Posted on 10/28/2010 4:39:39 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
I had not thought of the effect of Mare Nostrum on Ike’s career. Marshall was able to move Ike into command of Overlord because of his successful command experience in the Mediterranean. Ike got that command in the first place because it was never intended to be the main effort, so it was a “safe” theater to send someone of his relatively junior grade.
I wonder who would have been sent to London instead? Maybe Devers? Do you think they might have recalled MacArthur from the Pacific?
PS: There were at least two, maybe three command grade officers in the Pacific who later held commands in Europe. Can you name two of them?
Right off the top of my head I can say Patch. He was in command of the “American Division” that saw action relieving Marines on Guadalcanal. I’d have to think for a bit on who the others would be. Did you know that Patch was the first of the main Army Generals in the European campaign to die after the war. Patch had chronic lung problems that predated the war. It finally got the better of him in November of 45.
As far as who would have taken Ike’s place in London. I don’t see anyone wrenching MacArthur from the Pacific theater, but Devers would be a possibility. I think Bradley would be more likely since he was rated rather high in Marshall’s “black book”, though I think Simpson would have been the best suited if not Ike. Like Ike, Simpson was very good at listening as much as ordering which made him a quite, but effective General for the 9th Army. Let me throw this one out for a sleeper pick, General McNair, he was pretty highly regarded by Marshall and I think he was a great logistical general.
The turning point of the entire war.
You are correct with Patch. The other was “Lighting Joe” Collins who led a division in the Solomons after Guadalcanal and then led VII Corps in Europe. I’m still leaning toward Devers as the London pick; he was high in Marshall’s book, and Ike knew it. He and Ike were rivals. That’s why his army group was the “red-headed stepchild” of the European Theater when Ike was Commander of SHAEF. Devers forces did very well, better than Patton, fighting through rough terrain and terrible weather in fall 1944. All on a shoestring budget.
Marshall had an eye for talent and putting the right man in the right job. That’s why I think he would have been reluctant to part with McNair. He needed someone at home to build his army, and that guy had to be highly competent. A pity McNair doesn’t get more credit, other than having the distinction of being the highest ranking army officer killed in combat when the bombing preparation for Operation Cobra landed short.
I think you are right on Devers and you can say a lot for him just by the fact that he could keep de Lattre under control (no small feat).
McNair is one of my personal favorites though. He was sharp and I think had he not been the victim of friendly fire in the start up of COBRA he may have made a bigger name for himself. Maybe I’m just inclined towards those leaders who had a knack for all aspects of the operation. McNair filled that roll. Turner was the Navy’s equivalent in my opinion and I’m a fan of him as well.
I had forgotten about Collins which is a shame since he would be in my top ten for WWII generals along with others like Patton, Truscott, Terry Allen and of course Teddy Roosevelt Jr.
On a side note, it might be a fun exercise to have everyone put out their 10 best and 10 worst generals list. I would bet that you would be the only one who would have more Germans on your top ten than I would.
You start the thread, ping everybody, and off we’ll go. Make it commanders and not just generals and we can get admirals in there too. Top 10 is too few; I would need a top 20 or top 25. And it may surprise you how many Soviets I’d put on my list; out of 25 I can think of about seven right off the top of my head.
I will definitely go for a bottom 10.
I think I might throw that out there next weekend. This weekend with Halloween it may not get much response (I’ve been up since 5 this morning painting a 6 year old’s face to look like Darth Maul) and I would want to touch base with Homer on the idea.
I only can think of 3 Russian generals that might make my list, but then again, I’m not as versed on the eastern front as I am on the west and Pacific.
Maybe I could break it into 3 categories. Generals (including Air Force), Commanders, Personalities (leaders and such)
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