Puller vs. Manstein (Round 3) - Page 2 - Armchair General and HistoryNet >> The Best Forums in History

***Cap. Teancum*** · #16 20 Jul 07, 12:09

Looks like I'm peaking all the ones that are loosing, so far...
I had to vote for Puller. As it has been mentioned before, he was great through a much longer time than Manstein. This is a lifelong award and I'm sure we still heroes as references today. This man as it all.

RapierFighter · #17 21 Jul 07, 15:37

The only reason that Manstein ever became a legend is because he never had to actually fight Puller.

Puller.

Swampwolf · #18 21 Jul 07, 19:00

If there was any man who could have turned American forces into the weapon that could beat anyone, it was Puller.

Wolery · #19 21 Jul 07, 22:57

This Puller dude sounds like a beast. (In Ohio, that's a compliment!) However, Wars are won first in the embassy, then in the HQ, then in the trenches. Manstein was a masterful planner who pulled off victories that should have been impossible and he did it despite lack of supplies and an erratic leader back in Berlin, something Puller never needed to confront.

My vote goes to Manstein!

KG_Jag · #20 21 Jul 07, 22:57

In a local engagement, I'd much rather have Puller in the foxhole next to me.

But when it comes to command of an army group, front or the entire army, my choice is von Manstein, who I believe to be the greatest commander of World War II. So the opponent of launching Citadel and master of the Kharkov counter-offensive is my choice.

Biscuit · #21 22 Jul 07, 14:20

I've said it before and will say it again, you don't have to command great numbers to be great. Puller's one of those fellas that you read about and he seems larger than life, imagine what it would have been like to actually have a beer with the man. Whooo!

***Miss Saigon*** · #22 22 Jul 07, 14:27

Ok, so since people want to bring in things like the size of the unit commanded and other things that may or may not reflect on a commanders military brilliance I will add a new one.

Puller was fighting with the forces to bring Freedom. Manstein was fighting for an evil Man. And maybe he believed he was fighting for the father land, but had he won no honor that he thought he lived up to could have repaid the world for the consequences.

However, look at Japan, The Pacific, and South Korea today. Cleary the side Puller was on did more for the greater good than Manstein. We may admire his skill but we need to be damn glad he lost.

Half Pint John · #23 22 Jul 07, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss.Saigon

Ok, so since people want to bring in things like the size of the unit commanded and other things that may or may not reflect on a commanders military brilliance I will add a new one.

Puller was fighting with the forces to bring Freedom. Manstein was fighting for an evil Man. And maybe he believed he was fighting for the father land, but had he won no honor that he thought he lived up to could have repaid the world for the consequences.

However, look at Japan, The Pacific, and South Korea today. Cleary the side Puller was on did more for the greater good than Manstein. We may admire his skill but we need to be damn glad he lost.

When you start using your moral values against most of these people they are going to fall short.

HP

General Staff · #24 22 Jul 07, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Half Pint

When you start using your moral values against most of these people they are going to fall short.

Or worse- if you're a pacifist you might resort to violence in protest and actually shoot yourself.

Swampwolf · #25 22 Jul 07, 18:43

Manstein was critical enough of the high command, but he said it in a way that kept him around for several years still. And he wasn't exactly balsy around Hitler himself.

Puller told everyone around that the M1 Carbine was a piece of garbage, right where everyone would have to acknowledge it. He didn't spit out the canned speeches after our great victory on Guadalcanal, but told us why we were lucky that we didn't get wasted by an enemy on the verge of starvation. Chesty had more in the way of balls than every officer today put together.
He made enemies who attacked him from their air conditioned offices, but he sure wasn't hesitant to call them out for being exactly what they were.

General Staff · #26 22 Jul 07, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swampwolf

Puller told everyone around that the M1 Carbine was a piece of garbage, right where everyone would have to acknowledge it. He didn't spit out the canned speeches after our great victory on Guadalcanal, but told us why we were lucky that we didn't get wasted by an enemy on the verge of starvation. Chesty had more in the way of balls than every officer today put together.

Yes, the hardest round for me because of all this. I feel I shot Chesty in the back, though mercifully it was with an M1. Still doesn't make me feel better though...