Well? Who did win the war? I'm not asking was it America or Germany in the long run. Am not interested in Nations. I want to know who really won the war for the Allies. The Army? The Navy? Or was it the Air Force? Personally I think it was, in the end, the Air Force, as without them the Army and navy would have been bombed into submission by the enemy. But I am sure there is somebody who will disagree. eep:
In my humble opinion, it was the everyday worker. Without them, there would have been no planes, ships or rifles.
very true, but without the armed forces the humble worker would still be so much squishy bits in the rubble. so which was the most vital of the vital cogs that made up the war machine?
I still wouldn't presume to have enough knowledge to really have an opinion but surely each arm of the services, merchant navy, civilians, allies and indeed good luck, were interdependent (why did I use that word I always have a problem with the spelling!!!!)?
I would just say "The Team" and that includes without doubt the Merchant Navy. In the end the Allies did it better as a team effort. The tanker drivers, cooks, mechanics, logistics. Many did more dangerous jobs however not everyone could be a front line Soldier, Sailor or Airman.
Just to take issue with you then, Kitty. The Air Force wouldn't have got off the ground if they didn't have fuel, bombs and bullets. So we have the "forgotten fourth service" to thank for that. Personally, I don't think it is a question with an answer - to many variables. The truth is they all did their bit. Regards Hugh
Do i foresee a discussion brewing? So it was the merchant navy that won the war. What about the U Boats?
Surely ground can only be taken by putting troops on it. Aircraft may be able to obliterate a city, but they can't occupy the remains. Everything, air power, sea power, artillery, is aimed at getting the infantry into the enemy's positions. All too often the infantry have to engage in hand-to-hand fighting or very close range fire-fights, even today. Used well, the other resources can soften up the enemy enough so that the risk to the infantry is minimised. But ultimately, its all down to the infantry.
Hi Kitty,Great to see another Lady on this ww2 Forums. In my opinion the war was won by the stubility by the Axis side,including japan.If the Axis side were much brilliant with there tactic's and not invaded Russia, do you guys think the Airforce would of won ww2, i don't but only my opinion guys. Cheers.
Hi Foxy, welcome to the Forum! Certainly we were very lucky in many respects. I doubt that the British Empire would have held out for ever against Germany while Germany had the support of the Soviet Union, prior to June 1941. And without Pearl Harbour the USA may not have joined in (and even then, Germany declared war on the USA, not the other way round). Even if we avoided being invaded, we would never have been able to launch a Second Front alone. And then there is Hitler's failure to invade France and immediately after Poland, and the UK immediately after France, giving us time to prepare - though in truth the German Armed Forces also needed to recuperate after these operations. The Germans planners, particularly in the Navy [Kriegsmarine], were hoping that the war would not start until 1944, to allow the Uboat fleet to reach its planned size, and the construction of the Mackensen Class Battleships (Super-Bismarcks). But Hitler possibly made a mistake of starting the war early - though of course Britain (but not the USA) was also planning to rearm during that period so maybe he was right.
Thanks for the warm welcome Adrain. Yes you're right that the British could not hold off Germany for ever,However when i think about it, if Britain's Allies meaning France Australia, N/Z and Cananda were Strong like the German Allies,It would of bean more Equal between England and Germany at the Start of ww2. I also heard that Germany wanted to start the war later but i never knew about Britain planning to rearm there forces,i learn something new each day.Thank goodness Hitler was not a Brilliant man. Cheers
I believe at the start of the war Hitler was a good military leader, though flawed. it was later in the war, around about the start of the Russian campaign where he started to lose his grip on tactics and sense. The invasion of Russia was a major mistake, and from there it was a domino effect. IF he hadn't declared war on America, Germany may still have survived the war intact without the complete obliteration it endured afterwards at the hands of the strengthened Allies. America may not have got involved in the European war at all, merely pursued its aims and objectives in the Pacific theatre as it primarily wished to do so. Germany's declaration, combined with the pursuasion of Churchill and many other backroom people on America, then the European war may have had a very different outcome indeed. Not a defeat for the Allies as such, but not the total success it turned in to.
What I meant by this was that had the war not started until the forties, Britain as well as Germany would have been continuing the military rearmament plans of the thirties. Not that this would have been all good. The Spitfire was intended as a stop-gap, and would have been replaced by the Westland Whirlwind and the Beaufighter, on the basis that the German single-seat fighters would not have appeared over Britain because they would have to operate from Germany because France would not fall, i.e. the war would be a re-run of 1914-18, so what we needed were bomber-destroyers rather than dogfighters. Good thing we didn't proceed on that basis! And we were going to build the very large "Lion" class battleships, equivalent to the German Mackensens: but when the war started in 1939 both sides realised very quickly that they need to concentrate on destroyers, submarines, and aircraft carriers.
Did not know about the Mackensens or the Lions. Thanks AR. Looks like the Mackensen class of WWI vintage didn't progress well either. At least they were built!
Andy Actually I was getting confused here - the Mackensen class were a projected WW1 class that were not built; a development of the Derfflinger class that were built. The WW2 project that I was thinking of would have been part of Admiral Raeder's "Z-plan" and were known as the H41 class. Six were planned, two were laid down but not completed. They would have had a full load displacement of 62,500 tons, a length overall of 911 feet (i.e. longer than the Iowa or Yamato class) and would have had eight 16-inch guns (Bismark had 8x15"). The Lion Class would have had nine 16" guns (3x3) - the same as the Nelson class but a lot faster and with improved turrets in a more sensible two forward and one aft layout. Work was suspended on the outbreak of war. Just after the war Vanguard, Britain's last Battleship was completed. She was a lengthened Lion, displacing 51,400 tons, 814 feet long, but because the new turrets and guns were never developed she made do with four x twin 15" turrets taken from the First World War battlecruisers Courageous and Glorious when those vessels were converted to aircraft carriers.
Hi Ms Kitty-Well i will agree with you that he was a good leader before the war started,but after when he let the power go to his head, he was not so great of a leader in milletary leader aspects or not so great of leader to the German people. I heard that he would of been a much better leaderif he lissoned to his generals more often. I must say he gave really great speaches though. Hi Sir,Well i just thank god Allies won cause if we lost, i would of been married to a german and i would of had to keep on pumping out kids. Thank God we did'nt proceed in that basis.
Only if you were an Aryan type - blond and exceptionally good looking! But on those counts I am sure you would qualify easily!
Sir, Yes true,You basically had to be drop dead perfect!.You are sure i would qualify easily-Youn ever seen what i look like:becky: Who really one the war!-How about the stubitally of the Axis and the Allies manly Britain that never gave up. If you put those to together,it all adds up to "who won the war" The Axis won the war for the Allies for having stubitally and the Allies [Britain] won the war for themselfs cause of there heart which they had to keep on fighting though very hard times and never giving up when things look all but gone.
