esmith: American soldiers had been fighting since 1942 (Operation Torch in North Africa), After the blooding at Kasserine Pass, the leadership improved tremendously, and by the time the Allies landed in Normandy in 1944, it was a well-led, well-trained and effective fighting force.
Battles like Mortain and Falaise Gap showed that the Americans were more than capable against their German foes, and the fighting during the Ardennes Offensive showed not only American fighting spirit, but tremendous resolve.
As to the casualty ratio you mention during Berlin, the fact is that the Russians were fighting primarily Volksturm (Home Guard) and depleted Wehrmacht and Waffen SS units. It is well known that the Russians were close to being out of gas at this point, and their first line Guards units had been savaged after four years of battle.
The Wehrmacht maintainted offensive operations on the Eastern Front up until summer of 1943 (Operation Citadel in the Kursk salient), and continued to inflict grievous casualties on the Red Army throughout the balance of the war.
In comparison, the US Army grew even more effective and efficient, and American artillery was among the most feared in the war. Generals like Patton, and up-and-comers like Creighton Abrams, continued to refine armored warfare and, by war’s end, we possessed a battle hardened army with tremendous offensive punch.
The 2:1 Soviet superiority includes second and third tier infantry units, which were made up of ethnic minorities and used primarily as cannon fodder against the Germans in order to get them to commit to a sector on the battlefield where the Russians could hit them with superior artillery and air power. Not an apples to apples comparison by any means.
