• 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?


  • commanded them where? to what end?

    To countless victories victories are across China. Just look at how much of a badass Cao Cao was

    – In the year AD 192, Cao Mengde forced over three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans to surrender to him at Ji Bei

    – Cao Mengde took Emperor Xian to Xu Chang as a hostage and used him as puppet Emperor, elevated himself to Great General and Lord of Wuping.

    – In the fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (AD 200), Cao Cao killed Lü Bu (another badass in his own right), made Zhang Xiu surrender and fought against Liu Bei. He conquered the counties of Ji Zhou and after fighting Yuan Shao at Guan Du, pacified all of the north (China).

    – In the spring of AD 213, Cao Cao led an army to Ru Xu Mountain where he captured Gongsun Yang, receiving the Imperial Jade Seal from the Emperor, placing him above all the other lords

    – In the twentieth year of Rebuilt Tranquility (AD 215), he annihilated Zhang Lu (yes, more badasses - Cao Cao didn’t go against half-wits like Rommel) in Han Zhong


  • Thanks for clarifying. As for strategist, Id say Sun Tzu. Read the Art of War. Its simple but brilliant. It seems obvious, but was probably revolutionary at the time. We’ve learned these things over the years from secondary sources.


  • Yes, Sun Tzu has to rank among anybody’s Top 10 list of strategist - if not already being number one. Hell, his book is still esstenial reading in corporate warfare.

    But again, just to show how much of a badass Cao Cao was, in the Battle of Guandu (Yellow River - 200 AD), Cao Cao, with only 70,000 men under his command, was able to defeat Yuan Shao and his 700,000. Try beating those odds.


  • Who were the Yellow Turbans?


  • Here’s a mini-bio of the Yellow Turban’s and their revolt.

    “During the time of the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25-220) the Chinese empire flowered. Paper was invented, overseas trade initiated from Nan-hai (Canton) and military campaigns secured the Silk road in Sinkiang. China’s economic resources, however, were exhausted by such campaigns. Taxation increased so much in the north, that many people migrated south to avoid it. Unrest increased among the impoverished peasants, until the revolt of the ‘Yellow Turbans’ broke out in AD 184. The rebels wore yellow headpieces in a shade that symbolized the soil. The ‘Yellow Turbans’ were secret societies, backed by Taoist theories. The revolt was suppressed but the landlords who united to suppress the peasant rebellion joined with provincial governors in creating a threat to the government and the Han dynasty fell in AD 220. After that more than three centuries followed in which there was no united government in China.”


  • Good info TG. Might I ask, how do you know so much about this seemingly obscure topic?


  • @TG:

    But again, just to show how much of a badass Cao Cao was, in the Battle of Guandu (Yellow River - 200 AD), Cao Cao, with only 70,000 men under his command, was able to defeat Yuan Shao and his 700,000. Try beating those odds.

    Well, I won’t dispute that’s pretty bad odds, but what kind of soldiers did he and his enemy have (class) and what were the battle conditions?


  • Here’s a great link about Battle of Guandu (with colored maps and all), though the numbers are different than the ones I read before.

    http://www.mystique-graphics.com/china/sanguo/guandu_2.html

Suggested Topics

  • 6
  • 10
  • 2
  • 2
  • 4
  • 19
  • 37
  • 37
Axis & Allies Boardgaming Custom Painted Miniatures

36

Online

17.0k

Users

39.3k

Topics

1.7m

Posts