My favorite generals and author

Have you guys heard of Liddell Hart? He was the British military theorist whose book(s) on the indirect approach was put into practice by Guderian in WWII. Guderian, in case you don't know. was the father of blitzkrieg tactics. In any case, Liddell Hart holds Belisarius in very high esteem. However, I would like to mention a name that usually never appears on a list of the greatest generals, Scipio Africanus. Hart wrote a very interesting book about him. Hart wrote another book (title escapes me) about the greatest generals in history. If my memory serves correctly, he concluded the two greatest generals were Napolean and Ceasar. He though Napolean a better general than Ceasar because Ceasar was too impulsive at times. Napolean's problem was that he abandoned the indirect approach when he commanded armies with vast numbers, thinking the sledgehammer approach would work better. Hart also mentioned Hannibal, Ganghis Khan (also a master of the indirect approach), Lee, Grant, Sherman, Guderian, and Patton.

Another book, which I read many years ago, was titled From the Jaws of Victory: Causes and Consequences of Military Stupidity. The book covers generals like Crassus.

This is true, Scipio Africanus never does appear in any of "The Greatest Generals" that go around. But then again, his conquest was mainly in Africa dealing with Carthage, while his fellow Roman Caesar was in Gaul, Middle East, Egypt, and Rome itself, I think that is why Caesar comes before Scipio. Scipio was a good general none-the-less though, he does have my respect, those elesphants are nasty.

Hart believed the Huns, Mongols, and Sherman's army were forerunners to the German panzers. The secret to their success was movement and threatening several objectives at once. This caused the defenders to guess as to were their enemy was heading. This forced the defenders to try to defend several places at once. Also, the above mentioned armies would move around any strong points of resistence, which would become isolated and taken at a later time.

I didnt want such a good thread to be neglected so here it is.

My favorite general is definitely Hannibal Barca. There are not many generals (if any at all) who have led mixed armies of mercenaries, barbarians, levies and professionals from a multitude of nations and divided by languages and completely different cultures against an enemy as disciplined as Rome and win time and time again. Three cheers for Hannibal!

Also his tactics and troop movements have been studied for centuries and his general principles still prove as solid today as they were during the Punic wars. Even though he ultimately lost, he showed us that his charisma and incredible leadership capabilities were great enough to march elephants across the alps and make Romans wet their pants