Biggest Mistake of WWII

[morse1001]

[[quote]]
after some reorganisation, my old Div. The Third British Infantry was rearmed with what they could gather together. At that time they were the only divisioin capable of any kind of defence. That my friends! is all that we had. Nothing else at all, Nothing.....[/[quote]]




The RAF in the shape of both Bomber and Fighter Command did their bit for the defence of Britian and launching attacks against the Germans.

Sadly Bomber command was bound but the rules set down by the politicans who wanted to avaoid the bombing of Cities.

[[quote]]His greatest mistake was in not taking a wide open for invasion Britian, then he would have had our industrial capacity, and 50 odd million slaves, that could have, and would have, been worked to death for the good of the Fatherland.
Sapper[/

]

Quoted post

Evidnece from many sources inclusing eyewitness testimoney shows that Hitler was more concerned by the planning and implementation of Operation Barrbarossa.

[Kiwiwriter]

While the 3rd Infantry Division was in pretty good shape compared to the other Dunkirk survivors, I'd mention that the 1st Canadian Division was also in fairly good shape. One of its brigades went to France, and was quickly evacuated through Cherbourg. It saw no action, lost a few men to traffic accidents and in the chaos of the evacuation. However, it had most of its vehicles and support, so it was assigned as the GHQ Reserve and counterattack force during the "Invasion Summer." The New Zealand brigades and the Australian brigades were in decent shape, but Sapper's basic point is accurate and well-taken...Britain was desperately short on weapons in 1940. Pikes from HMS Victory were being issued to Home Guardsmen. The Americans sent over rifles that had been cosmolined since the Argonne, and women at BSA spent weeks cleaning off the grease to ready the Springfields for use. The Home Guard had to drill with shotguns...if they were lucky. The BEF left behind virtually all of its vehicles, artillery, and heavy weapons at Dunkirk. And some fool spiked all the AA guns...before the evacuation started, which enraged Gort. Talk about bad timing!

[morse1001]

Originally posted by Kiwiwriter@Nov 10 2004, 02:37 PM
While the 3rd Infantry Division was in pretty good shape compared to the other Dunkirk survivors, I'd mention that the 1st Canadian Division was also in fairly good shape. One of its brigades went to France, and was quickly evacuated through Cherbourg. It saw no action, lost a few men to traffic accidents and in the chaos of the evacuation. However, it had most of its vehicles and support, so it was assigned as the GHQ Reserve and counterattack force during the "Invasion Summer." The New Zealand brigades and the Australian brigades were in decent shape, but Sapper's basic point is accurate and well-taken...Britain was desperately short on weapons in 1940. Pikes from HMS Victory were being issued to Home Guardsmen. The Americans sent over rifles that had been cosmolined since the Argonne, and women at BSA spent weeks cleaning off the grease to ready the Springfields for use. The Home Guard had to drill with shotguns...if they were lucky. The BEF left behind virtually all of its vehicles, artillery, and heavy weapons at Dunkirk. And some fool spiked all the AA guns...before the evacuation started, which enraged Gort. Talk about bad timing!

Quoted post

However, what introduces is arguably the greatest mistake of the Germans and that was their desire for Air Superiority over Britain.

The time it took to carryout the task and subsequent change of strategic direction in the bombing raids, gave Britain and her allies enough breathing space to restore their forces.

[Wise1]

Originally posted by Gnomey@Nov 9 2004, 08:23 PM
Bepposapone please calm down. Beppo you are getting off topic this is about the Biggest Mistake of WW2 (although this may have been the Treaty of Versailles). You are going off topic, this is your last warning.

Quoted post

I want everyone to get on, posts go off topic, on topic and so on, thats just the way of forums, however all points raised were in my opinion fine.

Lets keep warnings for those that really break the rules by posting unacceptable matter rather than those just trying to keep the various debates alive!

[sapper]

To reinforce was I was saying earlier...We were really down to nothing. Obviously there were other units in the Britain, but none were armed as fighting units....

The Third British with their long and hard earned reputation as great fighters, was what prompted the authorities to gather everything together under the auspices of the Third British Infantry, the best fighting div, The Iron Div.

That is where Hitler made his greatest mistake. We were at that time, reeling. We had nothing. I know that someone will tell about other units in the country….But they have to have arms to fight! The tales about Pikes is no fairy tale.

For we were literally on our own! completely. The Home Guard ‘s only real weapon in those days was Molotov Cocktails, milk bottles filled with petrol with a bit of rag stuffed in the neck, and with those, we trained assiduously.

There was nothing to stop Hitler, for one division cannot be everywhere. I repeat what I stated earlier just imagine this highly industrialised Country at Hitler’s beck and call.

Then one must take into consideration what had happened in many other countries. Big posters showing the glamour of the SS and inviting young men to join this elite group would have had an effect….NO? ….well it did in all the other conquered countries.
Before my war ended we had harboured in a Dutch Youth SS training camp just North of Venraij.

That was Hitler’s greatest mistake, we were wide open for invasion, then that huge arms making capacity would have been his, and the British Army as well, for they surely would have been assimilated into the Fatherlands forces.
Sapper

[morse1001]

All right you 'orrible lot! Stand by your beds and pin back your ears!

Firstly, name-calling is greatly unbecoming of anyone who claims to be indulging in mature and civilised discussion; which is after all what we all here for.

You have both contributed much to the various forums on this website, however, when it comes to this topic you appear to be transformed into rutting Stags! And, I must say that it is spoiling what is an interesting forum.

I realise that one could construe your present debate involves a great deal of discussion involving causation which explains the mention of the Treaty of Versailles as being the greatest mistake of WW2!

All that is asked you of you both is that you refrain from vulgar and uncouth behaviour and respect the view of the other and their right to express their opinions in a honest and frank way.

If you don’t then you’ll be on a fizzer and could find yourself on Jankers for a month!!!!!!

[the_historian]

Morse,

You're absolutely right, I'm ashamed to say.
A tad too much passion, mayhap??

Then again, it gets tiresome seeing someone answer every post with three of his own.........

[Nigel1920]

I believe that Hitler tried to accomplish too much in a short period of time. I mean he had reached a stand-still with the Battle of Britain, and then tried to invade the Soviet Union. He had his resources to finely divided, there were large forces in the Western and Eastern Fronts, not to mention North Africa, Greece and Norway.

[Kiwiwriter]

Originally posted by Nigel1920@Nov 18 2004, 03:02 AM
I believe that Hitler tried to accomplish too much in a short period of time. I mean he had reached a stand-still with the Battle of Britain, and then tried to invade the Soviet Union. He had his resources to finely divided, there were large forces in the Western and Eastern Fronts, not to mention North Africa, Greece and Norway.

Quoted post

You have to remember that Hitler's basic plan was to fight a series of sudden, short wars, with breaks in between to refuel, re-arm, and repair. The German economy was not put into a full war footing until the middle of 1943. Britain outproduced Germany in many war materials for most of the war, while the Germans still turned out Steinway pianos and employed millions of women as maids. The Nazi leadership, uncertain that their people would rally behind them, tried to give their citizens both guns and butter, even though they had shortages of both.

[morse1001]

Originally posted by the_historian@Nov 18 2004, 03:08 AM
Morse,

You're absolutely right, I'm ashamed to say.
A tad too much passion, mayhap??

Then again, it gets tiresome seeing someone answer every post with three of his own.........

Quoted post

Having been studying history for many years I know just how passionate people can get especially when they believe that they are right! That is why, unlike other websites, I did not report the offending postings, rather, I hoped the the maturity of the posters would shine through. Which I must say, it has done in various ways.

As for the number of postings, you will have to get used to that!