Were the Germans really that good?

[Mike Abberton]

One point of order (italics added by me):

The point I always like to make, which is indisputable, is that in 1940, after the fall of France, Britain stood alone against the AXIS powers... Britain was totally unprepared for war in 1939, Germany was totally prepared, Britain had 300,00 men, Germany 3 million, I don't know how many Italy came in with in 1940, or how many the Japs had, but you get the point.

The only people fighting the Japanese in 1940 were the Chinese. The UK went to war with the Japanese in December 1941, just like the US and the Dutch. Actually, the Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan was not signed until Sept 1940. This does not really lessen the impressive stand the UK made alone in 1940.

And my own feelings on the North Africa campaign are that it was always a battle of logistics more than tactical prowess. Both sides were able to push the other side back until the supply train couldn't keep up the advance and the other guy's supply line finally got short enough to catch their breath.