The last time Germany unleashed its armored divisions to the East was against Mother Russia in World War II, notably for the massively destructive Siege of Stalingrad, which resulted in the annihilation of its Panzer divisions and the punishing retreat back to a demolished Berlin. History will soon repeat itself with fascinating twists of fate.
To gain approval for this radical end of its postwar guilt syndrome, the German government asked the Biden White House to dispatch U.S. Army tanks in order to avoid Russian propaganda equating the Ukraine conflict with the horrific Eastern Front of WWII. Now, we are all Nazis, Sieg Heil, mein Fuhrer Zelensky und Reichs obermeister Josef Biden! Onward to Oblivion and before that World War III! (Please laugh, it’s a joke besides being an apt metaphor for Die Neu Ostfront. The later is pronounced Dee Noy Ohst Fronth, so you non-German speakers do not mispronounce it as Dying on the Nose Front.
It is refreshing, a turn away from old dogma, Berlin’s enthusiasm for ending the guilt-trip and let the cannons rip. This renewed attitude of the German Volk is refreshing, bringing back to life some of my favorite movies including “The Young Lions” starring Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin - Dino? RU kidding?; and “The Great Escape” (Steve McQueen and his Triumph TR6 motorcycle; “Stalag 17” (the backstabbing tale of a POW camp) and, of course, the TV series “Hogan’s Heroes”. This time around I guess the plot will be about Jerry and Yank inside a Russky Gulag, with cheap vodka as the only means of escape. Yes, this little adventurous throwback to the real war should end in total disaster for the West, another Russian victory atop a burnt-ground mound of skeletons.
Tra-la-la to Victory! How to lose the Battle
My nisei father was a senior (by age and training) combat soldier from the very start of the U.S. campaign on the European Front of World War II to after its horrific end. As a trainer in charge of discipline with the 100th infantry battalion of Hawaii-based Japanese American troops, my dad Ken participated in the landing at Oran, Morocco, arriving in time for the tank battle at Kasserine Pass, one of the biggest clashes of armor in WWII. The operation’s commander Lt. Gen. Lloyd Fredendall had an excellent strategy, which was for his corps of M3 tanks to speedily cross over the Atlas Mountains and take German commander Erwin Rommel and his Afrikakorps by surprise. Unfortunately, the Germans were waiting at the top of the pass, firing at will at the sitting ducks below. The Allies suffered 10,000 dead and destruction of 183 tanks, as opposed to German losses of 2,000 dead and 34 tanks, plus a bunch of auxiliary Italians and Arabs.
The lopsided defeat in North Africa resulted in the transfer of command to a cavalry officer named George Patton, who knew how to keep a surprise attack surprising to the enemy and make sure his men did not skip a step. My father was assigned to enforcing discipline on the lazy, self-centered and weakling American troops, first by severe corporeal punishment for any soldier caught smoking hashish or injecting heroin, sold for cheap by Bedouin camel herders secretly on the German-Italian intelligence payroll. As in giant slalom ski races, a fraction of a second delay in aiming and firing with accuracy is the difference between life and death, or the enemy or oneself. Doped up and drunk American GIs were being used for target practice. History is about to repeat itself as raw American troops are facing the severely disciplined Russian snipers and artillery units.
Hard discipline as depicted in the Coppola movie “Patton” was objectionable to the liberal Roosevelt regime and the self-indulgent press corps in the new campaign, the battle for Sicily, a pattern of indolence in war also depicted in “Catch-22”. Dad’s biggest challenge came after the bloody landing of his new unit, the 442nt Infantry Regiment of Japanese Americans loyal to the USA. Soon thereafter, a joint Bundeswehr and SS offensive was launched in southern Italy with air support and a tank unit. The Fifth Army’s (under Gen. Mark Clark) much touted 92nd Infantry Division under artillery and sniper fire broke ranks, dropped their weapons and fled. The 442 not only held their ground but charged the overwhelming German assault with bazooka men in the lead. One lanking solder is remembered for standing up to take aim to blow a Panzer tank turret off its tracks, an astonishing sight he watched instead of “hitting the ground”, which resulted in the flying turret ripping the bazooka-man in half.
After the stunned Germans retreated, my father tracked the Negro cowards to a nearby town, where with a few days a black trooper named Lawrence Till from Money, Mississippi, was being accused of multiple rapes of the local Italian women. My father beat him to death in front of the other deserters, and his battered remains were sent to a cemetery for dishonorably traitors in France. That, by the way, was the father of the celebrated young attempted rapist Emmett Till, the boy murdered and dumped in a swamp by outraged local men as depicted in the film “Till” produced by Whoopi Goldberg. In wartime, cowardly rapists must be put down hard so as not to add to the demoralization that throws the odds in favor of the many enemies.
I’ve never put this family background in print but do so now as the so-called Liberal Hawks impose Political Correctness on the ranks with women in charge of operations where gang rape is a real probability, recruitment of gays who might feel inclined not to shoot a handsome enemy lad; and generosity with rations and medicine for locals results in a lack of supplies to treat wounded soldiers. The asinine liberal are completely underestimating the risks and necessary supplies to wage this campaign in region without civilian supplies or allied support. Negligence is certain death for an army on the march in terrain controlled by battle-hardened enemies. The resources to wage war must be limited to the upcoming battle at hand waged for strategic objectives, nothing else wins a war.
Minimum Requirements for Combat
First of all, it is a scatter-brained idea to send a vulnerable tanks corps into combat situations without an entire and complete support structure, including:
- support vehicles including tow tractors, ammo delivery trucks, fast recon vehicles, motorcycles for forward observers, fuel tankers, ambulances, and motorcycles with sidecars for scouts;
- local motorpools equipped with mechanics garage with power lifts, machine shop, stacks of tires and treads, spare parts warehouse and trucks to dispatch for repairs in the field;
- field arsenals and bunkers for storage of ammo, grenades, gun parts and defensive equipment like body armor, helmets and artillery-servicing supplies;
- canteens with preserved food stocks, kitchens for meal service in harsh weather, surplus to distribute to local populations to gain their support and prevent robbery of field rations, gas tanks, refrigeration and sanitary disposal system to prevent the spread of disease-causing microorganisms, and running water, now scare in Ukraine;
- field hospitals and first-aid tents, as in MASH, equipped for treatment of serious wounds, suppression of contagious diseases, ambulances and sufficient doctors and orderlies to handle major battle casualties, evac helicopters and cots, stretchers and wheelchairs for the wounded.
- air support with tactical aircraft and helicopter gunships to suppress enemy attacks and scout the terrain for enemy patrols and troop movements, armed with sufficient firepower to suppress enemy aircraft, armor and antiaircraft-mounted vehicles;
- communications specialists trained in local languages and versed in code(s) to intercept enemy messages and commands for advance warning to local troop concentrations; and
- construction units in the field to erect pontoon bridges, clear roadways, lay landing pads and short airfields, set up temporary barracks and base facilities as demanded by advances or retreat.
If all of the above are not installed by brigade-strength fighting groups, any weakness or absence of facilities, equipment, supplies and ammo will ensure defeat, retreat and massive casualties. Without the infrastructure for total war, a hundred or so tanks are basically dead ducks, prizes for the advancing enemy and, face it, lousy propaganda photos to show the world.
Victory is not attainable against Russia
Anything short of a quick victory against the Russian armed forces will have dire consequences for other fronts, including the Taiwan Strait, the Mideast and, worst of all, where I am on the southern border of the four Southwestern states facing infiltration by military spies posing as refugees and workers from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Iran, the Islamic African regions such as Sudan and Nigeria, and China. While weapons are being sent to Ramstein Air Base onto Poland and western Ukraine, the American Southwest is absent of adequate desert all-terrain vehicles, tanks, anti-aircraft artillery and rockets, drones and counter-drone systems, zero field hospitals, dusty roads that cannot support armored vehicles during the wet season. The makeshift barrier of shipping containers along the Mexico-US border in Arizona is being dismantled on the state government’s orders, an act of treason. At this point the Chinese fentanyl dealing Mexican Cartel has assault rifles far more powerful than the pea-shooters of the Border enforcement personnel.
The War is Here at Home, not in faraway Ukraine, which is a costly diversionary distraction, intended to destroy America’s combat capabilities. Biden and his Democrats are traitors, who are planning a second Kassarine Pass debacle for our troops and patriotic civilian volunteers. We have met the Enemy and they are occupying the White House again after burning down the White House in 1814. When the Enemy is Treason at home, then the distant conflict over the remains of the Soviet Empire in Ukraine is no concern for Americans. As shown by the unsung hero who was my father, this life-and-death battle begins with getting one’s priorities straight, starting with the moral battle against treason, laxity and stupidity.
As war drums rumble on our near border, remember this advice from General George Patton: “A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.” To hell with clowns like Biden, we must prepare for the war to save America from its countless traitors.
FAQs
How many Leopard 2 tanks are going to Ukraine? ›
On Jan. 25, Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with 112 Leopard 2 battle tanks over an unspecified period in a joint effort with allies, while the US said it would send 31 of the Abrams M1. France's President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending the Leclerc, its own MBT.
Will Germany send tanks to Ukraine? ›U.S. and Germany sending tanks to Ukraine for fight against Russian invasion. The U.S. officially announced it will send American tanks to Ukraine as part of a coordinated effort with Germany, which will also send its tanks.
Is the US giving tanks to Ukraine? ›Along with the tanks, the U.S. will be giving Ukraine the parts and equipment necessary to effectively repair and maintain these tanks on the battlefield, he said. 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, receives M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks at Fort Stewart, Ga., Jan. 5, 2023.
What countries are sending tanks to Ukraine? ›Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway and Finland are among the other countries that have signaled they will, or are willing, to send tanks to Kyiv. The U.K. has already said it will send 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks while the U.S. said it would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
How many Abrams tanks does the US. have? ›Currently, the U.S. has about 8,000 Abrams, but “significantly less” are battle-ready, he said. The U.S. draws from those tanks in storage and remanufactures them for allies, such as Poland, which is buying upwards of 350 Abrams.
Has Germany sent Leopard tanks to Ukraine? ›Germany agrees to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine after weeks of pressure : NPR. Germany agrees to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine after weeks of pressure German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday his country will export more than a dozen of its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
How many tanks did US send to Ukraine? ›Backed by some of his top aides, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Biden early this week agreed to send 31 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Who is sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine? ›BERLIN, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Germany said on Wednesday it would supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv sees as crucial to defeat Russia's invasion but Moscow casts as a dangerous provocation.
How many Leopard 2 tanks does Germany have? ›Germany has about 350 Leopard 2 tanks today, compared to some 4,000 battle main tanks at the height of the Cold War, according to German military expert Carl Schulze.
How many Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine? ›President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the U.S. will send Ukraine a battalion of 31 M1 Abrams tanks, the Army's premier main battle tank, in a significant show of support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
Why is the M1 Abrams so good? ›
The M1 Abrams tank is among the most powerful ground weapons in the U.S. arsenal, able to close in on enemy tanks, troop positions and other targets, blast them with its cannon and machine guns, and then speed away.
How much does an Abrams tank cost? ›HOW MUCH DOES AN M1 ABRAMS TANK COST? The Abrams tanks are made by General Dynamics and each one costs over $10 million when including training and upkeep, according to Reuters.
How many tanks will Germany send? ›Germans to send 14 tanks to Ukraine
The Germans' goal is to assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, the government statement said. In a first step, Berlin will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks, with the training of the Ukrainian crews to begin quickly in Germany.
Germany and its European allies plan to send around 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to Berlin, which announced the change of policy this week following intense pressure from Kyiv and its Western partners.
How many tanks are Ukraine getting? ›Ukrainian officials say that 300 state-of-the-art Western tanks — especially those with the speed, agility, protective armor, and firepower of Leopards and Abrams — will allow them to shift the tide of the war, giving their forces the armored punch needed to break through Russian lines in Donetsk, Luhansk and ...
What is the strongest USA tank? ›The M1A2 Abrams, with all its upgrades, has to be considered the best tank compared to the Leopard and the Black Panther. To be sure, as a US-based publication, we could be biased. But no other tank has been so battle-tested and seen as a topnotch force multiplier in combat like the formidable Abrams.
What is the most advanced tank in the world? ›Approved for production in 1990, the M1A2 represents the U.S. Army's technological improvement of the basic M1A1 design and the most modern battle tank in the world.
How many US Abrams tanks have been destroyed in combat? ›Just over 2,000 Abrams tanks were deployed with combat units during the war, and only 23 were damaged or destroyed.
How many tanks is poland sending to Ukraine? ›WARSAW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Poland will send an additional 60 tanks to Ukraine on top of the 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks it has already pledged, the Polish prime minister said in an interview with Canadian television on Thursday.
How good is the German Leopard 2 tank? ›Since entering service in 1979 the Leopard 2 has gained a reputation as one of the world's best MBTs. Several European countries, including Finland and Poland, have large numbers of them, although some are kept in storage (see table).
How many leopard tanks does Germany have? ›
Germany has fielded about 2,125 Leopard 2 main battle tanks in various versions, but many were sold following German reunification. The Leopard 2 became very popular in the 1990s, when the shrinking German army offered many of its redundant Leopard 2s at a reduced price.
How many tanks did the US send to Russia in ww2? ›By the end of June 1944 the United States had sent to the Soviets under lend-lease more than 11,000 planes; over 6,000 tanks and tank destroyers; and 300,000 trucks and other military vehicles.
How many tanks did Russia take to Ukraine? ›Both sides in the war have seen their fleets and ammunition stocks depleted. The Russian army and airborne forces began the war with 3,000 main battle tanks, while Ukraine had 982, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London think tank. By Jan.
Why Germany delayed sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine? ›It's thought one of the reasons Chancellor Scholz has pushed so hard for Washington to also send tanks to Ukraine is so Europe can feel that nuclear power US on board and by its side. Overall, Olaf Scholz didn't want Germany to stand out and alone in being the main provider of heavy tanks to Ukraine.
Is Spain sending tanks to Ukraine? ›Spain will send German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, set to arrive in Spring, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.
Will Canada send Leopard tanks to Ukraine? ›News release. Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canada will supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2 main battle tanks from the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) inventory.
Which is better m1 Abrams or Leopard? ›The main difference between the Abrams and Leopards is the engine. The Leopard 2 has a diesel-powered MTU MB 873 engine, which is much easier to maintain and more widely used across Europe, while the Abrams uses a more powerful and more complex turbine engine.
How many German Tiger tanks are left in the world? ›Today, only seven Tiger I tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide. As of 2021, Tiger 131 (captured during the North Africa Campaign) at the UK's Tank Museum is the only example restored to running order.
How many Tiger tanks did Germany have? ›The Tiger was in production for two years, from July 1942 to August 1944. Only 1,347 Tiger 1's were built – after this, Henschel built 490 Tiger II's until the war's end.
How will the US get tanks to Ukraine? ›Washington — President Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. will send 31 top-of-the-line M-1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, delivering on a key request from Kyiv that will provide a major boost to Ukrainian firepower over the coming months.
How many m1 Abrams have been destroyed? ›
Of the nine Abrams tanks destroyed, seven were destroyed by friendly fire and two intentionally destroyed to prevent capture by the Iraqi Army. Some others took minor combat damage, with little effect on their operational readiness.
How far can an Abrams tank shoot accurately? ›The tank cannon has a maximum effective range of about 3000 meters, and precise aim is required to make a hit. The self-guided missile, however, can — like Longbow Hellfire — be effective to more than 8000 meters, and the electronic brain continually corrects the flight path as necessary.
What is replacing the Abrams? ›The new main battle tank is called AbramsX.
"AbramsX: A main battle tank for the next generation, the AbramsX technology demonstrator features reduced weight for improved mobility and transportability, delivering the same tactical range as the M1A2 Abrams with 50% less fuel consumption.
The AbramsX comes loaded with features typical of modern military weapons. Powered by a hybrid electric diesel engine, it's lighter and far more fuel-efficient than current gas-guzzling Abrams tanks. It can also operate with a smaller crew and has artificial intelligence systems to spot enemies, its creators said.
Do tanks have bathrooms? ›Tanks do not have any bathroom facilities. First of all, there is no room for a toilet. Tank has to be concealed from the outside world, ideally, so tank's bathroom would have to have some sort of waste management system. There is no space for any of that.
What is the heaviest tank in the world? ›The heaviest tank ever constructed was the German Panzerkampfwagen Maus, which weighed 188 tonnes (414,469 lb).
How many troops is Germany allowed? ›| Federal Defence Forces of Germany | |
|---|---|
| Military age | 17 |
| Conscription | Yes, but indefinitely suspended since July 2011 |
| Active personnel | 183,638 (28 February 2022) |
| Reserve personnel | 29,000 (2022) |
Germany will send Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine and approve re-export of the same kind of tanks from partner countries, according to a statement issued Wednesday. "This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability.
Is Germany making a new tank? ›The Panther KF51 is a German main battle tank (MBT) that is under development by Rheinmetall Landsysteme (part of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems division). It was unveiled publicly at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 13 June 2022.
Will Ukraine get f16? ›Having received news on the tanks, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday he had asked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for more assistance. Kyiv appears confident that, as with Western tanks, it will eventually be given F-16s too.
How many tanks are being sent to Ukraine? ›
Western allies have pledged to send at least 105 tanks, far less than Ukraine says it needs, and it may be months before they join the battle.
How many Leopard 2 tanks are there? ›More than 3,500 Leopard 2 tanks have been built since production began in 1978.
How many Leopard 2 does Poland have? ›Poland's land forces currently operate some 247 Leopard 2s in different variants. These comprise Leopard 2A4 and 2A5 tanks, and Leopard 2PL tanks modernized by the Polish defense industry in collaboration with Germany's Rheinmetall.
How many tanks went to Ukraine? ›3,587 vehicles and fuel tanks. 2,216 tanks. 1,323 artillery pieces. 925 tactical unmanned aerial systems.
How many leopard tanks is Ukraine getting? ›The announcement by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he will send Leopard 2 tanks was coupled with an announcement from US President Joe Biden that he was providing 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing the administration's longstanding resistance to requests from Kyiv for the highly sophisticated but maintenance- ...
Which tank is better Abrams or Leopard 2? ›And the Abrams has greater firepower. The German and American MBTs both boast a 120mm turret-mounted smoothbore gun as their main weapon. But the Abrams has three additional machineguns, compared with the Leopard 2's two.
Does Canada have Leopard 2 tanks? ›The Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of the Canadian Armed Forces and of several Allies and partners.
What is the best tank today? ›The M1A2 Abrams, with all its upgrades, has to be considered the best tank compared to the Leopard and the Black Panther.
Does Finland have Leopard tanks? ›Main battle tanks
The vast majority of the 2A4 tanks were acquired used from Germany between 2002 and 2004; more were purchased in 2009. Some of the existing Leopard 2A4's are equipped with Israeli made Urdan mine rollers. Fire-control systems of all vehicles will be upgraded between 2022 and 2026.
However, Russia still has some 2,000 battle-ready tanks at hand, as well as an enormous amount in storage. The Military Balance 2021 database says Russian storage facilities have around 10,200 tanks, including various T-72s, 3,000 T-80s, and 200 T-90s.
How many tanks do USA have? ›
According to the IISS, the US Army has 2,509 Abrams M1A1 and M1A2 tanks in service, with a further 3,700 in storage.
Are tanks obsolete Ukraine? ›After six months of war in Ukraine, some observers have insisted that “we are seeing the very nature of combat change” and that tanks, along with fighter jets and warships, “are being pushed into obsolescence.”