UBB.threads Forums General Interest Period History Forum Most successful wartime generals?

I'd love to start a discussion on this topic...most successful wartime generals (you pick the conflict, and era) and state your case/have at it! I'm going with a familiar era and person, but I'm hoping it stirs the pot. Or kicks the hornets nest...whichever...
I give you...
One Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov! Well known, maybe or maybe not well loved...but a heck of a general nonetheless...plus, look at those medals!
Any other opinions?

George S. Patton

40 years ago I named my Russian Wolfhound after General Zhukov.

But my personal opinion would have to be Lord Wellington. He defeated one of the greatest military minds in history, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Since you asked for most successful Generals, Napoleon is ruled out.

I would also have to go with George Patton.

Alexander the Great.

Followed by Genghis Khan.

John

Alexander the great.

John, why? Just because he conquered the known world before his death at 32 years?

George Patton was relieved of command at least 2 times. He was a good field commander but frankly, you match him up against Rommel with equal number of men arms and munitions and Rommel will win.

Jim,

If they'd given Patton the gasoline and ammunition he needed, He'd have been in Berlin before the Russians.

Alexander the great had no fuel and he took the land that would eventually be Berlin.

And he did not make excuses about not having enough supplies.

well I'm going to keep it to WW2.. As much of a patriot I am and would love to say Patton or even Bradly,I got to go with Zhukov.
His army traveled an immense amount of space. Not exactly supplied the best he made due and could not complain. A long, harsh, violent offensive,he got the job done...

hi members
as an american i just have to say this i fully agree with dave here blood n guts General George Patton defenitly with out a word of doubt would of been in berlin before the russians and General montgomery and his troops . but sadly he didnt realize when he was held on the reine that a deal was made in washington between america and russia for the russians to take berlin . General George Patton will all ways be my favorite american hero General he got the job done lets not forget who started the best collectble hobby in america yes General George Patton did hope all you agree god bless america andy militarynut

Interesting points, and as an aside, I wish I knew more about Asian generals, but I've always been impressed with the legendary numbers and conquests associated with a number of them. Anyone know much about any of these guys?

Try the libraries. The challenge is that once you get over 300 years ago or so, the numbers are not that reliable.

And, if 'Generals' includes Admirals, I would have to nominate hands-on WWII carrier admirals to include Halsey, Spruance and the like.

Thanks Dave, and I agree, once you cross about 300+ years, you're getting into sun tzu art of war type stuff. I always thought that rather than literal in some senses, they were allegories. (Ex : "devoured the Shang as a silkworm devours a mulberry leaf.") editorial: I love lines like that Also.... I think admirals, and other should DEFINITELY be included! Those are 2 great examples!! (No argument here with those men, anyone else?.....)

One part of history to be studied would be Japan ~ 1600. "Shogun" aside, it was a major upheaval in Japan.

hi dave/members
yes dave the ww2 japanese soldiers under gen. yamashita in the philipines were well trained by him on extra torture for his over night guests such as american soldiers/britts/australians/new zealand soldiers and any philipinos that encountered him the above brave soldiers paid the price. Gen Yamashita biggest fettish was to get his prisioners ready burry them in the sand up to thier heads then morning time he would have his horse saddled and take out his sword and ride up to these brave soldiers and cut thier heads off like wacking a cabbage from the ground General Douglas MAC Arthur couldnt wait to hang this brutial coward bastard. my heart is sad and will all ways bleed for all these heros that suffered under him best andy militarynut

Good LORD that's brutal!

HI MIKE
General Akiro Muto was in charge of Surmatra visited General Yamashitas camp and said to Yamashita it appears that your camp is laxed in thier treatment of your prisioners . two nice guys later General MAC Arthur got the last laugh pay back is a ******** both hung at sugamo prison along with the kid himself tojo . Admiral Yamamoto was an intresting guy who planned the sneak attack on pearl harbor under General Tojos orders was an honory member of americas anopilas acadamy in the 1930s we taught him well . but later col. Jimmy Doolittle managed with the help of the britt coastal watchers help get gasoline to this island enough to shoot his sorry ******** out of the sky this hurt the japanese troops moral then we sunk the big boy the aircraft carrier akogi another meatball to the bottom holly molly i got carried away here hope you guys like this history lesson best andy militarynut

Hey andy, you know I love it. Wish I could bring you in as a guest speaker...awesome!

Andy, and others,

Lets stick to Successful Wartime Generals, please.

hi dave
yes sorry i do get carried away most of the times i only mean to inform members of some of this history not to hurt any one and go off the topic you are right . please when you see me at max show give me the ten lashes i deserve i can take it thanks andy militarynut

Send me an Honor Ring and I'll drop all charges

hi dave
no problem you got it at the next years max show best andy militarynut. ps now lets stay on the general topic

I've got a great recruitment poster from ww1 featuring pershing in the center...which brings me to this...what are your ww1 opinions, gentlemen? IMO this could be interesting...:)

WWI, at least in Europe, did not produce much in the way of successful generals. The elderly French generals tried to avoid a repeat of 1870 and the Germans tried for a repeat of 1870. The elderly British generals brought their experience from the Zulu and the Boer wars. Once the armies met, they dug in and that was it.

Pershing's contribution was not generalship, but enough fresh soldiers to tip the balance.

Maybe Allenby and Lawrence in the middle east?

I would agree with lawrence and Allenby, and us general involvement was not nearly as substantial at least in terms of time than the Europeans. Dave I like the 1870 point you made, that's the nail on the head there. Boer and Zulu, now that's interesting... IMO one of the worst leaders in ww1 or before had to be tsar Nicholas 2. Not a general, and really a tragic leader in war and in his country....no way he ever should have been put at the helm of much more than a pleasure yacht.

WWI not in Europe I know but Africa. The best German General of WWI Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck.

sticking with German WW2,,what do you guys agree on for them,,Rommel? or?

He got beat by Montgomery and Paton, Gaspare. Then, his Atlantic Wall sprung a leak on D Day. He and the rest of the Germans lost. Not much success there.

hi dave
who took bastone to win the war again patton . damm that kid had pertenial i love General George Blood n guts Patton for leading our worn torn men to victory amen andy militarynut

I would have to go with General Patton as well. He certainly was feared by the Germans and never over promised what he and his men could do.

Im partial to a good tank general so i nominate Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz von Gro�-Zauche und Camminetz

Patton for sure was a great General as were Rommel, Guderian, von Manstein, and Model.