Author Topic: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?  (Read 4823 times)

Lorenzo

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Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« on: September 18, 2010, 07:51:53 AM »
List the military commanders in World War II that you admire.

And provide a reason for such admiration.

Begin.

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cujo

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Re: Who are your favorite WWII military commanders?
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2010, 07:55:16 AM »
As a Filipino,Douglas MacArthur of course.He kept his promise.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Who is your favorite WWII military commander?
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2010, 08:03:27 AM »
1. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto,
Gensui kaigun taisho (Naval Marshal General), Commander of the Combined Imperial Japanese Fleet


Reason: His brilliant, daring surprise military attack on the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. Tho he was hesitant on going to war with the United States, personally, due to the latter's industrial complex, acquiesced to the Imperial Japanese Military High Command , and prepared for a naval blow that would give Japan the time to conquer strategic areas and consolidate her defenses. He was a brilliant tactician, being schooled at Harvard, and was a realistic enemy. He knew of America's Industrial Superiority as compared to Japan, and believed that a short, brutal war would be Japan's only chance of forcing the Americans to the peace table.

He was taken out of the War in 1943 when his military plane was ambushed and shot from the sky by American air fighters, severely damaging Japan's military morale, as well as took the brain of the Japanese Navy.

He died honorably, in service to the nation of Japan, its empire, and in adoration of Japan's Monarch. He was a naval legend in his day, and even comparable to Admiral Togo, the Hero of Tsushima Straits.

I have come to read books on Admiral Yamamoto through the years as well as have read his diaries (translated, of course) and admired his opposition to the war with the Americans, yet respected and honored his compliance only to serve the Nation (Japan) to the best of his ability, despite personal reservations. I would liken Yamamoto with the famous American Confederate General, Robert E. Lee, who served the Confederacy thereby portraying his loyalty to the South, risking court martial by the Federal Forces. Isoroku Yamamoto, to me, represents the brilliance of personal character in the time of battle. His simplicity and his rigidity in following orders represents the meaning, nay, manifests the meaning of "Professional Obeiscance", again, a Confucian character of Japanese officers during that epoch. He is a personal hero of mine.


Admiral Yamamoto searching the seas.


Isoroku Yamamoto in civilian attire.

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Lorenzo

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Re: Who are your favorite WWII military commanders?
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2010, 08:18:16 AM »
TRIVIA:


I don't know if many of you know this, but the Japanese actor Takashi Shimura, who played Kambei Shimada in Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" bears strict resemblance to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

This film is also one of my favorite films of all time.


Takeshi Shimura playing as Kambei Shimada in Seven Samurai


Admiral Yamamoto, himself.




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Lorenzo

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Re: Who is your favorite WWII military commander?
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2010, 08:25:49 AM »
2. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov


Reason: His brilliance against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Khalkhyn Gol , whose effects led to the signing of the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Pact. Zhokov yet again demonstrated his brilliance in offensive waves when he was unleashed on Germany's Eastern Front, bringing the War to Berlin.
He is, in my view, comparable to that of General George Patton in terms of aggressiveness.



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Lorenzo

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2010, 01:55:50 PM »
Reason # 2:

I admire Admiral Yamamoto because he was a man that was ahead of his time. Unlike the rest of the Naval High Command, who believed that the future of naval warefare was to be determined in battleship combat, as was the case during the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 (citing Togo's victory over the Russian Baltic Fleet in Tsushima Straits), Yamamoto believed that the future of naval warfare lay in a nation's Aircraft Carriers and in Carrier warfare.

Reading Yamamoto's journals and personal statements to his aides, it is evident that his agenda was building Japan's carrier force. It was he who was responsible for producing and creating Japan's Carrier Wing, or as it was called Kido Butai (Carrier Force). Before Japan attacked pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy had about 11 aircraft carriers in its arsenal and more in production, thanks of course to the genius of Admiral Yamamoto and his influence in the Naval High Command and the Military Structure.

When he assumed command of the Combined Imperial Japanese Fleet in its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, he had under his command 4 carriers that were produced and augmented under his watch. These 4 carriers were the: Hiryu, Shiryu, Kaga and the Akagi; the Cream of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

In fact, Yamamoto's primary aim in attacking Pearl Harbor were the American carriers , as he knew that the destruction of those carriers would severely hinder America's ability to mobilize a counter-offensive, and thus give Japan the time to consolidate forces and even possibly force the Americans to sue for peace. Tho Yamamoto's Kido Butai crippled the American fighter wings , and annihilated the docked ships that day, the IJN was unable to locate and neutralize the American Carriers that day.

The reason why I admire Yamamoto is because he set standard in naval warfare; especially in regards to the importance of the Aircraft Carrier in future navies and future naval warfare.

Personally speaking, had Yamamoto not be killed by American fighter planes in 1943, he would have been capable of overturning the American victory in Midway in 42' and would have been capable of a counter-attack as was his plan in Papau New Guinea. His sudden and untimely death left the Imperial Japanese Navy scrambling to replace his position, however, none of the replacements / subordinates came close to the genius that was Yamamoto.

When Yamamoto died, the Imperial Navy's fate was already sealed.

To illustrate Yamamoto's influence in the Imperial Japanese Navy:
(Note, that Japan's Navy was unmatched in the beginning of the war, she had more carriers than America, as well as fielded the most powerful battleships the world had ever known: the Musashi and the Yamato)

IJN Kaga


IJN Akagi


IJN Soryu


IJN Hiryu


```

The Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Yamato


The Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Musashi


photos from: Nihonkaigun.com

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islander

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2010, 10:23:34 PM »
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel
(15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944)  
The Desert Fox


1.  Famous German Field Marshal of World War II

2.  Highly decorated officer in World War I

3.  Further distinguished himself as the commander of the Ghost Division during the 1940 invasion of
     France

4.  Leadership of German and Italian forces in the North African campaign established the legend of the
     Desert Fox

5.  One of the most skilled commanders of desert warfare in the war

6.  Later commanded the German forces opposing the Allied cross-channel invasion in Normandy

7.  Regarded as a chivalrous and humane officer because his afrikakorps was never accused of any war  
     crimes; soldiers captured during his africa campaign were reported to have been treated humanely

8.  Ignored orders to kill captured commandos, jewish soldiers and civilians in all theaters of his command

9.  Convicted of joining the conspiracy against adolf hitler

Because the German people still saw Rommel as a hero, Hitler chose not to publicly try and execute him. Instead, he was convinced to commit suicide under threat of persecution of his family. (Wikipedia)








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Lorenzo

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2010, 11:23:46 AM »
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hubag bohol

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Lorenzo

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2010, 12:10:29 PM »
Admiral  Raymond A. Spruance.

Reason: He defeated Admiral Yamamoto in the Battle of Midway, effectively ending Japan's offensive and putting the United States on the offensive for the duration of the Pacific War.




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hubag bohol

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2010, 12:13:30 PM »
My favorite commander: Arthur Percival





Percival was off mistreating Irish Republican Army (IRA) leaders during the Anglo-Irish War before commanding British Malaya in World War II. After only 10 weeks into the Pacific War, Percival became responsible for the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. Percival surrendered Malaya to Japanese forces in early 1942, defying Winston Churchill’s own instructions for prolonged resistance. A common view holds that 138,708 Allied personnel surrendered or were killed by fewer than 30,000 Japanese.

www.listverse.com


 :P

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Lorenzo

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2010, 12:19:22 PM »
General Masaharu Homma, Commanding General of the Imperial Japanese 14th Army.


Reason: General Homma was a brilliant tactician and was known to be sympathetic towards the Filipino people during peace time, which lead to his enmity by other generals under his command, namely: General Terauchi, who did not take to kindly towards Homma's stance. He was viewed by the Imperial Army as being to lenient towards the Filipino people and not aggressive enough towards the Americans.

Because of this he was forced from command in 1943 and retired from military life until the end of the war.





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Lorenzo

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Re: Who Is Your Favorite WWII Commander?
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2010, 12:20:43 PM »
My favorite commander: Arthur Percival





Percival was off mistreating Irish Republican Army (IRA) leaders during the Anglo-Irish War before commanding British Malaya in World War II. After only 10 weeks into the Pacific War, Percival became responsible for the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. Percival surrendered Malaya to Japanese forces in early 1942, defying Winston Churchill’s own instructions for prolonged resistance. A common view holds that 138,708 Allied personnel surrendered or were killed by fewer than 30,000 Japanese.

www.listverse.com


 :P

And thus the great British Bastion in Malaya fell....

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