I’m currently reading the memoirs of Field Marshall Erich Von Manstein, the greatest German General of World War II.

His observations are fascinating. The man clearly possessed tremendous intellectual abilities. It was he who formulated the plan for knocking out France decisively. In 40 days the Germans achieved what they could not do in all of WWI.

I’m reading the about the actual invasion of France, during which Von Manstein commanded a Corps of his own. On page 135, he describes coming up against Black troops from the French Colonies. And this is an interesting sentence from him about the blacks: “The enemy fought bravely – the negroes with their characteristic bloodthirstiness and contempt for human life…”

Von Manstein also describes his encounters and discussions with Hitler – which makes for interesting reading. He reckons Hitler had a good grasp of military strategy – for an amateur… But he reckons Hitler did not understand the deeper aspects of military strategy. Hitler fired all his best Generals towards the end of the war – with Von Manstein being one of those who was kicked aside. Interestingly… Von Manstein describes the arguments over strategy which he had with Hitler, and how he believed that using the correct strategy, the Russians could have been stopped in their tracks despite their enormous armies.

It makes one realise, once more, just how close the Germans came to surviving WWII. It leaves me with the impression that the war ended so quickly, only because Hitler ignored sound military advice.

Jan