Favourite Historical Figure

[LANCE420]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I'm just going go ahead and say Hitler?
I studied Nazi German a lot for my A-Levels and I am not going to flame you for your choice. He gave us some serious hindsight for the future. He did do a bloody good job of pulling Germany back onto it's feet even if he was a tad extreme in his methods. Just because he was evil, doesn't mean he can't be great.

The thing about Hitler is he has a single terrible act(holocaust). He will always be rememebered for that. Screw him, I hope he is burning in hell for it.

But aside from that, he is the man that almost conquered the world. He conquered Germany legally. He had a more functional nuclear bomb than the US, and he had the first jets. And his war machine was operated to near perfection. Until the US and USSR came, won with pure size, and saved Europe. That deserves some respect. The man was a genius, and no politician today can match his political, diplomatic, and military skill.

 

[Ethereal.Frog]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I don't think you even need to say his name, everyone knows who you are talking about, and I agree with you

I don't know who he's talking about, I think I do, but I might be wrong. I'm thinking Hitler, but something in me wants to say Stalin. I don't know why. You stick with your opinion, hopefully you won't get hated or whatever for it.

Anyways, Napolean Bonaparte, for one thing, my class is doing a music project where we research classical composers, Napolean comes up every other presentation. He conquered half of Europe or something, I don't remember how many countries it was, but it was enough to be one of the most famous army generals I know of. So yeah.

 

[Psypherus]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I don't think you even need to say his name, everyone knows who you are talking about, and I agree with you

I don't know who he's talking about, I think I do, but I might be wrong. I'm thinking Hitler, but something in me wants to say Stalin. I don't know why. You stick with your opinion, hopefully you won't get hated or whatever for it.

Anyways, Napolean Bonaparte, for one thing, my class is doing a music project where we research classical composers, Napolean comes up every other presentation. He conquered half of Europe or something, I don't remember how many countries it was, but it was enough to be one of the most famous army generals I know of. So yeah.

He was talking about Hitler

 

[quiet_samurai]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I wouldn't flame you. I would actually agree, Hitler (if indeed, you are speaking of Hitler, and I think you are) was an...interesting man. I would have liked to studied his mind.

Anyway, my answer is Alexander the Great.
Seriously. "The Great." That is his title. You cannot beat that.
Unless your title is "The Excellent," I guess.

Or "The Barbarian" as in Conan.

And off the top of my head I would probably say Ghengis Kahn, he controlled the largest land mass for an empire in all of history. He completely wiped an entire enemy country off the map to the point where it's not even recognized anymore. He conquored the most successful cicilization of the time (China), and was such a badass that the western world heard of him and feared him. Never was a Far Eastern figurehead feard by the west before and not until the twentieth century ever again.

 

[Two-Headed Boy]

[Was he Snowball in Orwell's Animal Farm? (hope you, or someone, has read it)

He's generally regarded as being the influence for Snowball.

Thanks. I wish there was a satyrical novel about fun animal for all aspects of history. That'd make it easier for me. : )

 

[thiosk]

Jesus.

Coolest zombie on the block, rose from the dead and wants you to eat HIS flesh! How considerate.

 

[Thegoodfriar]

Alexander Hamilton

The first U.S. Secretary of Treasury. Created the American Banking system, brilliant man and a brave one at that.

His only weakness; bullets (killed in a duel by Aaron Burr).

 

[LANCE420]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I don't think you even need to say his name, everyone knows who you are talking about, and I agree with you

I don't know who he's talking about, I think I do, but I might be wrong. I'm thinking Hitler, but something in me wants to say Stalin. I don't know why. You stick with your opinion, hopefully you won't get hated or whatever for it.

Anyways, Napolean Bonaparte, for one thing, my class is doing a music project where we research classical composers, Napolean comes up every other presentation. He conquered half of Europe or something, I don't remember how many countries it was, but it was enough to be one of the most famous army generals I know of. So yeah.

Hilter was a better strategist and conqueror than Napoleon. Napoleon was a fool when it came to actual military strategy. The Russians killed most of his army, without many major battles. The parts of Europe he had were pathetic. Like Spain, still weak from the moor invasion. He incredibly mismanaged the french military resources. If he maintained Russia as an ally, crushed England, and secured the parts of Europe he had, then took on Russia... we might be speaking french right now.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

Hitler. He was just so...? Not normal? It makes him special. He gave the middle finger to both the french and british for world war 1. But his ego got to him, and he abused the power he was given.

From a petty artist to cruel and maniacal dictator, from a country seen as shit to a bustling power of the time.. He did something most people can't even think of.

Alexander Hamilton

The first U.S. Secretary of Treasury. Created the American Banking system, brilliant man and a brave one at that.

His only weakness; bullets (killed in a duel by Aaron Burr).

He also gave us the division of parties if I do believe.

 

[Ethereal.Frog]

I always take a big risk when I say this, and a lot of people call me out on it so I tend to try and cover my ass before I say it. First and foremost let me say that I feel a lot of the policies and methods were flat out WRONG and I would definitely have gone a different way.

I'm not going to say the name because that's just begging for someone to flame me, but he pulled an entire nation out of a depression (and they were hit *hard*) with ideas of patriotism and a better world. He gave them an enemy, and he built them an army and for a while life was good. He was so motivational that he consumed almost an entire continent before he was stopped, and he survived at least 5 assassination attempts (including one really big bomb).

Pity he was an ass-hole, but he did - in the (butchered) words of JK Rowling - Great things. Terrible, but great.

I don't think you even need to say his name, everyone knows who you are talking about, and I agree with you

snip

Hilter was a better strategist and conqueror than Napoleon. Napoleon was a fool when it came to actual military strategy. The Russians killed most of his army, without many major battles. The parts of Europe he had were pathetic. Like Spain, still weak from the moor invasion. He incredibly mismanaged the french military resources. If he maintained Russia as an ally, crushed England, and secured the parts of Europe he had, then took on Russia... we might be speaking french right now.

And here is proof that I have no idea what I'm talking about. I'll just move on now.

 

[Jodan]

Saladin
im too tired ill amend this later and tell you who he is

 

[The Madman]

Not really sure I'd call him my favorite, but I'll throw the name out there because he rarely gets proper recognition for just how badass he was:

Napoleon Bonaparte.

Like Hitler who seems to be getting a pile of praise in this topic, Napoleon also drew a struggling failing nation upwards and called forth the spirits of a nation to support himself, however unlike Hitler he didn't do so at the expense of another people nor did he manipulate the unjust hatred and fearmongering of others. Napoleon wasn't perfect, at one point he did re-instate the slave trade in order to boost France's economy, which was a terrible terrible thing. However he would later draft the Napoleonic Code which is pretty much the basis for much of modern society and how we live today so that redeems him a little. Plus he never acted out of any genuine malice or bias, which is little comfort to those he harmed, but did help create a more accepting culture under his rule.

All that aside, he was also one of the last great commanders. Leading his armies into victory after victory and pioneering military tactics which are still used to this day. The man was a tactical genius who's vast knowledge of military history gave him an edge over his enemies, and whos cool calculating mind could outsmart nearly any opponent. He only made one major mistake but that one mistake would be the start of his demise: He tried to invade Russia. And just like every army before and since, he failed with disastrous results. Hitler fell for the same trap as have others in the past. Not that Russia's army was particularly grand at the time, no, it's the terrain that does it every time.

Napoleon should have known that, but I suspect his constant success had gotten to his head. Ah well! After that it was all downhill.

Unfortunately most people only know him as 'that short guy who lost at Waterloo' and little more. Pity. Real pity. And by the by, Napoleon was actually fairly tall for a Frenchman of the time, it's just his personal guard were all hand picked for their strength and size so by comparison he seemed short.

 

[Ghostkai]

Hitler. He was just so...? Not normal? It makes him special. He gave the middle finger to both the french and british for world war 1. But his ego got to him, and he abused the power he was given.

From a petty artist to cruel and maniacal dictator, from a country seen as shit to a bustling power of the time.. He did something most people can't even think of.

Spot on, despite Hitler's belief's and horrid actions, no one can deny his amazing accomplishments in Rebuilding Germany.

 

[GrimTuesday]

I would say one of my favorites would be Shaka Zulu because he was the basterd son of the king of the Zulus, which were about 5000 strong at that point, was exiled trained as a warrior in a rival tribe came back killed his half brother and took over the Zulus swelling their ranks to over 100000 warriors alone. The best part is he was such a fierce warrior he was killed not face to face but stabbed through a fence. Also he created a whole new way of fighting that allowed the Zulu to conquer all

 

[TheBlobThing]

The thing about Hitler is he has a single terrible act(holocaust). He will always be rememebered for that. Screw him, I hope he is burning in hell for it.

But aside from that, he is the man that almost conquered the world. He conquered Germany legally. He had a more functional nuclear bomb than the US, and he had the first jets. And his war machine was operated to near perfection. Until the US and USSR came, won with pure size, and saved Europe. That deserves some respect. The man was a genius, and no politician today can match his political, diplomatic, and military skill.

That is just wrong. Hitler had no grasp of strategy beyond trying to grab the oil, and even that idea was only half carried through (e.g. diverting forces from grabbing the Caucasus oil fields to take Stalingrad). Also, all his "stop"-orders were strategic nightmares which caused his generals to be unable to salvage the situation. Praising Hitler for his strategic achievements is wrong, as is denouncing the Red army for being a brainless steamroller is one-sided.

By wars end, the Soviets had evolved from inexperienced and ineffective rabble to being an efficient first-class fighting force.

Part of what made the German army so great in the start of the war was that every soldier was taught to show initiative, to learn the roles of their superior officer so they could take over in case he died. This made them independent and self-reliant, whereas the Soviet officers were restrained by the Commissars. The two armies switched roles, as Hitler increasingly blamed the generals' and officers' lack of political zeal for their defeats and Stalin saw the merits of and independently acting officer corps. So the German army became less independent and more restrained by Nazi "commissars" whereas the Soviet Commissars influence was reduced.

 

[LANCE420]

Total world war II military deaths - Russia: 8,668,400 vs. Germany:4,202,000 vs. England: 580,321

The Red Army was always a steamroller, will always be one. 2 to 1 kill ratio is steamroller strategy. This figure also include the Germans that died fighting other Allied powers and does not include the soviet paramilitary and reserves. Even the assault on Berlin was 16,000,000 Russians vs 4 million Germans. The Red army has always paled in comparison, technologically and expertly, to a lot of world armies. The only thing they had going in the Cold war was nukes.