The tanks were superior to American models. There only real fault lay in the fact that they lacked mobility and Hitler wouldn't let Rommel command, instead opting to micro-manage and completely ignore strategic advice from his council. So, they were misused by Hitler, and then pummeled by American artillery.
English
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The Tiger's days were numbered though. The Allies were working on even better tanks and guns than the Germans towards the end of the war. More resources and a stronger economy gave them the edge to produce better designs. The war ended before tanks like the T-54 or Centurion made it to the battlefield. Those tanks would have wiped the floor with any Panzers the Germans could have rolled out.
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Ah, they would've, but that's not how the game ended. It started Germans had superior equipment in almost every regard. We started development too late to any use. We relied on superior strategy and lots of trial an error.
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Numbers were only the Allies had against Germany.
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That and we adapted faster. We learned quickly from our mistakes and adapted in the field with what little we had at our disposal. See the 101st's many feats. Even though they suffered nearly 100% losses.
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Most of the Fatherland was busy fighting against red Bolshevism and cleansing countries from them.
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More like getting their butts handed to them by the red wall of death. That and forces necessary to hold The beach were being held back because Hitler was convinced Normandy was a diversion. A ploy to get him to move his troops. We hoodwinked the bugger.
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They got plenty of help from others, most notably from America and Britain and the Germans pushed them all the way to their capital. The war wasn't won in Normandy.
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No, it was won deep within Germany. Without Normandy, the war may not have been won so soon.
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Edited by manwith: 11/7/2013 3:23:28 AMStalin had prayed the Allies would open a second front against the Germans so they may have been worried that Russia may have to pull out from the war.
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Once we did, Germany had to split forces and the Russians were given reprieve. They were fierce fighters, the Russians.
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Actually other than the massive Tiger 2 German tanks were quite maneuverable, even the Tiger 1. It tied in with there doctrine after all. As for German tanks being "misused" by Hitler the real problem in Normandy was that the Panzers were held to far back from the coast *North of Paris I believe* instead of listening to Rommel and having them ready to go on the coast. This allowed allied air power to interdict the Panzer divisions that were sent against them, delaying and depleting them before they even got to the fight. In one case I believe the Second SS Panzer division was delayed by a week or two on a trip that should have taken a couple days.
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Mobility is different than maneuverability. And air superiority played a massive part in our anti-tank victories, I very much agree.
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Mobility and maneuverability are pretty much the same thing. Funny enough even the Tiger 1 performed better than the Sherman off road because of its wide tracks despite its weight. It actually had a good cruising speed as well, so don't under estimate it. As for the Tiger 2 and other larger German kitties it was very fast and maneuverable.
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Edited by Jim the Admin: 11/7/2013 2:33:53 AMI took mobility as movement speed, and maneuverability as turn speed and turret rotation. Able to respond to the situation faster. But that is probably just my connotative interpretation. As stated German tanks were superior, just not able to be used to full potential, which is a shame for the Germans.