Greatest Mistake of WW2 - Historum

Thaladan · November 22nd, 2012, 01:07 AM

First of all, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum.

Anyways, what are your nominations for the worst mistake of the Second World War. I'll start with a few suggestions:

Germany invading the Soviet Union.
Japan attacking Pearl Harbour.
Germany altering the targets of it air raids against Britain from airfields to cities.
America building and using the atomic bomb.

**Kevinmeath** · November 22nd, 2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaladan

First of all, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum.

Anyways, what are your nominations for the worst mistake of the Second World War. I'll start with a few suggestions:

..........Germany altering the targets of it air raids against Britain from airfields to cities.........................

Thats popular idea but most writers today seem to be of the opinion that the Germans were not going to win the BoB anyway.

Not concentating and making Britain come to terms before attacking Soviet Union so war on two fronts?

Not invading the Soviet Union as a liberator from 'evil communism' so getting the 'republics' on their side? then again if they did that they wouldn't be Nazi's.

funakison · November 22nd, 2012, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmeath

Thats popular idea but most writers today seem to be of the opinion that the Germans were not going to win the BoB anyway.

Not concentating and making Britain come to terms before attacking Soviet Union so war on two fronts?

Not invading the Soviet Union as a liberator from 'evil communism' so getting the 'republics' on their side? then again if they did that they wouldn't be Nazi's.

All good points, but perhaps getting into a war of attrition at Stalingrad
should be considered, it bled the German army which never recovered.

As for Pearl Harbour, if the japs were going to declare war on America attacking their naval base was the way to go. But sheesh, taking on the might of America in the first place was dumb, dumb, dumb.

The Cell · November 22nd, 2012, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaladan

First of all, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum.

Anyways, what are your nominations for the worst mistake of the Second World War. I'll start with a few suggestions:

Germany invading the Soviet Union.
Japan attacking Pearl Harbour.
Germany altering the targets of it air raids against Britain from airfields to cities.
America building and using the atomic bomb.

I think the main one would be Germany's decision to go to war in the first place. They were never going to win, no matter what the circumstances. If they needed more proof of this FACT they should have consulted their history books. I am sure that Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm II and many other historical leaders would agree with me here. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FACE OF AGAINST ALL OF EUROPE AND COME OUT THE VICTOR!!!

sylla1 · November 22nd, 2012, 04:46 AM

The Germans trusting Herr Hitler in the first place.

Even if a re-match of WW1 would have been required at all (a really big "if" in any case) he was the wrong leader by any standard.

Virgil · November 22nd, 2012, 04:53 AM

The first two are by far the worst mistakes. I view them equally dumb.

**arras** · November 22nd, 2012, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thaladan

Anyways, what are your nominations for the worst mistake of the Second World War. I'll start with a few suggestions:

Germany invading the Soviet Union.
Japan attacking Pearl Harbour.
Germany altering the targets of it air raids against Britain from airfields to cities.
America building and using the atomic bomb.

None of those qualify as a mistake.

Attack on USSR was necessity for Germans and way they did it was actually brilliant. Its only mistake was that Germans newer prepared for long war there. They placed all their their bets on quick victory. And that was quit understandable under circumstances.

Pearl Harbour was excellent, brilliantly executed opening move which gave Japanese basically free hand in their conquests for about 6 to 12 months.

Battle of Britain was just way to scare Brits and deceive Soviets. Hitler even hoped to make peace with Brits. Threat of invasion of Britain was close to zero.

As why building atomic bomb might have been mistake is completely beyond my understanding.

The merchant of Venice · November 22nd, 2012, 05:21 AM

For Italy, entering the war

We should have stayed neutral until very late then declare war on germany in late 44-45. Maybe we would have been able to occupy and satellizate austria?

Plus, we would have saved our colonial empire..