Political Crossfire Forums

[leaderwolf]

Which Axis power was the most powerful in terms of military strength? Is definitely wasn't Germany. It's Japan! They had a powerful Navy, robust air force, and above average army. Nazi Germany only had a good army/air force, but their navy was s**t. Considering that 80% of the Earth is water, Japan has to be the strongest Axis.

[anti-communist]

Dutschland in much stronger than japan,see the result they fight with USSR,the USSR use only 8 days to destory japan millitary force(700 thousands troops) in notrheast china,but fight with Dutschland for more than 3 years

[Melcar]

The most powerful Axis force had to be Germany. It's infantry was unmatched and it had the most advanced air force for some time, and even though its navy was small it did have some muscle. Japan was a close second, with Italy coming in third.

[VogonFord]

The Japanese land forces were a joke. Their equipment was terrible- their hand grenades were unreliable and hard to use (you had to whack them against a hard surface), their rifles were underpowered and yet still bolt-actions, their tanks would have lost to virtually any AFV but a machine gun carrier, there was no common submachinegun, the Nambu pistol was a piece of crap and they had terrible tactics such as the Banzai charge. The only reason why they did damage against USMA forces was because they hid in caves because they could stand up to good 'ol American technology and know-how. Even hiding in caves they still had a terrible track record.

Their sea forces were far more advanced than their land forces but didn't update after about 1940- which was a big problem.

[superskippy]

Nazi Germany without a doubt. The Allies were certain they could beat Japan with time and decided to religate them to secondary importance to Nazo Germany. The Germans were so strong and had such mastry of the continent that the Allies werent certain they could beat them or thought it might take decades. It took years of grinding battle to even make it back to the Europeon continent for the Allies.

[sunwook]

80% of the earth may be water... but humans live on land.

Germany

[Spider]

I would agree on Germany also, but I do contend that people tend to downplay the fight against japan, since it was not European. Seriously, take a look the the casualty figures from the pacific theatre. It was ugly.

The japanese went on a truly impressive land grab in the pacific, expanding over pretty awsome distances, even landing an invasion force in Alaska. They invaded and were in the process of depopulating east china, with the intention of colonizing it.

Also, the atrocities commited by imperial japan were arguably nearly on a par with those commited by the Nazis. Check this out:

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

I'm thinking that if Japan was not counter-attacked and defeated after the Pearl Harbor raid, the world would have had a much, much tougher time dealing with them after they had entrenched themseleves and set up a solid infrastructure. They needed oil and steel.

It was a lucky break that the US carriers were not in port during the Pearl Harbor raid. Without pacific air power, many subsequent battles either would not have happened, or would have been lost.

[DSwain]

Spider wrote: I would agree on Germany also, but I do contend that people tend to downplay the fight against japan, since it was not European. Seriously, take a look the the casualty figures from the pacific theatre. It was ugly.

The japanese went on a truly impressive land grab in the pacific, expanding over pretty awsome distances, even landing an invasion force in Alaska. They invaded and were in the process of depopulating east china, with the intention of colonizing it.

Also, the atrocities commited by imperial japan were arguably nearly on a par with those commited by the Nazis. Check this out:

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

I'm thinking that if Japan was not counter-attacked and defeated after the Pearl Harbor raid, the world would have had a much, much tougher time dealing with them after they had entrenched themseleves and set up a solid infrastructure. They needed oil and steel.

It was a lucky break that the US carriers were not in port during the Pearl Harbor raid. Without pacific air power, many subsequent battles either would not have happened, or would have been lost.

I think that Midway is right up there with Stalingrad as a true pivotal moment in WW2. I'd be hard pressed to think of a 30 minute period that so changed the face of history than when the IJN carrier force was caught with its drawers down.

[Melcar]

Spider wrote: I would agree on Germany also, but I do contend that people tend to downplay the fight against japan, since it was not European. Seriously, take a look the the casualty figures from the pacific theatre. It was ugly.

The japanese went on a truly impressive land grab in the pacific, expanding over pretty awsome distances, even landing an invasion force in Alaska. They invaded and were in the process of depopulating east china, with the intention of colonizing it.

Also, the atrocities commited by imperial japan were arguably nearly on a par with those commited by the Nazis. Check this out:

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

I'm thinking that if Japan was not counter-attacked and defeated after the Pearl Harbor raid, the world would have had a much, much tougher time dealing with them after they had entrenched themseleves and set up a solid infrastructure. They needed oil and steel.

It was a lucky break that the US carriers were not in port during the Pearl Harbor raid. Without pacific air power, many subsequent battles either would not have happened, or would have been lost.

Yeah, the Japanese were tough little bastards.

[XiangYu]

Italy, Duh!
:duh1:

[Melcar]

TwinkieDP wrote: Italy, Duh!
:duh1:

Italy? Hardly. Germany had to bail her out most of the time.

[kratos]

Italy: All aspects of Italy's military was equipped with the up to date weapons. What they lacked was enthusiasm and morale, which is key.

Japan: Had great naval and aerial power at the beginning but wasted it. Lost many pilots which couldn't be replaced with its kamikaze attacks. Their army was decent at best. What accounts for their success was their number and the fanatic way they fought.

Germany: Undoubtedly the best of the axis powers. All aspects of their military were battle-hardened veterans from campaigns fought throughout Europe.


Quote: Spider wrote:
I would agree on Germany also, but I do contend that people tend to downplay the fight against japan, since it was not European. Seriously, take a look the the casualty figures from the pacific theatre. It was ugly.

The japanese went on a truly impressive land grab in the pacific, expanding over pretty awsome distances, even landing an invasion force in Alaska. They invaded and were in the process of depopulating east china, with the intention of colonizing it.

Also, the atrocities commited by imperial japan were arguably nearly on a par with those commited by the Nazis. Check this out:

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

I'm thinking that if Japan was not counter-attacked and defeated after the Pearl Harbor raid, the world would have had a much, much tougher time dealing with them after they had entrenched themseleves and set up a solid infrastructure. They needed oil and steel.

It was a lucky break that the US carriers were not in port during the Pearl Harbor raid. Without pacific air power, many subsequent battles either would not have happened, or would have been lost.


There's no doubt the U.S. was lucky their carriers were not in port, however what was the major screw up for Japan was that they didn't hit the repair docks at Pearl Harbour allowing those ship not sunk to be repaired quickly.

[XiangYu]

kratos wrote: Italy: All aspects of Italy's military was equipped with the up to date weapons. What they lacked was enthusiasm and morale, which is key.

Oh Really!!?? Is dat all?! To think, Italy could have been a major force if only they had more motivational speakers!! :lol:

[mendosan]

TwinkieDP wrote: kratos wrote: Italy: All aspects of Italy's military was equipped with the up to date weapons. What they lacked was enthusiasm and morale, which is key.

Oh Really!!?? Is dat all?! To think, Italy could have been a major force if only they had more motivational speakers!! :lol:

To be honest it is surprising how poorly the Italians performed, there was literally no motivation for them to fight, due to there lack of enthusiasm for war, if they had actually used there Navy in the Med then the battle for north Africa could have been totally different.

[Melcar]

mendosan wrote: TwinkieDP wrote: kratos wrote: Italy: All aspects of Italy's military was equipped with the up to date weapons. What they lacked was enthusiasm and morale, which is key.

Oh Really!!?? Is dat all?! To think, Italy could have been a major force if only they had more motivational speakers!! :lol:

To be honest it is surprising how poorly the Italians performed, there was literally no motivation for them to fight, due to there lack of enthusiasm for war, if they had actually used there Navy in the Med then the battle for north Africa could have been totally different.

What really surprises me is that Hitler tolerated the Italians and their failings for so long.

[melchizedek22]

If Hitler had not been so damn dumb to invade Russia,western Europe would still be Germany.The millions of soldiers and equitment pissed away in Russia added to the western front,would have made them tough to beat

[Melcar]

melchizedek22 wrote: If Hitler had not been so damn dumb to invade Russia,western Europe would still be Germany.The millions of soldiers and equitment pissed away in Russia added to the western front,would have made them tough to beat

Who is to say that the USSR would not have taken the opportunity and attack Germany while it was busy fending off the Allies? War between the two was inevitable; Hitler knew it and decided to take the initiative, but s**t happens.

[XiangYu]

Melcar wrote: melchizedek22 wrote: If Hitler had not been so damn dumb to invade Russia,western Europe would still be Germany.The millions of soldiers and equitment pissed away in Russia added to the western front,would have made them tough to beat
Who is to say that the USSR would not have taken the opportunity and attack Germany while it was busy fending off the Allies? War between the two was inevitable; Hitler knew it and decided to take the initiative, but s**t happens. Yep...

[mendosan]

Melcar wrote: melchizedek22 wrote: If Hitler had not been so damn dumb to invade Russia,western Europe would still be Germany.The millions of soldiers and equitment pissed away in Russia added to the western front,would have made them tough to beat

Who is to say that the USSR would not have taken the opportunity and attack Germany while it was busy fending off the Allies? War between the two was inevitable; Hitler knew it and decided to take the initiative, but s**t happens.

I think that Stalin didn't want a war and I know for sure the Soviet Union couldn't have fought an aggressive war against the Germans till alot later than 1939, at the time the The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a massive diplomatic coup.

[Melcar]

mendosan wrote: Melcar wrote: melchizedek22 wrote: If Hitler had not been so damn dumb to invade Russia,western Europe would still be Germany.The millions of soldiers and equitment pissed away in Russia added to the western front,would have made them tough to beat

Who is to say that the USSR would not have taken the opportunity and attack Germany while it was busy fending off the Allies? War between the two was inevitable; Hitler knew it and decided to take the initiative, but s**t happens.

I think that Stalin didn't want a war and I know for sure the Soviet Union couldn't have fought an aggressive war against the Germans till alot later than 1939, at the time the The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was a massive diplomatic coup.

None of them wanted a war but it was inevitable. As I said, s**t happens, specially in war and politics.