“Your point about Russia and China having several losses during WWII is true, but that was their type of warfare based on the type of resources that they were limited to at that time. In both the European and Pacific theaters of WWII, the US had to attack an enemy that was entrenched in a heavily fortified position (Hilter’s Atlantic Wall, Anzio, Mt Casino (sp?), etc.. Neither China nor Russia had to deal with launching large amphibious assault against these types of enemy positions. The US War Fighter has several other resources other than just manpower to leverage in their warfare.” Quote.
Sorry old chap - can't agree with too much of this.
The German troops we met on the D-Day landings were mostly 3rd raters - the sick, lame and even many non-Germans. The elite troops and panzers weren’t wasted manning a very long coastline, especially in that area where the landings came as a surprise.
I might point out also that British and Canadian troops were also involved in attacking ’Hitler’s wall - to the extent that the British contingent was about 83,000 compared to the US’s 73,000.
Of course as the battle for Normandy progressed the US total gradually surpassed the British, but the Germans chose to concentrate their panzers against the British.
The only real resistance on that day came at the US ‘Omaha’ beach - the beach featured in ‘Private Ryan’.
Their losses (which weren’t that great anyway) would have been considerably less had the accepted the British offer of some of their specialist armour, which was adapted to ‘swim’ ashore from the landing craft.
As for Casino.
I’m afraid you’re mistaken there as well.
The Frence were initially involved it that aea and had Clark taken the advice Of Juin, the following Battles wouldn’t have been necessary at all.
However, 2 American divisions were selected to seriously attack and capture the Cassino position, but the first one got nowhere near as it was decimated trying to cross the Rapido river.
It was the 36th (Texas) division and I understand there was an official enquiry as to what happened after the war.
The other US division, the 34th actually got to within about 400 yards of the Monastery, but by then had been fought to a standstill and eventually had to be relieved.
That was the end of the US force involvement with that particular battle.
Incidentally, I understand the one of the regiments of the 34th consisted of Hawaiians of Japanese decent!
Of further interest, it then fell to the British forces comprising of the 4th Indian Division and the New Zealand Division.
Their fight is an epic in itself, but even they didn’t prevail.
It must be remembered that the Monastery and the town was only defended mainly by one German parachute division - the 1st.
An example of the sort of soldiers these were was when Cassino town itself, only defended by one of the regiments of that parachute division, was about to be attacked by the New Zealand armoured division. the allied forces dropped 1000 tons of bombs on the defenders of this small town, followed by 8 hours of artillery shelling from 890 guns firing 200,000 shells - the New Zealanders still met with such fierce resistance, they had to retreat!
Ironically the troops that finally overcome the parachute resistance and captures the Abby were Polish!
The landing at Anzio were virtually unopposed.
In fact, great frustration arose amongst the allied high command as they just sat there doing nothing, relieved to have met no opposition.
The Germans have to scrape up whatever the could spare from all different areas to eventually put up quite a formidable resistance..