Yet another Quora steal.
Question: Who was the best, brilliant general in WW2 at the European theater?
"IMHO the man who did the most for his country with the least resources ought to be considered the best, brilliant General in WW2 in the European theatre.
So what three European Combatants never had their Capital occupied in WW2? Soviet Union, United Kingdom and Finland.
Of those who had the smallest Army? Finland.
Of those which army was able to inflict the most disproportionate number of casualties on their enemies? Only Finland was able to inflict more casualties on its opponents than it suffered. Soviet losses were astronomical compared to Finnish losses.
Accordingly, I nominate: Carl Gustaf Mannerheim as the best, brilliant general in WW2 at the European theater. He stood up to the Red Army - an Army that had more soldiers than Finland had citizens."
As a bonus, a cool if true anecdote from Wikipedia.
"There is an unsubstantiated story that while conversing with Hitler, Mannerheim lit a cigar. Mannerheim expected that Hitler would ask Finland for more help against the Soviet Union, which Mannerheim was unwilling to give. When Mannerheim lit up, all in attendance gasped, for Hitler's aversion to smoking was well known. Nevertheless, Hitler continued the conversation calmly, with no comment. By this test, Mannerheim could judge if Hitler was speaking from a position of strength or weakness. He refused Hitler, knowing that Hitler was in a weak position, and could not dictate to him."
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Interesting 1,500 years old Hanging Tample in Shanxi, China
View: https://www.facebook.com/worldbeautiesandwonders/photos/a.105095208262327/485819223523255/
It must had cost a fortune to build it. I wander what they do to stop birds nesting ( and sh...g all over it ).