What did the German soldiers of WWII think of British, US and Soviet soldiers?

[HELIX]

By Daniel Holland
1.2k upvotes by Andrew Markley (US Army Ranger), Rich Young (U.S. Navy - Naval Aviation 1958-1961. Norman, O... (more) ), Eric Tseng (Paratrooper, Troop Commander, U.S. Army), Bobbie Ragsdale (U.S. Army Cavalry Officer), (more)
I have had the benefit of having a frank, open, and long conversation with a survivor of the 276th Volksgrenadier Division. During this conversation, I asked him what his comrades thought of various adversaries and allies. To limit it to the above:

Russians: Propaganda depicted them as subhumans, not worthy of any degree of respect. Experience showed them as capable soldiers. He did note that because of the cruelty inflicted on the Russian people by large portions of the German military (In particular, the SS) the Russians were returning the favor as they entered Europe. When I asked if they were feared, all he would respond with is that he was glad he was able to surrender to the Americans instead.

English: Competent, professional, but a bit slow. British forces tended to only attack with absolutely overwhelming force, and while he respected their individual skill, he held British commanders as overly cautious.

Americans: "Enthusiastic amateurs with a disposition to aggression I'd never seen in any other nation's sons." If there was something he noticed different between Americans and the other European Allies, it was how they reacted to an attack. The other allies would immediately return fire and edge their way to a more favorable position. Americans would immediately return fire, bring a punishing rain of artillery or air power on top of whatever they were fighting, and move to counterattack as soon as the rain of death ended. While he did not believe that an American infantryman or tanker was particularly skilled compared to British or German counterparts, they more than compensated for it with sheer, unadulterated, unapologetic combat aggression.

Which, by the way, I'm totally willing to believe.

The very interesting link aboıut other comments are :
http://www.quora.com/What-did-the-German-soldiers-of-WWII-think-of-British-US-and-Soviet-soldiers

[Maschinengewehr]

Interesting, but remember this is one point of view out of many millions.

[Julius]

good to know.

[HELIX]

引用自 Maschinengewehr：

Interesting, but remember this is one point of view out of many millions.

Yes I agree. In the link there are many other replies.

[Captured Joe]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

[Mystic Referee]

USSR PARATROOPERS

Soviet paratroopers were also known by German command for being incredibly fierce and resourceful fighters. For a very important reason.

The few airborne operations performed by the Soviets were complete failures. Units didn't have command personnel. Only half the airplanes arrived to the airfield, 2/3 launched for a number of sorties. Only half of the equipment needed was actually dropped. Without the command units for the airborne forces, the units barely even understood what their objectives were.

BUT

Those units made incredible use of the sparse and broken cover and terrain to put up a wild and fierce resistance. One account even has that 20 of these soldiers took out 51 German soldiers, took an AT gun, and destroyed 2 Panzer 3s.

it is noted by the German command that the only thing scary would've been if these troops were actually coordinated. STAVKA ruled these operations were complete failures and an embarassment.

US DEHUMANIZES GERMAN SOLDIERS. DEMOCRACY.

US forces ruled that German units were complete monsters uncapable of empathy and would dishonorably discharge any soldier who said otherwise (Amongst other things not short of imprisonment for treason). Including that of the Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler Incident[en.wikipedia.org] where a German fighter pilot escorted a damaged US bomber out of the continent because they were injured. The US pilot was to only say that he managed to escape by his excellent piloting skills and say nothing of the selflessness of the German ace pilot.

[Julius]

引用自 Mystic Referee：

USSR PARATROOPERS

US DEHUMANIZES GERMAN SOLDIERS. DEMOCRACY.

US forces ruled that German units were complete monsters uncapable of empathy and would dishonorably discharge any soldier who said otherwise (Amongst other things not short of imprisonment for treason). Including that of the Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler Incident[en.wikipedia.org] where a German fighter pilot escorted a damaged US bomber out of the continent because they were injured. The US pilot was to only say that he managed to escape by his excellent piloting skills and say nothing of the selflessness of the German ace pilot.

lies.america is the greatest country in the world.go back to russia communist!