Who was the worst American general of World War II and why?

Answer 1

In my own opinion, it was MG Lloyd Fredendall, the US commander in North Africa at the time of the US defeat at Kasserine pass. Fredendall's overall behavior before and during the battle led may of his contemporaries (US and Allied) to dismiss him as an incompetent and a coward.

Carlo D'Este, in his biography of George Patton (who would be brought in to replace Fredendall after Kasserine), sums him up thus: "...one of the most inept senior officers to hold a high command during World War II". Notice that D'Este, himself a retired Army officer, makes no qualifications as to which side Fredendall was on...

Answer 2

I think I'd have to go with MacArthur myself. Not that he was necessarily incompetent tactically, but he was really more politician than strategist. His outright refusal to bypass the Phillipines just because he had "promised" to return was simply asinine. He wouldn't even consider any plan that didn't include liberating the Phillipines. Now if he had argued valid military points and gotten his way that's one thing, but he just insisted.

Answer 3

Greetings! The worst general officer of WWII? Hmmmmm.....

That's a hard one because if a General officer screwed up real badly, he was either sent home or was given a desk job, not to return to lead the troops.

I know I'm going to take a few brickbats over this, and I really do not mean disrespect, but one very popular, but very risk taking Admiral was William "Bull" Halsey.

He was well loved with his Naval staff and sailors. He could motivate people to battle like few others. He was able to react in sea battles with authority and dash. His problem was that his actions sometimes became rash.

Had he been the commanding admiral at Midway, he may still have had the victory that Spruance produced, but given his personality of rashness, he very likely would have compromised what few aircraft carriers we had at that time.

I submit as evidence his debacle in the Leyte Gulf - there, he took off on a wild goose chase with his carrier and battleship group and left behind a virtually defenseless armada of smaller carriers to be attacked by the remnants of a dying Japanese Navy.

He also lost serious respect points for taking his entire fleet head on into two typhoons, sinking three destroyers and damaging several planes and other ships. This was a senseless waste of war materiel and lives.

As I said, he was extremely popular to both the Navy and the American people, so relieving him of command was out of the question. In fact his flagship, the Missouri was used when the Japanese formally surrendered it's forces. His popularity even got a fifth star, ahead of Raymond Spruance.

It's very hard to put a commanding officer of that caliber on such a negative list, but that would be my pick.

One last caveat - all of the general and fleet officers in this war gave their all to their troops and should be held in utmost respect for their contributions. However, history should not be disregarded.

Hope that helps you. Happy holidays!

Answer 4

we never "heard" of the worst;maybe ask what was the worst decision/move by a general ie. MacArthur leaving all his air force on the ground after hearing about pearl harbour
really ,anyone of us could have had MacArthur's job and we would have still whupped the japs.WHAT did he do so special or even different to warrant all the fuss.

Answer 5

all of them,very overated