Who do you think is the greatest military general of all time?

Question

What has your favorite general accomplished that other's have not? Do you think your favorite general would be successful in periods other than his own?

Answer 1

George S. Patton. He understood soldiers, loved his soldiers. Was audacious in his execution. He was feared by his enemies, feared and admired by his troops.

Patton had a timeless quality about him. As I write this, above my desk is a framed photo of him. I am a tanker in the army, without Patton, armored warfare would not be what it is today.

Patton saw merit in enemy tactics. He was far reaching politically, and saw the coming cold war with the USSR, and wanted to preempt it by rearming the Waffen SS and Wehrmacht units and driving them to the Oder. He was not afraid to show emotion or piousness. There are some who think had the allied logisticians be able to give him the fuel needed, he could have well ended the European war in 1944.

Patton, just by his presence, and his tactical bravado, and his strategic graspe of history and politics is a truly timeless leader. If he were UNLEASHED in Iraq, well the war at least would be different. He could lead in any age and any time.

"There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change; it is, To use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

Some other gems of this great leader......


A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later."

"Fixed fortifications are monuments to man's stupidity."

"Do everything you ask of those you command."

"Do more than is required of you."

"Do not fear failure."

"Do not make excuses, whether it s your fault or not."

"Do not take counsel of your fears."

"Give credit where it s due."

"In case of doubt, attack."

"It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that insures victory."

"Lack of orders is no excuse for inaction."

"Make your plans to fit the circumstances."

"Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men."

"Say what you mean and mean what you say."

"Take calculated risks."

"The duties of an officer are the safety, honor, and welfare of your country first; the honor, welfare, and comfort of the men in your command second; and the officer's own ease, comfort, and safety last."

"The soldier is the army."

"There is only one type of discipline, perfect discipline."

"There s a great deal of talk about loyalty from the bottom to the top. Loyalty from the top down is even more necessary and is much less prevalent. One of the most frequently noted characteristics of great men who have remained great is loyalty to their subordinates."

"You're never beaten until you admit it."

"-Maybe there are 5 000, maybe 10 000 Nazi bastards in their concrete foxholes before the Third Army. Now if Ike stops holding Monty's hand and gives me the supplies, I'll go through the Sigfried Line like **** through a goose."

"You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him."

"When this war is over, I am going to remove my medals and stars and leave only my jacket on and they all can kiss my ***."

"It is only by doing things others have not that one can advance."

"The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his."

"Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and the American way."

"God deliver us from our friends, we can handle the enemy."

"Give an army of West Point grads and I win a battle, give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war."

"I'm going to Berlin to personally shoot that paper hanging son of a *****."

"Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!!!"

"As I walk through the valley of death I fear no one, for I am the meanest mother ****** in the valley!"

"A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood."

"We won't just shot the bastard, but rip out their living guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks."

"America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never lose a war."

"We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel!"

"Give me 10 days and I'll start a war with those God damn Reds and make it look like their fault. Then we can push the motherf****** back into Moscow where they belong!"

"All glory is fleeting."

"And I would be proud to lead you son of bitches into battle, anytime, anywhere."

"I always believe in being prepared, even when I'm dressed in white tie and tails."

"A leader is a man who can adapt principles to circumstances."

"Success demands a high level of logistical and organizational competence."

"Always take the offensive...Never Dig in."

"Perpetual peace is a futile dream."

"If you can work successfully here, in this country, it will be no difficulty at all to kill the assorted sons of bitches you meet in any other country."

-General George S. Patton Jr.

Answer 2

It is hard to decide between Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Robert E. Lee.

All faced overwhelmingly large opponents and repeatedly used their smaller forces with skill and economy to rout their larger opponents.

I suppose that since Alexander and Genghis Khan were fighting wars of conquest, I will have to rate General Lee as the greatest.

General Lee fought a defensive war against staggering odds. Never did he field an army that was much larger than half the size of his opponent, and often barely a third the size of his Federal opponent's forces.

I believe that all three would have been successful in later eras, the campaigns of each man is the subject of study in military academies around the world.

Doc Hudson

Answer 3

1. Nathan Bedford Forrest
2. Leonidas
3. George S. Patton, Jr.
4. "Stonewall" Jackson
5. Douglas MacArthur

I picked Forrest because he was NOT West Point but rose from Private to Lt Gen during the Civil War. He was the most feared General of that war.

Answer 4

Longstreet

If it weren't for Lee's blunder at Gettysburg (many would argue it was purely logistics, but still), the south would have won the Civil War. Longstreet in command of the Confederate army, and things would be totally different today.

Answer 5

Hannibal Barca.

He was one of the first commanders to fully maximize mixed unit tactics, and is often called the "father of strategy." His tactics have been emulated by generals from the Roman empire to Napoleon to the Nazi blitz.

He would do very well in any period.

Answer 6

Marshall Tito.

He's the master of guerrila warfare. He beat the Nazis in Yugoslavia while being severely outnumbered and poorly equipped. He then held off a Soviet invasion, diplomatically though, so I guess that doesn't count. He doesn't get alot of credit it though. Primarily because he never worked with a standing army.

Answer 7

i think that the greatest military general of all time would be Field Marshal Erwin Rommel who fought along side his men in battles he also fought battles under supply, outmanned and outgunned and still managed to do heavy damage even in defeat he show that he was a great Field Marshal when he performed a massive retreat

Answer 8

There is nothing great about wars and brave men are usually the ones who survived battles for being lucky but if you must have an answer I would say Alexasander the great because he rode with his knights and fought along his troops not to mention he is a warfare genius and honestly there is nothing romantic about wars it’s a man with dreams, love and passion and family killing an other man with dreams, love and passion and family usually for stupid reasons.