Quote:
Originally Posted by Troublous_Haze
it's too easy to judge historical decissions when you already know the whole picture. In early years of war Hitlers war tactics prooved to be successfull, when even greatest generals were often unsure about the success. Hitler refused the retreat of sixth army just because he couldn't believe his Blitzkrieg has been halted.
|
At no point did
Hitler's own tactics prove to be successful in the early years of the war. Hitler did not invent the doctrine, tactics or strategies that the German army used in the campaigns in Poland and France, nor did he personally plan any of those campaigns. In fact, the breakout from Sedan which caused the collapse of the French army during the Battle of France happened because Guderian and other commanders disobeyed his orders to halt.
Hitler's meddling in the the German army's operations during Case Blue directly contributed to the disaster Stalingrad became, and his mistakes
were recognizable at the time. The brief diversion of the Fourth Panzer Army and most of the Sixth Army's armoured strength to the south in July, ordered personally by Hitler in direct opposition to the offensive's plan, which served only to slow the advance enough to give the Red Army enough time to prepare the defences of Stalingrad and bog down the German army in even more logistical problems is a good example, as is his refusal to give Paulus permission to break out of the pocket during Operation Winter Storm, against advice from Manstein, which arguably doomed that operation from the start.