What was one of Hitlers biggest mistakes?

Simple ...

Invading Russia was the biggest mistake he made ....

 

Hitler made a series of mistakes although, imo, two principal ones.

Some have already pointed out not finishing off the Brits at Dunkirk when he had the chance. The demoralising effect this would have had cannot be understated. As it was, the UK govt were able to rally and mobilise the UK population on the back of the 'Dunkirk Spirit' where everyone had pitched in to help evacuate the troops, thus setting an example for the rest of the population to follow, the subsequent rally and eventual invasion of France by the Allies.

Opening two fronts was another disaster, albeit a self-created one. It could have been a partial success but for two things - the unusually severe Russian winter and (has been touched upon) the failure to go full force after Moscow, instead choosing to split his forces to also try to take Stalingrad, which could have been surrounded and starved into surrender - the Luftwaffe's attempt to bomb Stalingrad into submission also succeeded in making it more difficult for the invading Germans.

Failing to make a full assault on Moscow gave the Siberian infantry time to make the journey and bolster the Muscovite defences, which then began to drive the Germans back. Combined with Hitler's intransigence over capturing Stalingrad, this resulted in the complete annihilation of a huge part of the army, one from which it never recovered.

 

Where are some of the answers like: "he didn't finish off all the jews" ?

 

Why? Is that what you think?

 

Ever read what I have written here on DP? Far from it. But I think there are those who believe that it was hitlers biggest mistake.

 

even if i did think that (which i dont) I definitely wouldnt go around telling people!

 

those jews are on your mind quite a lot huh

this is the perfect thread for you then!

 

Just seemed such an odd thing to say. :/

 

How would you feel if someone finally just came out and was honest and said that? Would you think there was anything wrong with their thinking? Or just with mine because I believe there are evil people who feel that way?

 

I guess there was more than Germany alone:

Germany
Italy
Albania
Bulgaria
Finland
Hungary
Romania
Austria

Thailand & Japan on far side as well.

The mistake was to attack huge USSR, no doubt with that. The main point was Stalingrad battle, if they would have won it (and they desperately needed oil) , in that case they would cut the only way to transport oil, which was the Volga river, and USSR would be theirs I guess.

 

The Battle of Moscow was the turning point in the war in Russia for the wehrmacht. The Germans were on the gates of Moscow and where driven back. It was the last time that they had an advatage in Tanks and Artillery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Moscow

 

What you on about? "If people were honest." Who? The 0.0001% nutjob crew?

I thought it was such an odd thing to bring into this particular discussion in the way you did. As far as I could see people have been discussing Hitler's military mistakes and you jump in with; "Where are some of the answers like: "he didn't finish off all the jews" ?"

As far as I can see the Jews didn't come into anyone's thinking in the military sense in this thread. Some people pointed out his annihilation of the Jews was probably one of the things that cost Hitler the war since he lost manpower on the Front. Personally, I don't think that to be the case since he only came to power on a wave of anti-semitism and anti-communism and continually consolidated that power by moving against the Jews and other minorities with ever increasing brutality as time progressed. Not only that but the slave-labour force this provided was instrumental in keeping the military machine running.

I do think that once Hitler knew the war was lost (and I believe he realised this when the German army was beaten back from Moscow) he diverted resources to ramp up the annihilation, knowing that Germany would fall but believing he could exterminate the Jews before that happened. In that respect he almost succeeded.

 

There were obviously a few mistakes:
Attacking Russia/USSR
Attacking England during 1 of the worst winters ever
Teaming up with Japan and relying on Italy (a country who didnt want to fight but were bribed/scared into fighting)
Also i think his head got a bit too big and thought he was unbeatable due to the early success he had and thats the reason why (as the saying goes) he thought he could take on the world. If the war would have been harder from the start i dont believe he would have ever taken on Russia.

 

Those types of answers look good when said by a villain in a movie or such.
If someone says such things he will be called "Racist Scum Who humps barbie dolls".
Freedom of speech looks good on paper.But where freedom of speech ends and racism begins, no-one can tell.

 

I just realised another important mistake. Hitler should have persuaded Japan to attack Russia instead of USA. This way the russians would have had to fight a war on two fronts and it's highly unlikely they would have made it. Specially considering that the japanese had a pretty good and large army. This would have also meant -1 enemy (USA) for the axis.

 

Thats good thinking Iul...

 

The Japanese suffered 45,000 or more soldiers killed in a border clash with the Soviet Union between May and September 1939. The battle of Khalkhin Gol was a strategic defeat for the Japanese and proved their weakness against the superior combined arm forces of the Soviets led by Georgy Zhukov.

After the defeat at Khalkhin Gol, the Japanese decided to target the weaker Dutch, British and American forces in the Pacific.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khalkhin_Gol

 

Freedom of speach does include those who are racist. They can say what they want, but I this forum they would eventually get banned if they went to far.

 

Hitler's undoing was himself. He was so arrogant and as said before the early victories lead to his thinking he was invincible. Plain and simple the man had a God complex and it bit him in the end. He saw himself losing and realized he couldn't win then he took the cowards way out by taking his own life.

As for Jews and minorities that is only part of the story. He thought the Aryan race was the only worthy lives. If you didn't have blonde hair and blue eyes he wanted you dead. Ironic seeing as how Hitler himself had brown hair. The man was twisted and that is all there is to it.

As I stated though his biggest mistake was his arrogance. That is what cost him the war. When you think you are unbeatable that is when you fail.