On Wed, 01 Dec 2004 18:28:57 +0900, Brett Robson
<deep_m_m@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
>Ernest Schaal wrote:
>> Brett,
>> 
>> Considering your deification of Montgomery and your attempts to minimize the
>> role of the American military in both world wars, 
>
>No, it is putting things into perspective. One that Americans 
>usually lack, and you specifically lack.

Probably what the British Army used to call "testicular fortitude" and
now calls "bottle" (guts).

>> I am curious how deep your
> > prejudice interferes with any judgment that you might have.
> >
>> Do you think that the British and the French could have won the war after
>> Russia pulled out if it were not for the influx of American troops?
>
>
>
>I should point out what follows is my judgement which is a strong 
>contrast to stating facts as I have before.
>
>I don't think the British and French won. I am not being 
>pedantic, the result would have been much the same - Germany 
>calling for an armistice and negotiating peace. Germany would 
>have had a stronger position the negotiated peace would have been 
>more equal. Germany was unable to match the techonology and 
>manufacturing and was barely able to feed it's men. The ironic 
>thing is US not entering the war may have been a better result. 
>When it would have finished is a debatable point but
>
>If you disagree with me that's fine, but you had better know the 
>political machinations happening in Germany and Austria in 1917. 
>More likely all you know is the US turned up and the war was won.
>
>Of course you know that George Patton and his crew did not win 
>WWII? 80% of German casualities were caused by the Russians.
>
>
>> 
>> Do you think that either the British or the French did anyway near as much
>> in winning the war in Asia during WWII as the Americans, or anyway near as
>> much in winning the war in Europe as the Russians or the Americans? 
>
>(enough speculation, a history lesson)
>
>French????? What fucking planet do you live on? The fall of 
>France was June 1940 and Pearl Harbour (the start of your war) 
>was December 1941.
>
>Oh, and you forgot one really important country. I'll give you a 
>clue, they eat rice and speak Chinese.
>
>So of course it is a pissing match you want to hear that the US 
>did the most don't you? Of course 2 really big bombs and the 
>firebombing pretty well sealed Japan's fate.
>
>For most of the war there were 3 areas, the sea/air war in the 
>west (USN), the land war being fought by the British (including 
>us) and of course China. At most times the British had more 
>troops in battle than the US, up until Okinawa. I am sure you 
>would find the fighting in Malay and Burma quite boring but you 
>really should make an effort.
>
>You might like to read up on Papua New Guinea. How my 
>grandfather's brigade of CMF (Civilan Military Force) stopped the 
>Japanese.
>
>"The 39th Australian Infantry battalion was a CMF unit. It was 
>raised in October 1941 from volunteers in Victoria and arrived in 
>Port Moresby in January 1942. When it was relieved during the 
>Kokoda operations in September, the Battalion's strength of about 
>1500 had decreased, because of battle casualties and illness to 185."
>
>"Initially the troops of the United States 32nd Division, 126th 
>and 128th Regiments, made little headway at Buna. Partly because 
>of their inexperience and unreadiness for the type of fighting 
>required, the Americans suffered heavy casualties. Matters 
>improved with the appointment in late November of a more 
>competent American commander, Lieut-General R.L. Eichelberger. It 
>was not, however, until the Australian Brigadier George Wootten 
>took direct command of the Americans on 17 December that the 
>battle for Buna began to go well for the Allies. Wootten brought 
>with him the Australian 2/9th, 2/10th and 2/12th Infantry 
>Battalions."
>
>An Australian brigade commander had a US division attached to his 
>brigade! Bet they don't teach that at West Point!
>
>So add that to your reading list. Malay, Burma, India, PNG, Darwin.
>
>Thanks for the battle of the Coral Sea, that was really important.
>
>
> > (for your information, North Africa is not in Europe)
>
>Thanks for the tip, is there a reason you made that point? You 
>want to specifically exclude it? It was fought by the European 
>powers. It was also the staging area for the Italian campaigns.
>
>
>


Michil