Really Hitlers decisions were not brilliant. And the Germans were not 10 foot tall unbeatables. Their main success was in 39 and 40 rolling over unprepared militaries with a new tactic. France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands,, none of them could believe that 20 yeas after WWI someone would really start another war. So they were unprepared.
Hitler and the Nazis “brilliance” was the equivalent of the “knockout game” being played. Sucker punching an unprepared victim.
But they were stopped when they went against England. Their navy was sunk when it sallied forth and spent the war bottled up in port. Then they attacked Russia and in 6 months were defeated at Stalingrad, then fought a steady defeat to destruction.
The simple fact is that when they faced anyone ready for them, they lost always. The Brits, the USA, Russia. I know that’s upsetting to German military fanboys, but its a hard fact.
LOL! Rhino, I'm not a German military fanboy. I've just studied the war in Europe to a great extent.
You wrote: Hitler and the Nazis “brilliance” was the equivalent of the “knockout game” being played. Sucker punching an unprepared victim.
Yes, there was a lot of that. It only works on a hide-bound military hierarchy, which has been accused of "always fighting the last war". But you still have to take the gamble.
I was reading up on Eben-Emael [NOT Hillary's personal email server] this week, and of course, revisited the question of Remagen. Two excellent examples of outside-the-box thinking.
That boob Monty would have nixed the Rhine bridgehead, if he could have.
BTW - If you ever want to read a good military book, read The Ten Thousand, by Harold Coyle. One of my favorites.
http://www.amazon.com/TEN-THOUSAND-Harold-Coyle/dp/0671885650