MarcusXL t1_j7mdxvr wrote
Reply to comment by MrMoogyMan in Would the Allies have kept fighting if the axis powers stopped? by Techno-87
Luftwaffe was built to support the ground troops, not conduct strategic bombing campaigns. Hitler demanded it do both, and it cost them dearly.
MrMoogyMan t1_j7mew0m wrote
It also didn't help that instead of smartly attriting the UK's air-military-industry to gain total air superiority, Hitler ordered a campaign of terror against the people of Britain, who were far more resilient than what Hitler believed.
SirJudasIscariot t1_j7mmd6q wrote
When the Battle of Britain began, the Luftwaffe focused exclusively on the RAF, hitting airbases, shooting down aircraft, knocking out air defenses, basically trying to gain air superiority. The RAF was pushed to the breaking point, and it wasn’t until Bomber Command struck Berlin that Hitler changed priorities from striking military targets to bombing London on a daily and nightly basis. This is when the Luftwaffe lost the battle. They had almost gained air superiority and had to throw it away to strike at civilian targets.
MrMoogyMan t1_j7mr4h4 wrote
It wasn't that close to defeat; British production was still out producing German in aircraft and the notion that the RAF was going to fall was bad intel, wishful thinking by the German high command or deliberate mildec. I think it's a bit overdramatic to claim the RAF was at its breaking point when most airfields remained operational and the military industry still buidling replacements. The British had solid air defense and early warning radar, international pilots, and plenty of juice left to punish the Luftwaffe.
Tianxiac t1_j7mxr9i wrote
The RAF at the breaking point but hanging on and defeating the germans in a miracle is part of UK ww2 myth and romanticism.
ErrolFuckingFlynn t1_j7ml4i1 wrote
A bad gamble. One of many
Masterzjg t1_j7mrr1v wrote
It was the first war to allow for mass destruction via air power - hindsight 20/20 on what was a "bad" idea and what was a "good" idea.
MrMoogyMan t1_j7mtdh9 wrote
Some maxims military strategic theory transcend accessible technologies, and the fact that Hitler (thankfully) sucked at military strategy was no secret to his own high command. There's no hindsight to be had here when his own contemporaries saw the looming failure of his military operations.
[deleted] t1_j7mtr3b wrote
[deleted]
Masterzjg t1_j7mtzwo wrote
>There's no hindsight to be had here when his own contemporaries saw the looming failure of his military operations.
Except the Allies also debated whether strategic bombing worked. So yes, you're defining hindsight bias.
As for "the generals", of course they blamed Hitler for any mistakes. What are they going to do, blame themselves? Lol.
MrMoogyMan t1_j7mwdz4 wrote
Are u here to have a productive and informed conversation or can I just block u now?
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