Originally Posted by david_the_positive

I answered why my I posted this letter in my previous message, doppleganger. The source is given with the translation, in the message you quoted.

Yeah. I appreciate you posting but I still don't think it added anything to this particular discussion. I guess you're telling us that Guderian had racial prejudices along the lines of Hitler and Himmler. That it happened in 1919 is even more of a surprise (assuming the source is correct) and like Godofthunder said what relevance does it have to 1941? I'm sure we would have heard had Guderian been directly responsible for any atrocities as he is quite a prominent figure.

As for the source there are a few links to it on the net. For example this one: http://www.museum.com/jb/news_msg?id=453 But they don't really give a lot of info.

Anyway, whether correct or otherwise the information is irrelevant as it does not detract from the military achievements of Guderian.

Originally Posted by Cadet_Shelton

Not sure if anyone has done this before, but...

There are all too often named great military minds and some that hardly ever get credit, who's you favorite past (famous) military commander?

Mine is General Erwin Rommel

The Desert Fox
Most notable for his command of the "Deutsches Afrika Korps"

Personal opinion here. I think that the Germans would have done a far better job of conquering had Gen. Rommel been allowed to do his thing rather than be put down by Adolf Hitler.

Personal opinion here. I think that the Germans would have done a far better job of conquering had Gen. Rommel been allowed to do his thing rather than be put down by Adolf Hitler.

Darn right... in a scary sort of way...

Originally Posted by Cadet_Shelton

Darn right... in a scary sort of way...

No disrespect intended guys, I value your opinions. However, there were better German commanders than Rommel in WW2. I can think of at least 5 off the top of my head. We in the West only seem to remember the commanders that the Western Allies faced. Pretty much all of the best German commanders were after 1941 almost exclusively employed on the Eastern Front, along with 80% of the German Army including the finest Panzer and Panzergrenadier/Motorized divisions.

Where is the doubt coming from as to the letter's authenticity?

I feel that in your posts you are misrepresenting what I am doing. I am sharing information I have available, and please do not put the words in my mouth regarding what the letter implies. Personally, I took it as information when I read it. Perhaps you did not find it interesting, ok, but perhaps your judgement here is not all representative.

You can decide what it means to you and how you use it - that's why I shared it. I am not sure why you keep using the plural "we" when answering or asking me something though.

David R.

Originally Posted by Doppleganger

Yeah. I appreciate you posting but I still don't think it added anything to this particular discussion. I guess you're telling us that Guderian had racial prejudices along the lines of Hitler and Himmler. That it happened in 1919 is even more of a surprise (assuming the source is correct) and like Godofthunder said what relevance does it have to 1941? I'm sure we would have heard had Guderian been directly responsible for any atrocities as he is quite a prominent figure.

As for the source there are a few links to it on the net. For example this one: http://www.museum.com/jb/news_msg?id=453 But they don't really give a lot of info.

Anyway, whether correct or otherwise the information is irrelevant as it does not detract from the military achievements of Guderian.

If I know Doppleganger, he was not refusing to believe, just asking for a source ... which, by the way, is technically a requirement when posting something.

I do find it interesting how in awe we are of Erwin Rommel in the West. He is far more overhyped than Guderian or any other German commander of WW2 ... unless you grew up in Russia.

Originally Posted by david_the_positive

Where is the doubt coming from as to the letter's authenticity?

I feel that in your posts you are misrepresenting what I am doing. I am sharing information I have available, and please do not put the words in my mouth regarding what the letter implies. Personally, I took it as information when I read it. Perhaps you did not find it interesting, ok, but perhaps your judgement here is not all representative.

You can decide what it means to you and how you use it - that's why I shared it. I am not sure why you keep using the plural "we" when answering or asking me something though.

David R.

Hi David. It's not so much that I doubt it's authenticity, although I must admit I do not take at face value information I read unless I have some way to vouch for it. That's not the same as saying that I do not believe it. I happen to think that the letter was part of that exhibition but still don't understand why if it was written in 1919. Anyway, yhe point I am trying to make is that it's irrelevant to this particular discussion.

I did find it interesting however. Perhaps the subject for a new thread?

I'd still also be interested to hear who your favourite military commander is and why.

BTW, I failed to mention: My favorite modern commander is Heinz Guderian. Favorite more ancient history is Subadai (of the Mongols).

I'm still having a hard time understanding why this thread is necessary. The topic already existed.
http://www.military-quotes.com/forum...pic.php?t=3430
http://www.military-quotes.com/forum...pic.php?t=1092

What about the man, Robert E. Lee? He's got to be up there somewhere. Great tactician, leader, and organizer.

Arthur Wellesley (Duke Of Wellington) because he never lost a battle either in India, Portugal, Spain, France or Belgium. He had the greatest eye for ground, such as at Waterloo when everryone else saw a flat plain he saw a ridge that could be defended. He fought battles how he wanted to fight them, at Assaye 1803 he forded a river where the enemy thought there was no ford to cross and he outflanked the enemy and ATTACKED an enemy of 47,000 men to Wellesley's 4,520, and he won even though it was his first battle fought in the open.

Wellesley knew when he saw an opportunity. At Salamanca 1812 he was eating a chicken leg and occasionally looking though his telescope at the French positions. On one such occasion he looked and said "By God that will do!" and he attacked and won the battle that would be known as his masterpiece.