[Epic] That's it!

From: Erik Rutins <snowdo1_at_...>
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 16:32:13 -0500

> Rommel was either a moron or a traitor. The very idea of positioning
> panzer divisions on the beach is the reason he was suspected by the
> command, his brazen attempt to end the war early was seen by Hitler,

Please, LT, don't even go there. If any one German general from WWII
deserves some respect, it's Rommel. He wasn't talking about putting
them ON the beach, but in local reserve so that they could respond
quickly. A properly supported amphibious assault is tough to stop - but
your best chance is to hit it early before it establishes a significant
beachhead. The panzers were intended for that. The real problem is
that the High Command bought into the Calais feint enough to keep 15th
Army fixed there after D-Day. So, there were few panzers in local
reserve and the rest were either held in strategic or fixed in the
Calais area.

This is not to say that it would have worked, but it would have worked
better. When Patton landed in Sicily, a single German Panzer division
nearly threw the Big Red One right back into the sea, only being stopped
by point blank accurate ship to shore support.

On top of all that, Hitler was insane. To ascribe to him a better
knowledge of military strategy and tactics than that of Rommel is
inconceivable. Period.

Now PLEASE stop bring WWII into this. This is an EPIC list.

Regards,

- Erik
Received on Sat Feb 14 1998 - 21:32:13 UTC