@BobSmith-dk8nw

1 month ago

A few things ... First - Ludendorff merely took the existing plans to attack the Russians and took credit for them. The Staff Officers that had drawn them up - who were dedicated military men without political ambitions - thought it was funny. Second - it was NOT the Nazi's that started the Reichstag fire - it was the Anarchist who said he did it. The Nazi's - always quick to seize an opportunity - took advantage of the fire but they didn't start it. Ludendorff was not a military genius. His 1918 offensive should have been against the French who had never gotten over Verdun and in fact mutinied - willing to defend but not to attack. When he did attack the French he plunged into a section of the line where there were no rails so he could not supply the troops he sent in there. The French - who held the shoulders of the penetration where the rail lines were - were laughing at the Germans for doing that. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare brought in the Americans - and after that the Germans were doomed. So it was monumentally stupid. The German Army was not in as bad a state as Ludendorff said. They were still in other peoples territory and could have fought on. They did not need to give in to the terms of the French and the British ... at least not yet. Ludendorff was one of these people who would strut around like they were God's Gift To The World - until they got punched in the mouth - who would then fold up like a pack of cards. It was Hindenberg who gave credence to Ludendorff. Without Hindenberg - Ludendorff would have been nothing. .

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