Combat Leaders of World War II (The Military History of World War II vol.17) PDF
Preview Combat Leaders of World War II (The Military History of World War II vol.17)
Volume 17 | COMBAT LEADERS OF WORLD WAR II The Military History of World War I: Volume 17 COMBAT LEADERS OF WORLD WAR II by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy COL, US. ARMY, RET Franklin Watts, Ln. 575 Lexington Averme, New York, N.Y. 10022 To my Moruui ann FATHER, ‘Tuts Yean or mirem Cocney Wanpixe Anant nsany Contents Inrnonverios Ancenicas Ansoy Contsravniass & Texore, Arnica, ax TRACY Aseentcan ADM ConstANDEnS 1S ASTA AND THE PACIFLG Amemieas Navan asp Misnivr Contmaninens Sailors of the Pacific 27 Sailors of the Atlintte and Mediterranean The Marines 37 Ansencan Aun Force: Coxnrannins Burtase Anaay Com status i THE BIELD Rovat Navy Cossneaxnens a7 Sra Ravan. Auw Ponce: Gossnat Conearanens Leanens Anoye Tue Oren ALLIES Russia 82 France 96 China OL Smaller Allied Nations 94 Conenrasmunys in unt Axis Forces Germany 96 Jopen 112 Realy 119 Inpex 96 121 Introduction nvm sisteen previous volumes In this series, I have endeavored to present a clear picture of all of the significant events of Worl War IL Ln these volumes I have nit avoided expressing opinions schere I felt these would help the reader to see the events in per- spective, But such opinions wore secondary to the facts he primary purpose of this volume, however, is to concentrate ‘00 opinion, withont ignoring the facts. Presented here are the julg- ments of # military historian who pessonally tank part io the wax, cho has painstakingly reviewed Imndreds of references in the preparation of this series, and weho has spent the major portion of his ife as @ aiituey prafessional Thave endeavored to be objective and fai Ihave sought opinion and advice from fellow military men aid historians, Bost, the see tion of those whose names appear in the chapters of this book — well as the opinions, comments, amd exshnatfans expressed — has bbcen my: personal and sole responsthilty American Army Commanders in Europe, Africa, and Maly SHORMLY arTER America’s enby into World War II, newly pro- moted Brigadier General Dwight D. Tisenliower joined the War Flans Division of the Amy Goneval Staff la Washington, Early in 1942 Army Chief of Staff General Marshall selected Eisenhower to be the chiof uf the ifhiential Operations Division, the a0# center through which Marshall planned and controlled all overseas ccomibial operations of the Army. Thon in quick suvcessfon Risen L hhower was selected fo be cormunder of US. frees in England, ‘and commander of the combined American British army which invaded North Africa, This was "Operation Torch,” enlminating in the liberation of Tunisia ia May, 1943 Contimsing as the Allied commander in the Mediterranean, Bi- seuhowor—now a foll, fourestar yenerel — eontealled the armies sehich conquered Sicily, and which invaded Ttaly. At the Caira Conferenoe (November, 1943} Kiscuhuwer was selected! by Roose- velt, Churchill, and the Combined Chiels of Staff to be the Su- pprome Allied Communder for the invasion of Furope, which bey 60 June 6, 1944, During the fallawing eleven mths his armies berated France, Belefum, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and Thad eserein all of western and soudhers! Genmuary af the tine of the German uncenditional surrender on May 7, 1945, In Decem: bor, 1944, Fisenhower had been promoted to General of the Army, Amuiea’s highest raiitary rank. Bisenhower's detractors claim that he had no real combat command expericaee and was meeely x genial “chasrouan oF th board”; a political general who could get along well with the British and swho Teaned over Imackward to avoid interallied and {nterservice controversies; a man who prelerted ta settle disputes and fo solve problems by compromise rather than by decision; a soldier who failed to understazd she basie stratexieal issves ine volved in the Gefeat of Centany, as shosen particularly by bis fathure to seize a clear opportunity to eapture Berlin before the Russians. His admirers agree that he ondeestood polities! affairs, Dut point oat that he sens an unparalteled military diplomat who welded a superbly efficient American-British staff, who handled prond and touchy’ subardlinates with finesse, and whos: steatogie Vision and skill were primary factors in the tremendous Allied vie- tories over the Germans in Wester Eneope. oth of these points of view are partly sight. It took real profes sional military abshty as well as hick and charm to rise as rapidly in Uwe Aovesiean Aray as Kiseahower did in the curly mths ol the war, The results which his armics and air forces achieved az fo large pazt a tibute to his unquestioned oxganizational, as well as his diplomatic, capabilites, Me sclected good suboedinates, gave them great freedom of action, ht retained firm control pver them. He id nat shvink froma mnahing dilliult devisions, ane of which twas one of the toughest in the history of war: the mnleashing of hhis forces for the invasion in the face of the threat of a potentially disastrous storm, Withoot a doubt he sas one ofthe most snecess- fil military enenanders over produced by the Cnited States, ‘There is, however, some busis for the eriticis hal Eisenhower could not snake up his mind, Undonbtedly he was keenly aware that he had had no command expericuee of a unit larger than a company, belare he was commanding an army group in battle Save possibly for his key decisinn to gp aha with tl the lace of the storm threal, he was belter at taking advantage of opportunities presented to him than he was in shaping events (0 snake opportunities for hiosell. He has been criticized by his snb- ordinates Montgomere, Bradley, and Patton, not only for baving Iniledl to make a strategic decision lor a truly decisive main effort {in Westem Furupe bnt also for hesitaney in euerying out the more cautious decisions which he did snake, © “The must conteavensal of Eisenhower's command decisions was that of stopping his onrushing armies xt the Elk Hiver when they oul alinost cerlainly hase entered Berlin before the Russians Instwud, he tuened the advice ify southern Germany for the purpose ol preventing the Nazis from estublishiog a so-called “Alpine Redonibt” Grities say that i should have Been obsinas 4
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