Tour of duty during WW II - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

420SEL · #16 11-10-2006, 05:52 PM

http://www.warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/deaths.htm

most of them were in the war until they died.

Hatterasguy · #17 11-10-2006, 05:56 PM

For the invasion of France yes, the Anglo-French forces had about 4,000 armoured vehicals. The German army at the time had 2,800 including armoured recon cars, about 2,200 were avail for said operation.

I can give you a complete break down of the German army's units for the operation in Russia but here is an example of what I am talking about:

The German Army on June 22, 1941, had a total of 205 divisions:
38 in the West
12 in Norway
1 in Denmark
7 in the Balkans
2 in Libya
145 free for operations in the east.

Here is a neat break down for the early western campaign:
523 Panzer 1
955 Panzer 2
349 Panzer 3
278 Panzer 4
106 Czech 35 tanks
228 Czech 38 tanks
96 small armoured vehicals class 1
39 large armoured vehicals class 2
2574 total

As time went on they used more and more captured equipment, and the Panzer 4 and became there bread and butter tank. The more famous Tiger and Panther did not appear until late in the war and in to small of numbers to do anything. Actualy at one point in 1944 I think, Hitler ordered that production of the Panzer 4 be stopped for the Tiger, to which Guderian said are you nuts? Without the Panzer 4 his tank crews would have been throwing rocks pretty much.

Also note that there were only two divisions in North Africa at the time. They could have put in 50+ divisions and the Brits would have been screwed. Lucky for us Hitler didn't see any reason for this, although the German general staff certainly wanted to.

In many respects Hitler, luckly shot himself in the foot. The German army at the time wasn't really looking to go to war, but if they had a free hand I have no doubt that things would have been different.

t walgamuth · #18 11-10-2006, 09:59 PM

yes. he did a little too much micro managing.

our generals had the leeway to move if they saw an opportunity in a battle to deviate from the battle plan. the german generals didnt.

in our normandy invasion there was an entire panzer division within easy driving distance from our invasion area, but they couldnt move without permission from hitler. he was a late sleeper, about noon, and nobody wanted to wake him up!

the tanks on the beach would have played havoc with our landing.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #19 11-10-2006, 10:12 PM

Thankfully Hitler was a military idiot, and often micro managed and screwed things up. He would often stay awake at meetings until sunrise, hence sleeping to noon. He was a night owl, pretty much.

t walgamuth · #20 11-11-2006, 07:49 AM

he may have been an idiiot at military strategy but they developed some very impressive war machinery.

ferdinand porsche designed the tiger tank i believe along with many other things. they had many versions of the kubelwagen the jeeplike thing that was built on the vw chassis which later became "the thing" and sold in modest numbers here. they had "shwimmwagens" amphibious versions of the vw and many other impressively effective devices. mercedes build aircraft engines which were jewells of effeciency and excellence. supercharged v12s with the cranks on top of the engine etc.

porsche was given status as a general because of his design status but he would never wear anything except the uniform of a private. and when he met hitler face to face he would not do the arm raising salute he was one of the very few who did not. he would just shake his hand. he was no nazi but he was an excellent munitions designer when he put his mind to it.

after the war our side put him in prison where his health was broken. he was released after a few years and was instrumental in the starting of porsche cars but died soon after the war. his son then was the main person in porsche cars.

hitler had some definate screws loose but also had some skills which if it werent for the screwey part he could have used to do great good.

destruction is so much easier though than doing good. too bad he took the easy way.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #21 11-11-2006, 05:32 PM

Hitler did not develope anything. If anything he hurt Germanys war time production. He diverted resources to stupid programs like fixed gun mounted tank killers he had a fetish with. He was also the one that didn't think they needed machine guns mounted on them.

At the beginning of the war and before you could make the argument, because he did support the formation of the Panzer divisions. But one right move does not a military expert make.

Hitler was a military idiot, the quality of the German army and officers saved him.

t walgamuth · #22 11-11-2006, 09:14 PM

i didnt say hitler developed anything.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #23 11-11-2006, 09:44 PM

Sorry mis read.

t walgamuth · #24 11-11-2006, 10:58 PM

peace, brother benz driver.

tom w