What country had the best trained infantry in WWII?

That’s probably hard to say, since there were different methods of training, and some countries didn’t have time for training (see Russia - here’s your gun, go shoot the Germans with it.  And they were lucky if they got a gun).

Also, there are huge differences in the morale and beliefs, etc of various infantry.

But if you’re just wanting to discuss training (isolating it), then wouldn’t it be the Japanese?  I don’t know, I’ve just seen some of the actual footage of their training sessions, and they were pretty intense.

As for worst training (I know, you didn’t ask), probably the Russians (at certain times) and western Europeans (I’ve seen some of their training footage too, and it’s not impressive)

I would say the Germans had the best trained infantry due to having the best trained officer corp.

German officers offerercs understood the importance of a strick chain of command and the tried and true methods of fighting while also realising when the situation required that they take the inititive and act within a more flexible and creative construct.

I dont really think their was ahole lot of difference in the training of infantry from nation to nation. Sure some like the Japanese were very motivated by rediculous beleifs and showed trumenodous courage, but i dont see any evidence that says it transalted into battlield victories.

Also better training dosnt mean that the infantry were accualy better. a large factor is what kind of equipmend did the infantry use and an even more important factor is how well a nation infantry was supplied.

If the question was changed to who had the best infantry, it would be the US because they were by far the best equiped and supplied.

@Emperor_Taiki:

I dont really think their was ahole lot of difference in the training of infantry from nation to nation. Sure some like the Japanese were very motivated by rediculous beleifs and showed trumenodous courage, but i dont see any evidence that says it transalted into battlield victories.

Also better training dosnt mean that the infantry were accualy better. a large factor is what kind of equipmend did the infantry use and an even more important factor is how well a nation infantry was supplied.

If the question was changed to who had the best infantry, it would be the US because they were by far the best equiped and supplied.

Yes, I pretty much agree with Emperor.  Although, I think the Japanese did take an inordinate amount of American soldiers down with them.  Do you know how many Americans died on those otherwise insignificant Pacific islands?  Tens of thousands on some of them.  Yes, they were fanatics.  It took flamethrowers to get them out.  Some Jap soldiers on those Islands thought they were still at war years later.

Australia and Finland infantry should get some consideration. The average Finnish soldier was a precision marksman and unmatched in forest combat.

@ABWorsham:

Australia and Finland infantry should get some consideration. The average Finnish soldier was a precision marksman and unmatched in forest combat.

Ahhh, good point.  The Fins successfully beat back the Russians, who had overwhelming numbers.

This question is even more difficult to answer because the situation was different for different nations.  The Russians were able to fight a defensive war and learn from their mistakes when they took the initiative.  The US had to learn on the job in Africa, but then had to fight an enemy that was on his own turf defending (which is usually a 3:1 advantage).  The British also were pretty green when things started and had to fight on someone else’s turf.  The Germans learned on the job early against modest opposition, and was able to fight for most of the war in a delaying operation on their own turf (or captured turf).  However, the Germans had to deal with the “underground.”  I’m no WWII scholar, but I’d have to say the Germans were the best trained going into WWII.  Another difficult question comes from the fact that the Germans often had the better equipment (e.g. Panther vs. Sherman).  Even with inferior equipment the US had some great victories in armor battles.

@dinosaur:

Even with inferior equipment the US had some great victories in armor battles.

It helps when you run them out of gas.  8-)

I see no problem awarding this title to the German Infantry. I have always thought that Germany’s Infantry triumphs in WWII were overshaddowed by Panzers tracks.

The Germans tratics of quick heavy bombardments, followed by shock units that worked into an enemy’s rear areas bypassing pockets of resistance, which were left behind for regular forces to mop up was developed on the Eastern Front in 1915-16. This style of warfare was brought to the Western Front were the Germans were able to break the British lines in one last gamble own as the Ludendorff Offensive.

The German post World War 1, 100,000 man officer corp army kept these valiable learnt lessons in mind. By the time Poland is invaded, Germany had added tanks, moble artillery, ground attack aircraft, and paratroopers to this already proven style of agressive warfare.

@Brain:

yeah, I was thinking Germany as well, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the superior weapons.

Better weapons (in some cases)
Better training
Highly motivated
And in the pre-war years the Germans had been training their Citizens in worker camps which taught them basic Infantry doctrines and discipline. The German infantry had been training for years before they were even enlisted, who said experience doesn’t pay off.

I agree the Germans had the best infantry because they took their own decisions, were motivated, had the best equipment,….
But the high officers were often afraid to take a tactical decision that was against Hitlers plans. Von Paulus he followed Hilter’s plans and ended up in a surrounded Stalingrad altough there were several attempts to liberate him, he never gave the order to break out.

I agree with the fact that the Germans Infantry were better trained.  I mean look at what they did to Russia.  7.5 million Russian military dead.

@Historybuff:

I agree with the fact that the Germans Infantry were better trained.  I mean look at what they did to Russia.  7.5 million Russian military dead.

The losses the Russians took at the hands of the Germans were high for several reasons, first was the Soviets lack of concern for human life. The Soviets lost more men in the Battle for Stalingrad than the United States did during the war.

Japan had the best trained soldiers individually, but Germany had the most effective troopers as per military doctrine ( in battlefield conditions). So for results with given equipment which was usually meager,the Germans faired best.

AS far as having logistical support and many tools to fight, the American soldier had the best of everything and was the most effective with what he actually had, ( which was alot more than the German or Japanese).

Soviets were not great fighters, but had some great commanders.

@Imperious:

Japan had the best trained soldiers individually, but Germany had the most effective troopers as per military doctrine ( in battlefield conditions). So for results with given equipment which was usually meager,the Germans faired best.

AS far as having logistical support and many tools to fight, the American soldier had the best of everything and was the most effective with what he actually had, ( which was alot more than the German or Japanese).

Soviets were not great fighters, but had some great commanders.

Soviet infantry’s best fighting quality was the individual adaptness to hardship. A Soviet soldier could live off practically nothing and survive. Soviet citizens in the 1930’s lived in very primitive conditions. While the Soviets were great in defending, they were the poor in offensive capabilities.

Well if you’re looking at infantry training at levels higher than individual fieldcraft and marksmanship, then: Germany.

Their use of auftrages tactics and mission-oriented leadership effectively kept them in the fight no matter what came at them.  More than 60 years later, we’re still studying and applying their doctrine and considering it innovative.

Hmm… no mention on Canadian troops? Perhaps I’m simply biased, but they were really decent troops, definitely the best in WWI, and I think that carried over to WWII.

Germans, no doubt IMO.

Honourable mention for Finnish, Australian, Canadian and Norwegians.

Best navymen British, followed by US?

Best pilots Germans, followed by US.

Al just my opinion, of course.