Washington was the winner in a contest run by the National Army Museum to identify the country's most outstanding military opponent
Posted on 04/15/2012 3:20:17 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
The American was voted the winner in a contest run by the National Army Museum to identify the country's most outstanding military opponent.
He was one of a shortlist of five leaders who topped a public poll and on Saturday was selected as the ultimate winner by an audience of around 70 guests at a special event at the museum, in Chelsea, west London.
In second place was Michael Collins, the Irish leader, ahead of Napoleon Bonaparte, Erwin Rommel and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
At the event, each contender had their case made by a historian giving a 40 minute presentation. The audience, who had paid to attend the day, then voted in a secret ballot after all five presentations had been made.
Dr Stephen Brumwell, who had championed Washington, said: "As British officers conceded, he was a worthy opponent."
The shortlist of five were selected from an initial list of 20 candidates, drawn up by the museum's curators.
To qualify, each commander had to come from the 17th century onwards – the period covered by the museum's collection – and had to have led an army in the field against the British, thus excluding political enemies, like Adolf Hitler.
The contest was designed to not only identify Britain's most outstanding opponent, but also to draw attention to some lesser-known adversaries.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Washington was the winner in a contest run by the National Army Museum to identify the country's most outstanding military opponent
Hitler didn’t crack the top 3.
“Hitler didn’t crack the top 3.”
“To qualify....had to have led an army in the field against the British, thus excluding political enemies, like Adolf Hitler.”
According to the article, the contest was for generals in the battle field, not political leaders. For this reason, Rommel, Hitler's general, made to Top 5 but the Fuhrer himself didn't.
Would have liked to see Lettow-Vorbeck at least considered.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Lettow-Vorbeck
From Wikipedia:
In the year of von Lettow-Vorbeck’s death [1964], the West German Bundestag voted to deliver back pay to all surviving Askaris. A temporary cashier’s office was set up in Mwanza on Lake Victoria. Of the 350 veterans who gathered, only a handful could produce the certificates that von Lettow-Vorbeck had given them in 1918. Others presented pieces of their old uniforms as proof of service. The German banker who had brought the money came up with an idea. As each claimant stepped forward, he was handed a broom and ordered in German to perform the manual of arms. Not one man failed the test.
Yes! Lettow-Vorbeck was a genius. Take a look at his chauffeur: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=72870
I say to you, you has been nation of bloody banger, fish and chips flatulence, FUGB!
Reading the comments posted on the Telegraph site is highly entertaining!
That was when George was a colonial officer in charge of forces fighting FOR the Brits. Of course he did much better on his own later!
Welcome to the “Never Read the Column” tribe.
I consider the story of Von Lettow-Vorbeck one of the greatest little known tales of WWI.
I yield to none in my admiration for Washington as a man and a leader.
But he was not even vaguely close to Napoleon as a general or soldier.
The article was remarkably vague as to the criteria to be used in gauging the comparative “greatness” of these men.
True story: When Napoleon returned to France from Egypt and had launched his coup, a story got around that he would reinstate a Republic with self-rule by the people. (Not that the French had shown much capacity for it.)
His reply: “Who do they think I am, Washington?”
Re the comments, I “loved” the guy who blamed Washington (and capitalism) for German militarism, the rise of Hitler, and all other problems European.
Socialists divide, not unite.
Britain and the English are our best and dearest allies, period.
I will not swallow socialist swill and will proudly embrace our countries grand history and extend the hand of external friendship to our noble friends across the pond.
You socialists can all go burn, the sooner the better.
And that was "eternal friendship" not "external". I promise our British friends that eventually one day I will speak English...
God had plans for him early on.
He was actually pretty mediocre as a British officer.
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