Were the Germans really that good?

[Steel God]

Peter;

Your response gets to the heart of McIvan's post. What is chris really looking for? A discussion on what level?

Clearly yes, it could be argued that the Battle of the Atlantic was one of the two "decisive" battles of the war upon which the whole thing hinged, but that is clearly a strategic level battle. I think since the Allies won the war they clearly did win at the Strategic level.

I believe Chris is asking on a more tactical, or at most, operational level, what army, or whose men, were better in WWII. In that case I stand by my position that it was the Germans.

As for Britain standing for more than 3 months...once again, if we are comparing whose "Army" was best, the BoB and Englands stand in 40 does not "count" in that sense, because no where were they engaged in a significant campaign on land during that time that they succeeded. But you also illustrate my point that if the Germans could not knock you out operationally in 3 months they could not finish you off period. The Germans did "best" the Royal Army every where it face it in 40, and 41. England survived because of the English Channel. It's not glorious, but neither was the Russian scortched earth policy that they used in 41-42. but it will work "Strategically" against an oppenent that is superior to you tactically and possibly operationally.