The “just sit and wait for the Phony War to end in April 1940” option is a bit perplexing as an answer to “You are the German High Command! What is your next Combat Movement?” because it seems to imply that the Phony War was operating on a fixed timetable, and that this timetable was in someone else’s hands. The lack of action on land on the Western Front is certainly due in part to inaction by France and Britain (whose strategy was basically to sit around for a couple of years to built up their strength for a showdown, while simultaneously hoping that the Nazi regime would be overthrown by a coup), but it was also very much a deliberate choice by Germany. The Wehrmacht needed to analyze the Polish Campaign, fix the tactical and operational elements that hadn’t worked as well as expected, plan the upcoming campaign against France and the Low Countries, rest and replenish its forces, give them more training, provide them with additional equipment, and redeploy them to the west. Doing this properly took time, but Germany could afford to take the time to do the job right because of the lack of Anglo-French pressure on the western front. ( In other words, by sitting on their collective hindquarters France and Britain surrendered the strategic initiative to Germany, which gave the Wehrmacht the luxury of attacking at the time and place of its own choosing.) Moreover, the time period during which these activities took place were the fall of 1939 and the winter of 1939-1940, which was conveniently timed because this meant that the Wehrmacht wouldn’t have to fight in the fall (manageable, but rainy and muddy) or in the winter (far less harsh in the West than in Russia, but still potentially nasty as veterans of the Battle of the Bulge will recall). The late spring / early summer period chosen for the offensive in the West was much more congenial for military operations.
Favorite WW2 Fighter Plane
-
I voted for the Tiger-destroyer Hawker Typhoon, which is one of the most scary looking fighters of WWII. Actually Hawker Tempest V is better looking but they are closely related.
Then I voted for KI-43, but could just as well have chosen the Mosquito, P-38, ME 262, LAGG 3, FW 190 or the good old Hurricane.
-
My Criteria for making the list.
1. Length of Service
2. Impact on the WarI did make a mistake by leaving the Mosquito off the list, which was corrected.
Yes, the P-39 is an american design, however it was the Eastern Front where the majority of P-39 saw combat. The Russians loved the P-39. The P-39 impact on the war was with the Soviets.
If my poll does not meet your standards then make your own.
-
I think you poll was pretty good AB. But you’ll always get someone with a wealth of knowledge regarding a facet of the subject that demmands attention.
@ABWorsham:
My Criteria for making the list.
1. Length of Service
2. Impact on the WarI did make a mistake by leaving the Mosquito off the list, which was corrected.
Yes, the P-39 is an american design, however it was the Eastern Front where the majority of P-39 saw combat. The Russians loved the P-39. The P-39 impact on the war was with the Soviets.
If my poll does not meet your standards then make your own.
-
SpitFighter and the zero :mrgreen:
-
I voted for the FW-190 and the P-38, but my all time favorite has to be the P-40. I had the luck to see a group of these in the 1960’s mocked up to look like the “Flying Tigers”. I have been in love with the design ever since. :-D
-
Macchi C.202 Folgore of the Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Thunderbolt
I voted for the 262 and the FW190
Please note that I gave love to the Italians (even posted some pics) and I agree that some
Italian fighter should have made the list but as the German clerk in Schindler’s list said, “the list is correct sir, there’s nothing I can do.”The German and Japanese airforces were also failures in the long run. :wink:
Still love the poll.
-
Yes, the P-39 is an american design, however it was the Eastern Front where the majority of P-39 saw combat. The Russians loved the P-39. The P-39 impact on the war was with the Soviets.
If my poll does not meet your standards then make your own.
Interestingly if not surprisingly the P-39 seems to be loosing the poll (together with the Wildcat). So far we can thus conclude that overall, US seems to be the loser of the poll with the highest amount of unpopular planes with zero votes of any nation.
With the ME 262 seemingly winning the poll, eyebrows should be raised at the fact that the ME 262’s closest rival in it’s own catagory, the Gloster Meteor was unfairly banned from the poll.
-
@Col:
With the ME 262 seemingly winning the poll, eyebrows should be raised at the fact that the ME 262’s closest rival in it’s own catagory, the Gloster Meteor was unfairly banned from the poll.
I’m surprised that a jet is the winner. I came close to not including the Me 262. I may just be old school.
Col Cool, i have named you the Poll Cop- always fighting poll injustice.
Suggested Topics
