Closing With the Enemy: How GIs Fought the War in Europe, 1944-1945 (Modern War Studies)
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Hardcover
Contrary to what was written in the past, this is yet another book proving that the American soldier of World War II was the equal, if not better, than the German solder. When the U.S. Army entered World War II it had a strategic and tactical plans for winning the war. The strategic plan proved to be well written, but the tactical plan had serious problems.
Unlike the German Army which dictated tactics from the top down, the American army proved to be very receptive to tactical changes from the very bottom, from the men at "the point of the spear." As American soldiers realized things weren't working well, they quickly adapted their tactics to overcome their enemy. Unfortunately, it took the lives of many soldiers before the new tactics were conceived.
I'm reminded of a quote from German General Rommel, who once, after inflicting a serious defeat on the American Army in North Africa, later stated that Americans learned very quickly from their mistakes.
Unlike the German Army which dictated tactics from the top down, the American army proved to be very receptive to tactical changes from the very bottom, from the men at "the point of the spear." As American soldiers realized things weren't working well, they quickly adapted their tactics to overcome their enemy. Unfortunately, it took the lives of many soldiers before the new tactics were conceived.
I'm reminded of a quote from German General Rommel, who once, after inflicting a serious defeat on the American Army in North Africa, later stated that Americans learned very quickly from their mistakes.
