Pat Buchannan: Hitler Apologist

[Cain]

Also, Buchanan fails to mention that Germany orchestrated the border incident which ignited the war.  SD personnel dressed in Polish uniforms crossed the border then returned to stage attacks on a German outpost, giving them the pretext for an invasion.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Also, Buchanan fails to mention that Germany orchestrated the border incident which ignited the war. 

Of course he did. 

[Cain]

I also love the implication that Hitler followed some kind of strategic rationale.  As anyone who has dabbled in history, or reading primary sources from the German High Command knows, Hitler relied on irrationality and what he considered his intuitive genius to bring him to victory - often ignoring conventional military wisdom, logic or common sense in the process.  Sometimes, this worked, through sheer audacity.  But all it indicates is someone averse to conventional planning and who has some irrational beliefs (like that Aryans are inherently better and more manly troops than non-Aryans, and so should win in any war).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I also love the implication that Hitler followed some kind of strategic rationale.  As anyone who has dabbled in history, or reading primary sources from the German High Command knows, Hitler relied on irrationality and what he considered his intuitive genius to bring him to victory - often ignoring conventional military wisdom, logic or common sense in the process.  Sometimes, this worked, through sheer audacity.  But all it indicates is someone averse to conventional planning and who has some irrational beliefs (like that Aryans are inherently better and more manly troops than non-Aryans, and so should win in any war).

Yeah, it didn't do him any good during Operation Bagration, that's for damn sure.

[Cain]

Did Hitler have much of a say in that?  The symbolic choice of date for the start of the campaign reeks of him, but from the little I know of it, the OKH were the ones who dropped the ball on their analysis of the Soviet disposition and intentions.  Though, now I think of it, I know Hitler was especially vulnerable to such trickery as well.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Hitler was not "crazy like a fox"... I think that's where we're going with this...

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Did Hitler have much of a say in that?  The symbolic choice of date for the start of the campaign reeks of him, but from the little I know of it, the OKH were the ones who dropped the ball on their analysis of the Soviet disposition and intentions.  Though, now I think of it, I know Hitler was especially vulnerable to such trickery as well.

I was thinking more of his insistence on running the war personally.

[Cain]

As a general rule he did, yeah.  I suppose allowing yourself to get in a position where your capital can be beseiged by the Soviets is also an indication of bad planning.