The Real Reason of Germany's defeat in the Second World War

[Kompromat]

Tunrning point of the war was, when he was looking across the english channel from France, but decided not to attack Britain.

 

[bolo]

Let's discuss why Germany was ultimately overpowered in the Second World War, even after they once ruled most of Continental Europe. There are a number of points that can be elaborated upon. You can add as well.

1. Treachery
2. Allied Aerial bombardment - Especially oil refineries
3. Operation Uranus
4. Bagration
5. Invasion of the Soviet Union
6. Loss of Battle of Britain
7. Not taking Gibralter, Malta
8. Lack of initiative for Total War until too late
9. Over ambitious and micro management of Hitler

For getting a great feel of the entire world scenario, I will highly recommend you play Hearts of Iron III series. You will feel what the leaders felt then. Seriously.

The lack of sufficient numbers IMO is not the main reason, as they were always low in manpower even when they were winning. For example they defeated the world's largest Army (France) in around 6 weeks by maneuver. But of course it might also have its limits.

@Dillinger, @Hyperion, @Zakii, @Aeronaut, @jaibi, @RangerPK, @Zarvan and others.
Please call others as well if you so wish.

1. Germany expanded territories too rapidly as territories increased but manpower decreased.

2. The global bankers funded both sides but

1.Fighting too many enemies at the same time,grand strategic blunder.Especially declaring war on USA madness.
2.Hitler's imposition of will on commanders,especially no retreat orders.
3.Underestimation of the soviet juggernaut and willpower of the russian people.
4.Not switching to a full war economy till late 1943.
5.Crushing allied material superiority.
6.Hindered by lack of fuel.
7.Wasted most of its pre war naval funds on uselss battleships,rather than u-boats.
8.The t-34 tank.
9.Racial background made opposition fight with fanaticism.
10.Partisans.
11.Bad infrastructure of russia and the mud and russian winter.

1. Expanded territories too quickly while manpower was dwindling.
2. Global bankers (you know who they are) who supplied both sides always had intentions for Allies to win.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Tunrning point of the war was, when he was looking across the english channel from France, but decided not to attack Britain.

But the pre-requisites for the attack were not met. There was no way the Germans could have transferred forces to the English coast without absolute air superiority. They failed in gaining that.

 

[ejaz007]

There were perhaps multiple reasons. Over Confidence was one reason. Running out of manpower was other. Then invasion of Russia. If Hitler had concentrated on west then perhaps things would have been different.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

One oft overlooked factor is treachery. There were enough officers who gave away information to the enemy, sabotaged (valid) orders. By valid order I don't mean the Kommissar Befehl or the Nero decree. Many officers also became too servile and just meekly accepted Hitler's order whn they knew it would lead to disaster. There was tremendous rivalry at play as well. Then there was the Kreisau and other circles - actively destroying the Nazi state from within.

 

[Kompromat]

But the pre-requisites for the attack were not met. There was no way the Germans could have transferred forces to the English coast without absolute air superiority. They failed in gaining that.

No, its because Hitler didn't have Britain as a priority target. Luftwaffe was more than capable of turning London and all of Britain's major cities into piles of ash. The issue was political not military strength.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

No, its because Hitler didn't have Britain as a priority target. Luftwaffe was more than capable of turning London and all of Britain's major cities into piles of ash. The issue was political not military strength.

It is true that Hitler had second thoughts about Britain all the time. But there can be no doubt that the Luftwaffe suffered a bloody nose in England. Even when the Jerries downed a Brit, the Brit would parachute down on his own country, head over to the nearest airfield and whoa - back in action. For a German, to parachute down = war is over for them.

 

[vostok]

They seriously underestimated the Russians.

There is no doubt that compared to Stalin, Hitler was a kid. But then again, Hitler and Stalin would certainly have clashed.

Stalin was an independent figure - he had no obligations to the West. And Hitler - a creature of England. Despite the fact that, at some point, he came out of the submission and tried to play his own piece - he still forced to attack the Soviet Union. And this is - suicide.
Stalin - the greatest politician in the history of mankind, and Hitler - just a pawn in the big game.

 

[500]

Stalin was an independent figure - he had no obligations to the West. And Hitler - a creature of England. Despite the fact that, at some point, he came out of the submission and tried to play his own piece - he still forced to attack the Soviet Union. And this is - suicide.
Stalin - the greatest politician in the history of mankind, and Hitler - just a pawn in the big game.

When Hitler attacked Poland UK declared war on him, while Stalin helped him.

 

[Kompromat]

It is true that Hitler had second thoughts about Britain all the time. But there can be no doubt that the Luftwaffe suffered a bloody nose in England. Even when the Jerries downed a Brit, the Brit would parachute down on his own country, head over to the nearest airfield and whoa - back in action. For a German, to parachute down = war is over for them.

Correct, but that is mainly because the Luftwaffe didn't make the most of the French airfields to bomb England. Had they been tasked with focusing all their energies on the destruction of the UK, Luftwaffe was more than capable of delivering that. Again, it was Hitler's stupid logic which made him think that UK was somehow close to him and they could have been allies against the USSR.

 

[vostok]

When Hitler attacked Poland UK declared war on him, while Stalin helped him.

Hitler tried to make sure that he is not considered a pawn, and the equal of the West.
Do you know how things were at first months of the war? Google "phony war." No one wanted to fight him for real. And on the Western Front had not been such battles as on the Eastern Front.
Hitler was very popular in the West until 1939. Very popular.
By the way, according to the plans of the West Poland was to attack the Soviet Union with Germany. And when Hitler ceased to carry out the orders of England, Poland did not cease to do so.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Correct, but that is mainly because the Luftwaffe didn't make the most of the French airfields to bomb England. Had they been tasked with focusing all their energies on the destruction of the UK, Luftwaffe was more than capable of delivering that. Again, it was Hitler's stupid logic which made him think that UK was somehow close to him and they could have been allies against the USSR.

True. Some say he even had a hand in staying the 8. Panzer's drive to Dunkirk. Had the evacuation not happened, a paltry force of 10000 Falschirmjagers(paratroopers) could have secured a bridgehead around Dover or elsewhere. But the Nordic race obsession and pathological Anglophilia led to his obvious doom.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

R

Hitler tried to make sure that he is not considered a pawn, and the equal of the West.
Do you know how things were at first months of the war? Google "phony war." No one wanted to fight him for real. And on the Western Front had not been such battles as on the Eastern Front.
Hitler was very popular in the West until 1939. Very popular.
By the way, according to the plans of the West Poland was to attack the Soviet Union with Germany. And when Hitler ceased to carry out the orders of England, Poland did not cease to do so.

Germans attacking with Polish troops against the Slavs. Sounds funny, but then Hilfswillige(Volunteers) did exist. In that case Poland would have survived and the Red terror cut short. But Nazi terror was going to replace it. If I were to choose between the two, I would probably shoot myself.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

When Hitler attacked Poland UK declared war on him, while Stalin helped him.

The Commies try to forget the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact. But it was highly publicized and refuses to go away.

 

[vostok]

R

Germans attacking with Polish troops against the Slavs. Sounds funny, but then Hilfswillige(Volunteers) did exist. In that case Poland would have survived and the Red terror cut short. But Nazi terror was going to replace it. If I were to choose between the two, I would probably shoot myself.

What is the Red Terror? Stop reading brochures of Goebbels and the Americans ones wrote during the Cold War. Terror in the Soviet Union was no more than in U.S..
The USSR restored Poland after World War II and cut a huge chunk of the German lands to compensate the Ukrainian and Belarusian land, which belonged to the Soviet Union. Aggressors do not compensate for the loss of their victims.
The Americans have left behind the ruins in Iraq, Vietnam, Libya, Afghanistan and others - that the behavior of the aggressors. They do not build factories, universities and hospitals.