What was the craziest/stupidest thing Hitler did

[BJCard]

While I agree that Hitler shouldn’t have declared war on the United States after Pearl Harbor, and if he waited he may have gained some time;  however- the Western Allies didn’t actually invade Europe until June 1944- something they may have done anyway if Hitler waited until 1942.

[Pacific War]

The biggest mistake was going to war at all.

[BJCard]

@Pacific:

The biggest mistake was going to war at all.

War is almost always the worst decision. 
However it seems that Hitler overestimated the ability of his armed forces after the fall of France.  And underestimated how frigging big Russia is.

[aequitas-et-veritas]

@BJCard:

…however- the Western Allies didn’t actually invade Europe until June 1944- …

Oh ,Oh, just don´t let Wittmann see this line. Itlay is part of Europe as well!

[BJCard]

lol, ok ok.  You are right!  Don’t tell wittman!  Yes the allies invaded Italy in 1943.  And North Africa 1942.

[Witt]

B******s!

[BJCard]

@wittmann:

B******s!

haha

[aequitas-et-veritas]

@Cromwell_Dude:

1. Not having better intelligence of the Soviet Army in 1941. He was so surprised how prepared they were for war.

German Intelligence was well aware of the situation in Russia but simply either, overestimated them selfs or simply ignored valueable facts.

For example, during the time of peace and the Non - Agressive pact with Russia, many exchange officers visited Russian Universitys ,located somewhere towards Siberia and were debriefed when they came back home.
The OKW was well informed about the T-34 but didn´t simply give it to much credit. During the war when the Wehrmacht captured some of these T-34 they were about to figure out that the slope shape and the wide tracks give the Tank the upper hand on soviet ground.
They also knew about the bad roads and had been warned but overestimated them selfs and said they will deal with it when it comes up, thinking that at least the Rollbahnen roads would be allready finished. (at least to Minsk or Kiev)

Maybe astound that the Soviets fought to the bitter end and rather died in their trench holes then surrender…

[ABWorsham4]

It’s very forgetful and prideful on the Germans part when planning for the invasion of the USSR to discount the Eastern Front experiences of WWI. The Germans won that war front in WWI only after dividing the Russians politically and having them take up arms againist each other.

[Last Jack]

The Germans were victims of their own propaganda placing ultimate faith in the abilities of the “master race” and the complete ineptitude of the untermenschen.

[Zooey72]

@Last:

The Germans were victims of their own propaganda placing ultimate faith in the abilities of the “master race” and the complete ineptitude of the untermenschen.

True, but in some ways how can you blame them?  They were at war with the rest of the world and almost won.  Hard not to get a big head when you conquer all of Europe, large parts of Russia, and North Africa, when you are outnumbered 10 to 1.

[Imperious Leader]

Hitler didn’t use the same trick as the Kaiser: Sending over somebody to cause turmoil and overthrow Stalin. From the invasion, somebody should have come in to represent and liberate the people from the communist yoke. It could have been fake until the war was won, but the people found they had nothing to turn too and stuck with Stalin since Hitler showed his hand what he was going to do before he won. It’s the classic failure in any play or movie where the villain tells you his ultimate plan before he actually carries it out. That allows anybody on the sidelines to choose to go against him.

The Russian people wanted new leadership and the army would have supported it. Heck then 80% of the German war machine could have been turned against UK again.

[Razor]

Yes, but the germans voted on him in the 1933 election because he promised they could loot Russia and kill jews. The average german dont volunteer for war just to liberate slaves.

[Imperious Leader]

Another funny post. Awesome!  I love how you put it…lol

[Eqqman]

@Imperious:

It’s the classic failure in any play or movie where the villain tells you his ultimate plan before he actually carries it out. That allows anybody on the sidelines to choose to go against him.

It’s even funnier when you remember that he reveals his plans even before the war started, it’s all there in Mein Kampf.

[Warplayer12]

Declaring war on america, splitting at stalingrad, not invading malta, attacking at kursk, not equipping his allies with good stuff.

All of these could make a difference if he had chosen to do it. (or not do it)

[Kreuzfeld]

Quit artschool?

[CWO Marc]

@Kreuzfeld:

Quit artschool?

Probably a good career move, since he wasn’t much of an artist.  As I recall, he didn’t actually get admitted to the art academy (I think in Vienna) to which he applied.

[Kreuzfeld]

yea, if the measure of the greatness of a man is by how many remember him, then he is one of histories greatest men :P

[General Kenobi]

It’s good to see genocide is the winner. My god who voted for any thing else are they ok with genocide . That’s insane it didn’t get every vote