[Homer_J_Simpson]

A couple of days ago CougarGA7 and henkster came up with the idea collecting lists of WWII flag officers to decide which should be counted among the best and which the worst of the war. That seems like a good way to launch this thread so let’s go to it.

My own knowledge of WWII generals and admirals is quite extensive. For example, I know that Ike led the invasion of France, that Patton went around slapping soldiers all the time and looked exactly like George C. Scott, and that MacArthur Returned and looked exactly like Gregory Peck. Okay, I admit I am out of my depth on this topic. But I have been paying attention to the events of mid-1940 pretty closely and I have one name to throw out in the category of Military Leaders who have Played Important Roles over the Last Few Months. In honor of the end of the Battle of Britain . . .

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding.

[rockinqsranch]

“Air Marshal Hugh Dowding.”

Remarkable individual historically. Will read more about him later. Thanks.

[rfreedom4u]

Let’s not forget General Curtis LeMay!

[skeeter]

Admiral-wise, worst were Bull Halsey & Marc Mitscher. Best was Ray Spruance.

[abb]

You might want to include Heinz Guderian, arguably the first effective practitioner of Blitzkrieg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Guderian

[ex-snook]

I was in Gen Patton’s army for a few weeks at the time of the Bulge, unit transferred to 7th Army General Patch. In Austria occupation, I met General Mark Clark.

---

Mark Wayne Clark (May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War and was the youngest lieutenant (three-star) general in the U.S. Army. He had a distinguished career in World War II and is primarily linked to Operation Torch (the invasion of French North Africa) and the campaign in Italy.

During World War I, he led a company of soldiers in 1917 and was seriously wounded by shrapnel. After the war, Clark’s abilities were noticed by General George Marshall.[2]

During World War II, he was the Allied Commander in Italy. He is known for ordering the destruction of the abbey at Monte Cassino and his subsequent entry into Rome in 1944 ignoring orders, the action which allowed the escape of the German 10th army, who joined their countrymen at the Transimene Line.[3] Clark became the youngest American to be promoted to general in 1945.

Both Winston Churchill and General Dwight D. Eisenhower considered him a brilliant staff officer and trainer.[4] Clark won many awards, including the Distinguished Service Cross for extreme bravery in war, subordinate only to the Medal of Honor.

[GSP.FAN]

Air Marshal Hugh Dowding.
I believe he looks like Laurence Olivier.:>)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Excellent topic — happy to be on this thread. Wonder how I missed the links? Must have spent too much time reading the papers!

Okay, a thumbnail sketch on my best (read: effective) commanders:

British: Richard O’Connor (underrated general, defeated the Italians in North Africa before being captured in a freak incident — later escaped and commanded a corps in France); Brian Horrocks (commander XXX Corps).

American: Omar Bradley, Chester Nimitz, George Patton. It has been said that the reason the Germans admired Patton so much was that he was the Allied commander who thought most like they did.

Russian: Georgi Zhukov, Ivan Koniev.

German: Erich von Manstein, Adolf Galland, Fedor von Bock

Japanese: Tomoyuki Yamashita.

[narses]

Stuffy be dead. R.I.P.

[Tank-FL]

I think General George C. Marshall is overlooked in history. Mainly because he was not a WWII battlefield commander.

He was able to keep FRD in line (Mostly) - and then his post war actions as Sec. of State.

[Joe 6-pack]

My favorite WWII G.O. was Jumpin' Jim Gavin...

...he was the youngest US division commander during the war, taking over the 82nd Airborne at age 37.