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The texbook counter-example on circumvention of fixed fortifications was done by Hitler's army, at the start of the war. Viz: The Manstein Plan is often seen a

by 001sky 14y ago

The texbook counter-example on circumvention of fixed fortifications was done by Hitler's army, at the start of the war. Viz: The Manstein Plan is often seen as either the result of, or the cause of a mid-twentieth century Revolution in military affairs. In the former hypothesis, expounded by Fuller and Basil Liddell Hart immediately after the events, the Manstein Plan is presented as a natural outcome of deliberate changes in the German military doctrine during the twenties and thirties by men as Guderian or Hans von Seeckt implementing Fuller's or Liddell Hart's ideas.[1] Diesel-electric Submarines were ultimately also vulnerable to air power. But not before their use in warfare was pioneered by the Germans, to devastating effect. And france was germany's "aircraft carrier", don't forget its less than 100 miles from the UK, couldn't be sunk, and didn't need a fleet-escort. (etc). Further innovations: - Jet fighters - Cruise Missles - Ballistic Missles - Submarine Warfare - Armored Calvary It was a war, and 'improvisation' would be expected as losses mount and access to resources were curtailed. The general thesis that the Nazis were fighting "ww1" style is not really a teneble notion. At all. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manstein_Plan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manstein_Plan

WalterBright 14y ago
1. Hitler basically stalled and wrecked the jet fighter development, diverting its resources to developing a fairly ineffective jet bomber. 2. The cruise missiles and ballistic missiles contributed essentially nothing to the war effort, while consuming vast resources. They simply weren't accurate enough, and were misused as well (London was a political target, not a military one). 3. You're right about that, but U-Boots were big in WW1, too. 4. Hitler still put his faith in fixed fortifications, despite the success of his generals with mobile warfare. There's no doubt that the German army had many forward thinking ideas. But I'm talking about Hitler overriding them and refighting WW1.

by 001sky 14y ago

WalterBright 14y ago

1. Hitler basically stalled and wrecked the jet fighter development, diverting its resources to developing a fairly ineffective jet bomber. 2. The cruise missiles and ballistic missiles contributed essentially nothing to the war effort, while consuming vast resources. They simply weren't accurate enough, and were misused as well (London was a political target, not a military one). 3. You're right about that, but U-Boots were big in WW1, too. 4. Hitler still put his faith in fixed fortifications, despite the success of his generals with mobile warfare. There's no doubt that the German army had many forward thinking ideas. But I'm talking about Hitler overriding them and refighting WW1.