Posted on 05/16/2019 3:59:05 PM PDT by NRx
Wow!
You played that AH game too?
The Allies were hopeless in that game, even if the Germans didn’t bother with the sichelschnitt and just went at it wide-front. The Allied line was guaranteed to crack.
The German player couldn’t lose, barring complete incompetence.
for later
The Metz fortresses pushed Patton’s beliefs about fixed fortifications to the limit. He thought that Third Army would just roll over those monuments to the stupidity of man, but it took about three months of some of the worst fighting of the war to clear the city and the extensive network of forts built by both the French and Germans. Even then, the strongest forts held out until they simply ran out of ammunition.
In early 1945, the Americans actually used parts of the Maginot Line to defend against Operation Northwind, Germany’s last offensive in the west. Elements of the Seventh Army managed to stop the Germans for several days using the partially manned and equipped fortifications. They lacked the manpower to hold as long as the French had originally planned, but the delay prevented the Germans from coming anywhere near their objectives.
Well Spongebob did say, “Forts Win Wars!” LOL
I did an essay about D-Day and the passage below is part of the bibliography.
The Battle of Messines, 1917
https://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/messines.htm
The Battle of Messiness helps one appreciate the anxieties aroused from memories of Gallipoli, the Somme and Passchendaele, where the British suffered catastrophic losses for gains of only yards. By some historian assessments, the most successful attack by British forces in WW I was the Battle of Messines in 1917. The battle lasted June 1-12, and involved 216,000 men of whom 24,562 became casualties. They attacked on a five-mile front and penetrated 10 miles.
Taking this battle as a starting point, the Normandy invasion from five beachheads established a lodgment about 10 miles deep on a 40 miles front. The effort required 50 days. Therefore, a WW I veteran could make an optimistic estimate of about 400,000 casualties, given he completely disregarded the fact that the D-Day landings were significantly more hazardous than any offensive attempted on the Western Front. In fact, by July 24 there were 120,000 casualties.
Many times. That and about 500 other wargames I own. Unfortunately (or fortunately) 99% are in a storage unit and I am in a sailboat. I get to play what I can via computer/internet.
Look up Cyberboard and Vassal. Great ways to play solo or with others.
Another vital factor in the success of German Armor was the 3 man turret starting with the Mark III and IV Panzer.
This innovation freed up the tank commander to command, designate targets to a dedicated gunner, and communicate rather than to act as the gunner AND commander.
Thanks very much.
Churchill was responsible for the Gallipoli disaster as I recall. Thus his fears of Overlord.
Marshall stood firm on Overlord and they went ahead. Churchill later said Marshall was the greatest general of the war.
You’re right. Thanks.
Bradley told Patton to back off. I consider Metz as Patton’s biggest blunder. The Hamelberg (sp) raid was another but very minor compared to Metz.
The more I learn of Patton the more mixed feelings I have for him. But he was our best field commander in Europe. Eichelberger was the best in the Pacific.
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