses were very small indeed. The 1/5th Queens lost Lieutenant B.T.Opperman killed, Captain G.L Lilly and Lieutenant K.H. Wheeler and a number of other ranks wounded. The 1/6th Queens lost 2 men killed, 7 wounded and 20 missing, and the 1/7th Queens 1 killed, 9 wounded and 10 missing.

The Commander of XXX Corps , Lieut.-General Sir Oliver Lesse, wrote to Lieut.-General I.T.P.Hughes, their former Brigade and Divisional Commander as follows this concerning action:

“You will be delighted to hear that your old Queens Brigade has done magnificently. The Brigade led the whole advance from Tripoli up to the Mareth Line and had many encounters with German rear guards. A few days ago Rommel lashed out at the 8th Army and the brunt of his attack fell on the Queens Brigade. The three battalions, especially the 1/7th, without mines or wire ‘saw off’ the attack of two Panzer divisions. On the front of the 1/7th Queens alone there were twenty seven dead tanks. Everyone agrees it was a most magnificent performance”

Field Marshall Montgomery wrote:

“It was a model battle and a triumph for the infantry and the anti tank guns, who without wire or minefields had stopped and destroyed the organized attacks of three Panzer divisions and their supporting infantry. The infantry chiefly concerned were the three battalions of the Queens Brigade, though the 201st Guards Brigade also played a fine part and the Black Watch and Maoris saw some action. Very great credit throughout was undoubtedly due to our artillery, whose close liaison and prompt help time and again turned the scale. Infantry can seldom have been better supported”.


169 The Queens Brigade marched 3,313 miles from Iraq straight into action at Enfidaville, the longest in history.


The Queensmen had fought on every front during World War 2 and earned over thirty battle honours for the regiment. Six members of the regiment have been awarded the Victoria Cross.


LT.-General Sir Brian Horrocks writes:

The superb discipline of the Queens which saved the situation on many a hard fought battlefield all over the world ever since they were first raised as the Tangiers Regiment on October 14th 1661.
I was able to see for myself during the last War that this tradition had been maintained, particularly in their Territorial Battalions who always seemed to be present wherever the fighting was fiercest.
My introduction was to the 1/7th Queens Battalion during the withdrawal to Dunkirk. I was commanding a small force acting as rearguard-cum flank guard to the third division; they were holding a position on the River Dendre as rearguard to the 50th Division. This was a big test for a comparatively raw territorial battalion but they came through with flying colours and on their return to the UK ‘their bearing, good order and discipline’ earned them highest praise from the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
In August 1942 as I drove along the famous Desert road for the first time, on my way up to join the 8th Army, feeling very much stranger, I kept passing vehicles bearing the Red Egg-the Divisional sign of the 44th Home Counties Davison which I had commanded in the United Kingdom; they belonged to the 131st Queens Brigade who were also new boys on their way up to join the 8th Army. From then on we were together in many battles during that long haul from Alamein to Tunis when they frequently led the 8th Army advance as the Lorried Infantry Brigade of the 7th Armoured Division-the famous “Desert Rats”. At Enfidaville we were joined by the 56th London Division which contained the 169th Queens Brigade, so for a brief period I had six territorial battalions of the Queens in my corps. I consider therefore that I am in a privileged position to assess the fighting qualities of this Regiment and my verdict is unquestionably “that they are among the steadiest infantry that anybody could wish to have under their command”.


Like I’ve said these are just a few of the reasons I feel the Queensman of WW2 were the best infantry, and the above accounts are mainly for their exploits in North Africa. The Battalion fought valiantly with the B.E.F. to stem the overwhelming tide of German steel, and having failed, suffered severely on the beaches of Dunkirk before being evacuated back to the UK. They then had their victorious trek threw Italy, Normandy, Holland and Germany.

The Queens Royal Surrey Regiments motto:

Pristinae Virtutis Memor
Mindful of the Gallant actions of the past

Vel exuvia triumphans
Even in defeat there can be triumph.

Kieron

[angie999]

On the allied side, leaving aside small, specialist units, I am going to nominate the Australian 9th Division.

Overall, though, I am going to nominate the German field divisions. Without the technical resources of the western Allies and without the sheer mass of numbers of the Red Army, soldier for soldier they simply outfought every army they ever faced and they did it with less of everything. In particular, the quality of the German junior leaders was far superior. And if they were frequently placed in a hopeless situation, then the blame rests with their higher commanders, notably Hitler.

In Normandy, the Germans were placed in such a hopeless position after the Mortain offensive was stopped, but their defence of the Falaise pocket was then actually outstanding in the circumstances.

[DirtyDick]

I have read much about the tenacity of the German soldiers; but I suppose with 10 million Russians bearing down on them, intent on all sorts of barbarism according to the propaganda, they would fight with more determination. Equally, as you say, there was a good system of junior leadership allowing attacks to be pressed even after the officers were put out of action: something that was lacking in conventional infantry units in the British Army.

I recall learning that there was quite a lot of ill-feeling in those British units that had fought in Africa and Italy and were then assigned to D-Day to strengthen the largely inexperienced invasion forces; and a similar if misguided distrust of the very many US invasion units that had not yet seen action (with the notable exception of the US divisions that fought in the Mediterranean in 1942/43).

According to Max Hastings's Overlord, there were serious problems with morale in British, US and Canadian infantry units during some of the heaviest fighting, when the casualty rate often exceeded the WW1 average.

Richard

[Gerry Chester]

Richard

Of the many fine infantry units, perhaps the Gurkhas deserve first place. On one occasion in Italy we were supprting the 2nd/3rd Battalion - despite running out of ammunition they continued the attack using their kukris so effectivley to utterly demoralise the Germans!

[morse1001]

Originally posted by DirtyDick@Jul 25 2004, 06:15 PM

I recall learning that there was quite a lot of ill-feeling in those British units that had fought in Africa and Italy and were then assigned to D-Day to strengthen the largely inexperienced invasion forces; and a similar if misguided distrust of the very many US invasion units that had not yet seen action (with the notable exception of the US divisions that fought in the Mediterranean in 1942/43).

I met a friend of my father who had served in the RAF from 1938 to 1950. He served through the phoney war and thence to Dunkirk in 1939. he was then posted to North Africa, greece and was one of the many RAF erks who were left on Crete.

From Crete he went back to North Africa and then Scilly, italy and was posted back to Britian in early 1944 to be part of a servicing unit in the invasion. Hugh had been twice mentioned in dispatches before D-Day. He was bitter about leaving his many friends in Italy and was shocked to find out that many of the squaddies who were sailing on the same ship and due to land at H-Hour had spent there timne in the Army in Britain. In fact he ahd more combat experience than had some of the officers of captain and below.

[Strawberry]

Best infantry?

Yugoslav partisans.

Reason?

Many reasons.

Example 1:
number of German divisions holded by such smal number of partisans

Example 2:
no regular supply

Example 3:
homemade weapons