Stalin definitely comes out on top as having controlled the largest army engaged in warfare in human history. Hitler? I'm not sure, but the USA's WW2 overall numbers, Europe and Pacific combined, likely surpasses WW2 Germany at it's greatest numerical strength. The PLA of China fielded astounding numbers whilst kicking the crud outa the Nationalists, but I don't have the numbers for that.

Isn't it interesting that Hitler and Stalin -- commanders of the two most potent land military machines in modern times ... were both incompetant morons. I'm not willing to be as generous with Stalin's legacy as Dopp. The man murdered his own troops and there was seldom a battle in WW2 where his micro-management of things didn't lead to significantly more Russian casualties than I believe were necessary. He's the one who decapitated the Red Army of its leadership shortly before Germany invaded to begin with. That taken alone ...

Charge is correct in that Stalin did at least get better at deferring to those who knew what the hell they were doing ... eventually.

well everybody had his ways u know.. anyways, he named himself Genarilssimo

Did Stalin command the armies of Russia or did he just set the policies for the Generals to follow. there is a lot of difference of setting polices and actually leading an army. If we were to go down that line then you would President Roosevelt up there with all the big boys.

well I do believe that Stalin had the supreme command..

Lets throw an odd one in here, has any one ever considered the French General Foch who took over all control of the British and French Forces during WW1

pray do tell about the numbers he commanded!

i think Stalin should count, i mean it fits the categorie.

I have been trying not to post in here but well there you go...

The largest army ever commanded by one was the Army of the Persian king Xerxes (800'000 men) that invaded Greece.

Originally Posted by phoenix80

I have been trying not to post in here but well there you go...

The largest army ever commanded by one was the Army of the Persian king Xerxes (800'000 men) that invaded Greece.

Do you mean actually led into battle by one man? If so, that figure is beaten by several of the German and Soviet Army commanders during WW2, who being field commanders actually moved into the field of operations with their troops. The German Army Group Centre for example, personally commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock, contained well over a million men when it marched into the Soviet Union on June 22nd, 1941.

As a sidenote, I'm sceptical about the accuracy of details concerning ancient battles. IMO there is a degree of exaggeration when it comes to those details. We are talking about events that took place a long time ago, and in many cases the facts have been distorted and twisted through the ages.

well it depends really..

Wether its this or that..but generally, over all.. Stalin