Wanted: Historical Information WW2

[Vollick1979]

I'm looking for a lot of historically accurate information regarding the best generals, admirals and other significant individuals of World War II. I'm also looking for information regarding the various technologies used during World War II. That's not all though! I'm also looking for information on historically significant events (eg. Battle of Leyte Gulf) and institutions (eg. Bletchley Park) during the war.

If you would like to help you can either post here on this page or you can click the link in my signature and it will take you to the page that deals with my project and why I'm in looking for all this information. ;)

I'll start things off: I need information regarding Admiral Yammamoto. Could someone please explain to me how he was such a great admiral. :D

[Drax Kramer]

I'll start things off: I need information regarding Admiral Yammamoto. Could someone please explain to me how he was such a great admiral. :D

Actually, he wasn't, at least in my opinion. He was intelligent man, he visited US and knew about US industrial potential, yet, he insisted on Pearl Harbor attack as if it was somehow going to prevent Japanese defeat in case of a war against US.

During the first six months which he promised he could run wild, he ran his carriers all over the Pacific and Indian Ocean, exhausting both crews and admirals without giving them necessary rest to make up for losses and reevaluate the experience gained in battle against Americans and British.

Midway was his work, with all the elaborate complexity that eventually put the most valuable part of entire fleet in the ambush while the rest of the navy was scattered from Alaska to New Britain. He, instead of sitting in Truk near the radio to give orders to Nagumo, put himself on the floating hotel "Yamato" and effectivelly cut himself from the world.

His handling of Guadalcanal campaign also resulted in heavy attrition of cruisers, destroyers and aircraft for no gain in battle for island with little strategic importance for Japanese defensive perimeter. He was never able to concentrate naval and air assets for single blow that would kick Americans from the Solomons.

All in all, I'd say Yamamoto was the most overrated admiral in WW2.


Drax

[dma02]

lol dude, if I were you I'd go to a big library and check out as many books as I can on the topic. There must be ... millions of books wirtten on WWII (every aspect).

I wrote several papers and stuff on WWII and there are tons and tons and tons of books written about everything.

[Vollick1979]

Well I was hoping someone would read between the lines. *sigh*

[CrazyStraw]

There are a lot of good books written about the music Yamamoto liked to play for his troops while he was at war. There is also a good amount of material concerning the various styles of uniforms the Russian officers would wear while in the trenches, on parade, playing racquetball, and having dental work done.

Similar topics for the US are covered in a great biography called, "Turn Your Head and Cough, Dwight Eisenhower".

[TomJag3]

There's a number of old computer games covering WWII out there that give ratings and descriptions of the different generals/admirals. The old War in Russia comes to mind, covering the Eastern Front. That would get you the German and Russian generals.

[Adlertag]

I'm looking for a lot of historically accurate information regarding the best generals, admirals and other significant individuals of World War II. I'm also looking for information regarding the various technologies used during World War II. That's not all though! I'm also looking for information on historically significant events (eg. Battle of Leyte Gulf) and institutions (eg. Bletchley Park) during the war.

I'll start things off: I need information regarding Hitlers usual lunch. Could someone please explain to me his favourite fruit. :D

Sure, Vollick-man.
Melons, melons and melons.

http://sa.nextwish.org/Animated/HitlerMelon.gif

[OctavianNT]

hahahahahahahaha

Where did you get that?

[sherminator1]

you should read "blitzkreig" by leigh deighton it goes into detail without being boring at all. Unfortunately its only on germany conquering europe, nothing on the russian front

[admiral_yamoto]

Actually, he wasn't, at least in my opinion. He was intelligent man, he visited US and knew about US industrial potential, yet, he insisted on Pearl Harbor attack as if it was somehow going to prevent Japanese defeat in case of a war against US.

During the first six months which he promised he could run wild, he ran his carriers all over the Pacific and Indian Ocean, exhausting both crews and admirals without giving them necessary rest to make up for losses and reevaluate the experience gained in battle against Americans and British.

Midway was his work, with all the elaborate complexity that eventually put the most valuable part of entire fleet in the ambush while the rest of the navy was scattered from Alaska to New Britain. He, instead of sitting in Truk near the radio to give orders to Nagumo, put himself on the floating hotel "Yamato" and effectivelly cut himself from the world.

His handling of Guadalcanal campaign also resulted in heavy attrition of cruisers, destroyers and aircraft for no gain in battle for island with little strategic importance for Japanese defensive perimeter. He was never able to concentrate naval and air assets for single blow that would kick Americans from the Solomons.

All in all, I'd say Yamamoto was the most overrated admiral in WW2.


Drax
IMHO i would have to disagree with you yamamoto was forced into pearl harbour. he was the only japanese man who knew that they would lose to the americans in a long war.
the only reason why he lost midway was because the americans decoded the japanese purple enigma.
for info on the great admiral go here (http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Isoroku_Yamamoto)

[Drax Kramer]

IMHO i would have to disagree with you yamamoto was forced into pearl harbour.

Yamamoto threaten to resign if his plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor was not adopted by naval high command. That's historical fact.

the only reason why he lost midway was because the americans decoded the japanese purple enigma.

While code breaking enabled Americans to set up an ambush, noone force Yamamoto to deploy his ships piecemally from Alaska to Midway in order to achieve "suprise". His handling of entire operation was riddled with mistakes the biggest one to give Nagumo two incompatible tasks, defeating US carriers (the whole purpose of the entire operation) and reducing the defenses of Midway.


Drax

[admiral_yamoto]

well, i guess we're going to have to agree to disagree :)
but i still think yamamoto is the greatest

[TomJag3]

Having broken the Japanes code allowed the US to prepare for the Midway invasion. Knowing where the enemy will attack is a huge advantage.

The task of reducing the defenses at Midway was not incompatible with the goal of knocking out the US carriers. It was having to do both at the same time that made the task difficult. The US carriers would not have been at sea in position to strike had the US not known the target and time of the attack, thanks to the Magic intercepts.

Yes, the plan was far too complex. The Japanese had superior numbers and quality at the time. They should have just went straight to Midway and overwhelmed anything in their way rather than trying to finesse their way. However, knowing when the Japanese were coming and where they were headed gave the US a tremendous advantage, allowing them to pick a good spot to place their fleet in a very large ocean.