Greatest generals in all of history

[shinRaiden 0]

so desu you ne...

What about William Tecumseh Sherman, and his march from Atlanta to Savannah?

Or Andrew Jackson at New Orleans? Wellington was asked to go there, but he refused to fight us on our turf. He sent his bro. in-law Packinham to go, and well over 90% of the british casulaties were officers, sniped at range. Packinham used the classical european formations against kentucky windage and tennasse chaw.

But most of all, Gen. Mud.

Gen. Mud stopped Napoleon and the Germans in Russia, Gen. Mud ate up all the shells and begged for more in all the US wars, halted WW1 in the trenches, and was only beaten when the cowboys took to the air in their choppers.

[MSpencer 0]

Chesty Puller (Check my sig). The most decorated Marine in history, and a true hero. Held off 16 (I believe 16...) divisions of Chinese in the Korean War with the 1MD. A true leader and fighting man, he is arguably the best general seen by the world so far.

Besides Sun Tzu.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

Oda Nobunaga/Ieasyu Tokugawa/"Taiko"

The three men that united a warring Japan. Nobunaga was assasinated on the eve of his realization of his dream of unification by one of his generals. The Taiko (Hideyoshi.......his name changed as he rose in the Samurai and Oda Clan ranks....he is known as "Taiko"...."The Light Of The Country") took over the Oda Clan and continued unification.

Tokugawa of course finished unification and brought about the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Nobunaga and The Taiko used various strategies unknown at the time in Japan, and were the first to use the newly introduced firearms properly in Japanese warfare, and was the first to build castles to withstand the new weapon. One time a castle of warrior monks was holding up Nobunaga's advance. They could not bypass it for fear the warrior monks would come out and cut of their rear. The cannons and firearms were having little effect upon teh castle and it was at a stalemate. Hideyoshi devised an interesting strategy. He basically unblocked the moat of the castle, then released the damned river. This effectively flooded the moat and plain around the castle completely cutting off the castle. The army bypassed and later came back to finish the weakened castle.

Nobunaga was far sighted enough to see that Japan could not remain factionalized and still exist. Hideyoshi saw the brilliance in Nobunaga, and became one of his most trusted and brilliant commanders. Tokugawa was originally a hostage of a rival clan of the Oda. After the Oda destroyed the clan and set Tokugawa free he became a long time ally of the Oda, protecting the rear of the Oda province from the provinces of the North, and winning many battles in which he was heavily outnumbered.

There is a popluar saying about the three:

How do you make a bird sing?

Nobunaga: Kill It

Hideyoshi: Make it want to sing.

Tokugawa: Wait

Someone read "Shogun"

As for me, Leonidas and Alexander the Great, as well as Kolokotronis and Karagiosis

[cam0flage 0]

I'd have to say Heinz Guderian and Erich von Manstein. Both accomplished unbelievable feats in the eastern front during WWII. Both also had the balls to oppose Hitler.

Manstein especially for his actions near Kharkov during spring 1943 (retook the city) and could have done a lot more if allowed.

I have to mention Finnish Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim too. I'm not that familiar with his particular military achievements, but he succeeded in uniting the Finns during WWII. Also kept his eyes open during 1939 and called Finnish reservists to additional rehearsals before the outbreak of the Winter War.

[lukemax 0]

I'd have to say Heinz Guderian and Erich von Manstein. Both accomplished unbelievable feats in the eastern front during WWII. Both also had the balls to oppose Hitler.

Manstein especially for his actions near Kharkov during spring 1943 (retook the city) and could have done a lot more if allowed.

I have to mention Finnish Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim too. I'm not that familiar with his particular military achievements, but he succeeded in uniting the Finns during WWII. Also kept his eyes open during 1939 and called Finnish reservists to additional rehearsals before the outbreak of the Winter War.

Also Rommel! The desert Fox!

[shinRaiden 0]

16 to 1 odds on their hometurf in the mountains? That's not exactly a fair fight for marines. ;)

[Coins 0]

Lieutenant Commander Spicer-Simson, outnumbered, outgunned, inexperienced and only armed with his nutty wit, tasked to travel through remote parts of Africa to destroy the German fleet on Lake Tanganyika during WW1, succeeded almost single-handedly (biplane took out last ship) without a single casualty (except for some mild bouts of illness amongst his men who failed to take the recommended precautions). Tattoed and worshipped as a god by the locals, he returned to his desk job at the Admiralty soon after.

[Mister Frag 0]

Genghis Khan.

[Akira 0]

Oda Nobunaga/Ieasyu Tokugawa/"Taiko"

The three men that united a warring Japan. Nobunaga was assasinated on the eve of his realization of his dream of unification by one of his generals. The Taiko (Hideyoshi.......his name changed as he rose in the Samurai and Oda Clan ranks....he is known as "Taiko"...."The Light Of The Country") took over the Oda Clan and continued unification.

Tokugawa of course finished unification and brought about the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Nobunaga and The Taiko used various strategies unknown at the time in Japan, and were the first to use the newly introduced firearms properly in Japanese warfare, and was the first to build castles to withstand the new weapon. One time a castle of warrior monks was holding up Nobunaga's advance. They could not bypass it for fear the warrior monks would come out and cut of their rear. The cannons and firearms were having little effect upon teh castle and it was at a stalemate. Hideyoshi devised an interesting strategy. He basically unblocked the moat of the castle, then released the damned river. This effectively flooded the moat and plain around the castle completely cutting off the castle. The army bypassed and later came back to finish the weakened castle.

Nobunaga was far sighted enough to see that Japan could not remain factionalized and still exist. Hideyoshi saw the brilliance in Nobunaga, and became one of his most trusted and brilliant commanders. Tokugawa was originally a hostage of a rival clan of the Oda. After the Oda destroyed the clan and set Tokugawa free he became a long time ally of the Oda, protecting the rear of the Oda province from the provinces of the North, and winning many battles in which he was heavily outnumbered.

There is a popluar saying about the three:

How do you make a bird sing?

Nobunaga: Kill It

Hideyoshi: Make it want to sing.

Tokugawa: Wait

Someone read "Shogun"

As for me, Leonidas and Alexander the Great, as well as Kolokotronis and Karagiosis

Actually the book, "Taiko" by Eiji Yoshikawa. A great read....and a big book.

[Winters 1]

My favorite "General" never got to be a General as the war ended before he could reach that rank. I am talking about Maj. Richard Winters  

His leadership skills are unquestioned and his men still love him today. His assault on the German guns at brecourt manor became a US Military standard for assaulting a fixed position that is still taught at West Point today. He would have won a MOH if the AHC didnt decide to limit the number of medals that would be awarded beforehand  

[stgn 39]

Ceasar, Sicipu africanus, Trajan, Augustus, Me(STGN) in Colse Combat, Hanibal, Pompejus, Hadrian to name a frew of my favorits.

Ceasar one general to rule them all!!!!

General Swartzkoffp(Or somthing)

STGN

ps. sory for my bad spelling and the use of Dansih names on some of these.

[Bordoy 0]

I can not personally nominate any 1 person as the greatest general as there are alot of did great things for their believes weather good or bad (except torchering civillians). Most of you have made good choices.

[Tamme 0]

No one has mentioned Adolf Ehrnrooth

[The Frenchman 0]

Genghis Khan.

Gonna have to agree with you.

[Dark Angel 0]

In no order:

Sun Tzu ('Nuff said)

Lord Nelson (A natural leader, loses both his right arm and his right eye, and he leads a massive naval fleet to Trafalger, although he died before he could see the victory through, none of his ships were lost and the French fleet was hammered.)

Bernard Montgomery (El Amlien was one of the first turning points of WWII, and he lead it. But may have been outshadowed by Operation Market Garden)

[quicksand 0]

Indeed the greatest respect I have of all the great generals thoughout history is Rommel.The character of this man is beyond any comparation.

When all the other generals were sucking up to Hitler,fighting each other to be his best puppy,this guy disobeyed direct orders due to the care he had for his men.His performance in battles was remarcable,even his enemy acknowledged his millitary leader capabillities.

Rommel was the highest ranking person in Nazi Germany who was guilty of no war crimes.He even participated in the daring plan to depose Hitler,failure which finally led to his death

It`s easily noticable that while other german generals are scrubbed through the floor for their war crimes,simphaty for Hitlers holocaust there has yet to be one bad thing said about this man.

[Lt. Duran 0]

I forgot George Washington ;)

[bonko the sane 2]

I agree with most opinions, Alexander the Great, Julius Ceaser, Rommel, Gengis Khan and Darius (Persian King) are on my list.

Also, William the Conqueror, who devised a massive amphibious invasion of Britain and succeeded.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

I agree with most opinions, Alexander the Great, Julius Ceaser, Rommel, Gengis Khan and Darius (Persian King) are on my list.

Also, William the Conqueror, who devised a massive amphibious invasion of Britain and succeeded.

But Darius and his 1 million men army got destroyed bigtime by 50,000 Greeks, and managed to lose their Empire (stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean) to those Greeks, how is that great leadership

[bonko the sane 2]

I agree with most opinions, Alexander the Great, Julius Ceaser, Rommel, Gengis Khan and Darius (Persian King) are on my list.

Also, William the Conqueror, who devised a massive amphibious invasion of Britain and succeeded.

But Darius and his 1 million men army got destroyed bigtime by 50,000 Greeks, and managed to lose their Empire (stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean) to those Greeks, how is that great leadership

LOL...never say a good thing about a Persian if a Greek is lurking about

You should know that the decisive land defeat happened at Plataea when most of the Persian army had already gone home, the Persians lost it a bit before when they were defeated by Themistocles at the naval battle of Salamis (the Persians flotilla being made up of phoenician, egyptian and greek mercenaries, as the Persians truly sucked at naval warfare) and this was under the rule of Xerxes, not Darius. Anyways, the persians had the first empire (in the true meaning of the word) in history.

Lucky me Im a history of art student and im very impartial and truly admire both Greek and Persian cultures.

Feel free to correct any mistakes I wrote as im having a Classical Culture test in a week's time

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

I agree with most opinions, Alexander the Great, Julius Ceaser, Rommel, Gengis Khan and Darius (Persian King) are on my list.

Also, William the Conqueror, who devised a massive amphibious invasion of Britain and succeeded.

But Darius and his 1 million men army got destroyed bigtime by 50,000 Greeks, and managed to lose their Empire (stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean) to those Greeks, how is that great leadership

LOL...never say a good thing about a Persian if a Greek is lurking about    

You should know that the decisive land defeat happened at Plataea when most of the Persian army had already gone home, the Persians lost it a bit before when they were defeated by Themistocles at the naval battle of Salamis (the Persians flotilla being made up of phoenician, egyptian and greek mercenaries, as the Persians truly sucked at naval warfare) and this was under the rule of Xerxes, not Darius. Anyways, the persians had the first empire (in the true meaning of the word) in history.

Lucky me Im a history of art student and im very impartial and truly admire both Greek and Persian cultures.

Feel free to correct any mistakes I wrote as im having a Classical Culture test in a week's time

Salamis had nothing to do with Alexander's Campaign It is true that under Xerxes they took some heavy casualties (esp. Salamis and Thermopylae), but it was nowhere near enough to threaten the Persian empire in its foundations.

In fact, Darius had at least three opportunities to repell our invasion, and he failed them all:

- Granicus

- Issus

- Gaugamela (Darius' last battle)

In each of these battles he had the numeric advantage, and the home turf advantage. Yet he misinterpreted the tactical situation in all of these battles and got routed decisively every time.

You are also wrong about the decisive land defeat, it was Gaugamela, the Persians had raised their largest army yet, and they still got routed. The Persian Empire was dying after this battle, and the sacking of Samarkand finished it completely.

Funny little side note: Xerxes was the guy that had the sea in the Dardannelles strait slashed because a storm had destroyed his bridge made of ships

[Blake 0]

No one has mentioned Adolf Ehrnrooth

He was promoted General long after the war was over. Maybe he could be a contender for best Colonel/Regimental commander.

His victory at in the battle of Siiranmäki was the first large defensive success in the 1944 Soviet Summer Offensive in Karelian Isthmus and his actions stopped entire Soviet Corps (3 Soviet divisions reinforced with tanks). Like many great commanders he relied on ruthless counter-attacks against all odds to drive the enemy off balance. Later in Vuosalmi he refused to move his HQ away from advancing enemy spearheads and sent elements of his HQ company to counter-attack the enemy, thus preventing the communications and leadership blackout period which would have resulted if he had moved his HQ post. Just some short examples of his long-sighted regimental leadership.

[Scorpio 0]

Saladin and Genghis Khan.