Who was the worst "commander" of WWII?

Even defining this question is tough. Is a poor general someone who is just defeated in the operational sense of the word, or does the manner of the defeat count? What if the victor has overwhelming numbers or just extreme luck? Is General "Murphy" (as in Murphy's law) a poor general? Probably, but there must be a list of poor commanders. Anyone know something about this issue?

I can name one moron. Göring. That oaf -- the head of the German airforce -- refused to listen to men like Adolf Galland and made strange decisions that clashed with both his own experience and any rational logic. Göring was a fighter pilot in WWI. He should have understood the importance of local air superiority. Yet, when men like Galland argued for a large expansion of the German fighter wing in 1940 at the expense of the Stukas and tactical bombers, he turned them down. Germany lost the air war, in small part, because of Göring's stand against the fighter arm. Galland was frustrated.

I'll second Hermann Goring. Probably the best friend the Allies ever had.

1. He spent most of his time on Vacation and stealing treasures from countries the Nazis occupied than actually at his job.

2. Was primarily responsible for the petty feuds between the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht (Regular German Army). For example insisted that the Fallshirmjagers (Airborne) be under Luftwaffe control instead of under Wehrmacht control. This of course meant that the Fallshirmjagers took orders from him and not Army High Command. Which meant they were out of control, out of communication with the rest of the ground forces.

3. His poisonous relationship was partially responsible for the suicide of the real architect of the Luftwaffe, Ernst Udet.

4. Was responsible for the delay of the German X-Gen Fighters such as the ME-262, the He-163 and the Ta-152.

5. Insisted that the Luftwaffe update obsolete airframes like the Me-109 and the JU-87 despite the fact that they were totally obsolete by 1943. Compared to what the British, US and Russians were rolling off the assembly lines.

6. Played a role (with Hitler) in ending the German strategic bomber program. Relied to much on Medium and Dive bombers. He also hindered progress on German long Range Fighters (which was a costly error during BoB).

7. Lied to Hitler about the Luftwaffe ability to resupply 6th Army at Stalingrad. He didn't even have half that transport planes he needed. Didn't stop him from lying about it though.

Interesting facts I found while I was double checking my facts:

Werner Goring was his nephew who emigrated to the USA. He flew 48 bombing Missions over Germany in a B-17. (His co-pilot had secret orders to shoot him should he try and land in Germany).

Henchz Goring was a cousin living in Poland. He was killed because he refused to abandon his Polish Neighbors who were about to be exterminated by the SS Death Squads.

I Guess the Goring tree did bear a few good fruit...

Hi Ollie,

I would say in addition to Goring all the main 'political' chiefs had a strong case for being the worst senior commander. That is Churchill, Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler. The removal of any of these from direct military control would have made it far harder for the opposition. Of these, only Stalin eventually handed over military control to his generals. American strategy was relatively sound because Roosevelt largely left the Military situation up to his top commanders, but was unsoundly influenced by Churchill.

Of the more direct Military commanders, the following would have been good contenders

(actually I have changed my mind on the Italians) there are several here including Graziani. However how about General Maleti who got lost inside his own territory, nearly ran out of water and had to abandon the offensive after running out of fuel going round in circles?

Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, with poor defensive preparations, particularly spreading his men too thinly in Malaya.

Major general Fredendall. He was amateurish, and too arrogant with a Hollywood mentality. He lived lavishly rather than getting up to the front line

However, if I had to choose a incompetent military commander (for want of a better name)

Marshal Semyon Budenny, with ideas rooted in the past and little military skill, charging at everything. Effectively a political crony of Stalin which is why he survived the purge

Of course all of these substantially underestimated the enemy

I Guess the Goring tree did bear a few good fruit

However it is his younger brother Albert Goering who has recently become even more well known as a humanitarian. He loathed all of Nazism's inhumanity and at the risk of his career, fortune and life, used his name and connections to save many Jews and gentiles.

Albert Goering is credited with many acts of kindness, small and large. Even today survivors remember once he took off his jacket, went down on his knees, and scrubbed a sidewalk together with Jews who were ordered by the Nazis to do so in public as a humiliation.

When Albert was stationed in Bucharest, Rumania, two Nazi officers saw him standing on a balcony and recognized him as the brother of Hermann Goering. They did the Nazi salute 'Heil Hitler' in front of him, but Albert coldly replied 'you can kiss my ass ...'

http://www.auschwitz.dk/Albert.htmrchives
,

Originally Posted by perseus

However, if I had to choose a incompetent military commander (for want of a better name)

Marshal Semyon Budenny, with ideas rooted in the past and little military skill, charging at everything. Effectively a political crony of Stalin which is why he survived the purge

I would have to second Budenny as being well up there as one of the worst, asuuming we are talking about military commanders rather than political leaders. Budenny was responsible for the largest single defeat in history at Kiev in August 1941, where he lost over half a million men. Four entire Soviet Armies were wiped from the field. Part of this calamity was the fault of Stalin, who ordered the city held at all costs. Nonetheless, Budenny was a commander who refused to adapt and change with the times. He was the commander whom Rundstedt commented, "huge moustaches, tiny brains!"

Since poor Axis Commanders were good for the United States of America, I'm going to say that Allied General Alexander was, in my opinion, one of the worst commanders of World War II (in a bad way).

The Bombing of Monte Cassino being one of the greatest examples of General Alexander's poor decisions.

Originally Posted by Gator

Since poor Axis Commanders were good for the United States of America, I'm going to say that Allied General Alexander was, in my opinion, one of the worst commanders of World War II (in a bad way).

The Bombing of Monte Cassino being one of the greatest examples of General Alexander's poor decisions.

I think you are being somewhat harsh on Alexander as General Bernard Freyberg should carry the can for having the abbey bombed much as he should have been given the boot for the fiasco on Crete.

However back to topic, I agree with both Perseus and Doppleganger Marshal Semyon Budenny would get my vote as worst commander of WW2

Originally Posted by MontyB

I think you are being somewhat harsh on Alexander as General Bernard Freyberg should carry the can for having the abbey bombed much as he should have been given the boot for the fiasco on Crete.

However back to topic, I agree with both Perseus and Doppleganger Marshal Semyon Budenny would get my vote as worst commander of WW2

Wasn't General Freyberg one of yours?
You most likely know more about General Freyberg than I.
I had thought that while General Freyberg wanted to do the deed, along with others, that in the end the decision fell to General Alexander.

Originally Posted by Gator

Wasn't General Freyberg one of yours?
You most likely know more about General Freyberg than I.
I had thought that while General Freyberg wanted to do the deed, along with others, that in the end the decision fell to General Alexander.

Indeed Freyberg was commander of the New Zealand 2nd Division.
Alexander was overall campaign commander but it was Freyberg that lobbied for the monastery's bombing Alexander gave it the go ahead so there is no doubt he has to bear some responsibility just not all.

This is section I scanned from the book CASSINO - The Hollow Victory

On 24 January, French forces attacked north of Monte Cassino to flank the German positions, but it failed. Soon after, British, New Zealand and Indian troops were called in to take the town, but the commander of the New Zealand forces at Cassino, General Bernard Freyberg, did not want to proceed until the abbey was heavily bombed. He suspected the Germans were hiding in the abbey and using it as an observation tower because their artillery fire was extremely accurate. General Clark disagreed, arguing that if the abbey was destroyed that the Germans would turn the ruins into a defensive nest that the Allies would have great difficulty neutralizing. The Allied commander in Italy, British General Harold Alexander, had the authority to approve a bombing and sided with Freyberg. The result became one of the war’s great military blunders.

A surprisingly good book on the topic unless you are a fan of Mark Clark or anti-French then you will hate it.

Well, I'll pass on it, I happen to like General Clark, and will point out that he was in fact correct in regard to the Bombing and its aftermath.