• Id have to vote for Alexander the Great. For US Generals, it depends in what regard. For instance, there were tacticians, and there were leaders. I would classify Jackson as one of the best leaders (thats Stonewall) but not necessarily best tactician. As to that, I cant really say, as Im not a Military history buff, and dont really know who various tacticians were, some werent well known. But my vote (as of now) would be Lee

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    as far as military genius, I would have to say Gehngis… Leader, most likely Stonwall… all around although not the best, Rommel… Tactician Zhukov…


  • Yeah, I think we should distinguish between tacticans and leaders.
    For instance… Longstreet, brilliant tactican (way ahead of his time) but not that brilliant of a leader.

    Then you also have to seperate between generals. What type of generals are we talking about here? Frontline ones? Or overall operational generals? Again, big difference between Eisenhower and Patton.


  • exactly. and i would disagree with you GG, about genghis. he did conquer more of the world than anyone else, but there were factors more important than his skills as a general (the quality of his mongolian soldiers, the intimidation factor, the large-scale disunity of much of the world at the time, and the inferiority of many of the enemy armies.)

  • Moderator

    @Janus1:

    exactly. and i would disagree with you GG, about genghis. he did conquer more of the world than anyone else, but there were factors more important than his skills as a general (the quality of his mongolian soldiers, the intimidation factor, the large-scale disunity of much of the world at the time, and the inferiority of many of the enemy armies.)

    True… but he still get’s my vote because he was the first to use Blitzkreig type tactics… that is why I called him a military geinus


  • General Daniel Morgan of the American Revolution. Won the battle of Cowpens, which turned the war in the south around for the Americans and eventually led to the siege at Yorktown.


  • Hannibal, the inventor of the pocket battle.


  • I would not necessarily disagree with Hannibal, Falk (strange, I know). But please elaborate on pocket battle


  • Don’t mind if I step in here……I think the pocket battles F_alk is referring to is when one army encircles another trapping it in a “pocket”


  • True… but he still get’s my vote because he was the first to use Blitzkreig type tactics… that is why I called him a military geinus

    What! Genghis Kahn had mechanized infantry and armor with close tactical air support in small independent armies that avoided attacking enemy strongpoints head on, instead, passing them by, encircling them, then letting the regular infantry reduce these pockets and driving deep into enemy territory to attack lines of communication and supply, causing mass confusion along the way? :lol:

  • Moderator

    not quite :wink: …his calvary units attacked swiftly, overwhelmed there enemy, then stole what they needed to get to the next village… Blitzkrieg means lightning war… remember the germans are not the only intelligent ones on military tactics :wink: (I can say that… I’m part German…)


  • I have no doubt that Genghis Kahn was smart military man.
    However, because his armies were on horse back, and could get into battle quickly, does not make “BlitzKrieg” that Germany developed.
    Blitzkrieg was a concept than the above mention tactics help produce.

  • Moderator

    he used the first “blitzkrieg” type tactic…


  • just like some people already pointed out this seems to be an ‘american best of’ list, but i am sure that there must be some decent military leaders from other countries too… :wink:

    all in all, i d through my lot with Hannibal as well. clever guy

    just because… did u know that ther germans actually didnt ‘invent’ Blitzkrieg… some english bloke came up with the original idea but his folks thought the idea was no good, until some german officers came across it and developed it into what it became known for… interesting fact i think :D

  • Moderator

    @Hanso_the_foxxo:

    just like some people already pointed out this seems to be an ‘american best of’ list, but i am sure that there must be some decent military leaders from other countries too… :wink:

    all in all, i d through my lot with Hannibal as well. clever guy

    just because… did u know that ther germans actually didnt ‘invent’ Blitzkrieg… some english bloke came up with the original idea but his folks thought the idea was no good, until some german officers came across it and developed it into what it became known for… interesting fact i think :D

    are you trying to make fun of me?


  • what u mean?? :o

  • Moderator

    some english bloke…and the crooked smile


  • easy tiger, that smile is just there because i was happy that i could fit this rather amusing, but on the other hand quite useless information in. be happy for me too :)

    i am german myself, i wdnt let harm to my people, would i??

    :wink:

    anyways, bed time here now, laters


  • Cao Cao (though I have seen different English translations), the Lord of Wei ranks near the top of my list (as far as Einsenhower-Lee type generals go). This guy was a genius, skilled at politics, the military organization, and leadership, logistics, a wartime economy. In the year 208, he commanded over one million men.


  • commanded them where? to what end?

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