[Allan from Fallbrook]

citydweller: I think they were going for more of a “geisha/consort” type concept with Inara, rather than just referring to her as a prostitute.

It was a great series, which is exactly why they cancelled it. God forbid you are allowed to enjoy something with great storylines, snappy dialogue and enjoyable characters. Gotta make room for more reality shows doncha know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

citydweller: I think they were going for more of a “geisha/consort” type concept with Inara, rather than just referring to her as a prostitute.

It was a great series, which is exactly why they cancelled it. God forbid you are allowed to enjoy something with great storylines, snappy dialogue and enjoyable characters. Gotta make room for more reality shows doncha know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

citydweller: I think they were going for more of a “geisha/consort” type concept with Inara, rather than just referring to her as a prostitute.

It was a great series, which is exactly why they cancelled it. God forbid you are allowed to enjoy something with great storylines, snappy dialogue and enjoyable characters. Gotta make room for more reality shows doncha know.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

esmith: When referencing Soviet casualties, you make my point for me. The Germans and Russians bled themselves white during fighting on the Eastern Front. The Soviets literally bludgeoned the Germans into submission in the final two and half years of the war, and suffered horrific losses as a result.

To say that the Western Front was “less” well defended than the Eastern Front isn’t exactly true, either. Units like 6th Panzer and 9th and 10th SS spent as much time in Europe as they did in Russia.

As to the brutality of the fighting, there is no doubt that the Eastern Front was a “war without mercy” and largely because of the larger ideological conflict between National Socialism and Soviet Communism, but the fighting in France, Belgium and Germany was just as brutal. The American Army that ended the war was very different from the one that began it, and I have no doubt that they would have held their own, especially against the vastly attenuated Soviet forces that ended the war in Germany.

Red Army documents indicate that it took the Soviets nearly ten years (until 1955) to rebuild the army, restore its elan and put it onto a solid war footing again. That’s a very far cry from an army that would have been wetting their boots in the English Channel had they decided to continue the war against the Americans and British.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

esmith: When referencing Soviet casualties, you make my point for me. The Germans and Russians bled themselves white during fighting on the Eastern Front. The Soviets literally bludgeoned the Germans into submission in the final two and half years of the war, and suffered horrific losses as a result.

To say that the Western Front was “less” well defended than the Eastern Front isn’t exactly true, either. Units like 6th Panzer and 9th and 10th SS spent as much time in Europe as they did in Russia.

As to the brutality of the fighting, there is no doubt that the Eastern Front was a “war without mercy” and largely because of the larger ideological conflict between National Socialism and Soviet Communism, but the fighting in France, Belgium and Germany was just as brutal. The American Army that ended the war was very different from the one that began it, and I have no doubt that they would have held their own, especially against the vastly attenuated Soviet forces that ended the war in Germany.

Red Army documents indicate that it took the Soviets nearly ten years (until 1955) to rebuild the army, restore its elan and put it onto a solid war footing again. That’s a very far cry from an army that would have been wetting their boots in the English Channel had they decided to continue the war against the Americans and British.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

esmith: When referencing Soviet casualties, you make my point for me. The Germans and Russians bled themselves white during fighting on the Eastern Front. The Soviets literally bludgeoned the Germans into submission in the final two and half years of the war, and suffered horrific losses as a result.

To say that the Western Front was “less” well defended than the Eastern Front isn’t exactly true, either. Units like 6th Panzer and 9th and 10th SS spent as much time in Europe as they did in Russia.

As to the brutality of the fighting, there is no doubt that the Eastern Front was a “war without mercy” and largely because of the larger ideological conflict between National Socialism and Soviet Communism, but the fighting in France, Belgium and Germany was just as brutal. The American Army that ended the war was very different from the one that began it, and I have no doubt that they would have held their own, especially against the vastly attenuated Soviet forces that ended the war in Germany.

Red Army documents indicate that it took the Soviets nearly ten years (until 1955) to rebuild the army, restore its elan and put it onto a solid war footing again. That’s a very far cry from an army that would have been wetting their boots in the English Channel had they decided to continue the war against the Americans and British.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

esmith: When referencing Soviet casualties, you make my point for me. The Germans and Russians bled themselves white during fighting on the Eastern Front. The Soviets literally bludgeoned the Germans into submission in the final two and half years of the war, and suffered horrific losses as a result.

To say that the Western Front was “less” well defended than the Eastern Front isn’t exactly true, either. Units like 6th Panzer and 9th and 10th SS spent as much time in Europe as they did in Russia.

As to the brutality of the fighting, there is no doubt that the Eastern Front was a “war without mercy” and largely because of the larger ideological conflict between National Socialism and Soviet Communism, but the fighting in France, Belgium and Germany was just as brutal. The American Army that ended the war was very different from the one that began it, and I have no doubt that they would have held their own, especially against the vastly attenuated Soviet forces that ended the war in Germany.

Red Army documents indicate that it took the Soviets nearly ten years (until 1955) to rebuild the army, restore its elan and put it onto a solid war footing again. That’s a very far cry from an army that would have been wetting their boots in the English Channel had they decided to continue the war against the Americans and British.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

esmith: When referencing Soviet casualties, you make my point for me. The Germans and Russians bled themselves white during fighting on the Eastern Front. The Soviets literally bludgeoned the Germans into submission in the final two and half years of the war, and suffered horrific losses as a result.

To say that the Western Front was “less” well defended than the Eastern Front isn’t exactly true, either. Units like 6th Panzer and 9th and 10th SS spent as much time in Europe as they did in Russia.

As to the brutality of the fighting, there is no doubt that the Eastern Front was a “war without mercy” and largely because of the larger ideological conflict between National Socialism and Soviet Communism, but the fighting in France, Belgium and Germany was just as brutal. The American Army that ended the war was very different from the one that began it, and I have no doubt that they would have held their own, especially against the vastly attenuated Soviet forces that ended the war in Germany.

Red Army documents indicate that it took the Soviets nearly ten years (until 1955) to rebuild the army, restore its elan and put it onto a solid war footing again. That’s a very far cry from an army that would have been wetting their boots in the English Channel had they decided to continue the war against the Americans and British.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Veritas: And we both know that guns don’t kill people. It’s the bullets!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Veritas: And we both know that guns don’t kill people. It’s the bullets!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Veritas: And we both know that guns don’t kill people. It’s the bullets!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Veritas: And we both know that guns don’t kill people. It’s the bullets!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

Veritas: And we both know that guns don’t kill people. It’s the bullets!

[Allan from Fallbrook]

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.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

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.

[Author]

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