[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"Ambrose points out that never could have happened in the German army."

Huh, really? Those Nazi automatons couldn't even load their weapons without someone flipping the correct switch on the back of their coal scuttles, I suppose. And from a guy who claims to be an expert on WW2!

But then again, he also thinks America would have shrugged and sat out the rest of the war if D-Day didn't work out.

[jmacusa]

While the OKW command structure was centralized under Hitler, when it came to small unit tactics the Germans were excelled. I’ve known dozens of WW2 vets who flat out told me “You never got anything from the Krauts unless they were ready to give it up’’. On the offensive the Germans hit hard and fast and when they encountered heavy resistance, especially in a fortified or fixed position they surrounded it , cut it off and kept moving, leaving the infantry to deal with it. As their fortunes changed they believed in defense in depth and whenever and where ever possible always counter attacked.

[PROCON]

The history of war is always up for debate.

I believe ultimately, WWII was won by American Exceptionalism and Divine Providence.

[driftless2]

A number of big name Germans knew the war was lost as early as late '42...certainly after Stalingrad. The Allies simply had too much men and materiel. If D-day had failed, another one with more men and materiel would have arisen by the next year. Hitler simply didn't have the men and resources for a prolonged war.

Hitler's best chance was in 1940 with the prospective invasion of Britain. That failed, and in 1941 the Germans failed to take Moscow. Stalemate. The last thing Hitler wanted. From then on it was only a matter of time.

The only thing that could have possibly save Hitler's wienerschnitzel was the development of the V2 rocket and jet aircraft. But it was too little too late with those "miracle weapons" as well.