D-Day just one of many battles in effort to defeat Germans, WWII survivor says

Sierra Vista Herald/Review ^ | Bill Hess

[dfwgator]

When the invasion took place Germany for all practical purposes was finished. Germany had produced thousands of air craft that were sitting wing tip to wing tip but could not fly because of one reason. Oil.

Guess that explains why "Pips" Priller was so upset at his commanders in "The Longest Day."

[RobbyS]

Patton was a hard driver but he was also imaginative. I doubt that Anzio would have gone the way it did with him in command. I doubt also that He would have made Rome rather than cutting off the retreating German army his objective.

[RobbyS]

Hitler’s refusal to yield ground was one reason why the conspiracy in the Army gained such strength. The conspirators wanted to save Germany: he was a gambler who cared only about winning. If the Allies had been willing to co-operate...

[dfwgator]

Hitler hated the Junkers and the old Prussian military aristocracy, he made no bones about it. He probably wished he had done like Stalin and had them all shot before the war began.

[kearnyirish2]

I think the Wehrmacht were great soldiers; when well-supplied there was little they couldn’t do.

By mid-1944 they were feeling the effects of losing oilfields and such; they couldn’t perform as they had in the past.

[kearnyirish2]

I’m in complete agreement with you; I don’t think the invasion of Normandy was successful by some miracle.

[RobbyS]

The best soldiers were dead, but the training of the remainder was still probably better than our own. Plus, the Wehrmacht allowed junior officers more discretion than we did. An Lt. Could end up in charge of the equivalent of a Battalion. Doctrine created a lot of Dick Winters in the Wehrmacht.

[kearnyirish2]

They definitely gave their junior officers more flexibility, and it showed results (especially early in the war). When you look at the size of the German military in France, Poland, and Africa, their accomplishments can really be understood; they really weren’t a monolithic steamroller.