BuddyLee

I have to play SC2 some more to make an opinion on the strength of the bombardment. I have played enough to form the opinion that troops in unprepared positions should not cause damage to a naval unit when it gets targeted for a bombardment. Prepared positions (Sevastopol, Gibralatar, areas prepared by engineers) maybe, unprepared no.

S.O.- very good points. Excellent info on pilots per craft as well. That was a big problem that Germany had no answer for. (many people do not realize how devastating the loss of experienced pilots hurt the Luftwaffe). I would like to read more on the subject because everything I've read indicates that the German pressure was staring to crack the Fighter Command of the RAF. But after suffering terrible losses (some 1750 LW planesd vs. 800 or so RAF) the Germans were shocked the Brits hadn't thrown in the towel, and in their frustration attacked the major cities farther inland. I know you know the story so I won't continue on here. I guess what I'd like to know is why couldn't Germany just keep up the unrelenting pressure on the RAF and radar stations had they wanted too? Your premise that the LW would never have beaten the RAF may be correct because 1. They didn't and 2. They were already turning their attention to Barbarossa by mid-Sept 1940. I propose that had Germany been committed to defeating the RAF and Britain to the exclusion of all else, they would have. You are obviously very well versed on WW2. I am interested to hear more about why you think it could never have happened. Thanks.

Guinty1- Your info on the RAF and the pounding they took from the LW during the 1st half of the BoB was spot on correct! The decision by Hitler/Goering to switch bombing targets/tactics away from the RAF bases, fields and facilities, and towards the cities was one of the more serious blunders the Reich committed.

This coming from a guy with over 7,800 posts...lol

It's pretty well accepted now that the Japanese were seriously considering surrender before the 2 bombs were dropped. The Americans and Japanese had agreed on all surrender demands with one exception. The Emperor staying on as emperor. The US wanted him in custody. The Japanese wanted him to stay put. After 2 atomic bombs the Japanese held firm. The Americans, after signaling the world of their ability to make and willingness to use atomic weapons, decided to drop the demand and accept surrender w/ Hirohito allowed to remain.

It MAY have worked for the Germans had they kept the SS and their police forces from devastating those areas. In the book Barbarossa, by Alan Clark, he cites numerous examples of the problems between the Wermacht and the SS. In many of those examples the Wermacht moved in, secured the areas, and proceeded onward to destroy the Russian forces. They cared little for nazi doctrine, but cared a great deal about destroying what they knew could be a very strong Russian army if it got a chance to catch its breath. Then the SS or einstatzgruppen (sorry about the spelling) would come in and terorize the population, causing numerous partisan groups to flare up, damaging the supply of the forward armies. Very interesting to think the "what if's?" here.