Recceman:
Well, precisely because the Alps are mountains that the Germans and Austrians had to come up with alternative tactics to fight the Italians. The most effective was the infilitration and bypassing the defenses by highly mobile units. The trench systems were as 'insurmountable' an obstacle as the Alps. The stormtrooper recreated the same tactics but these developed independently.. Consequently, had the Germans and Austrians passed on their tactical experience to their counterparts at the Western front, it's quite possible that the Germans would've incorportated the storm trooper tactics even earlier and the Allies would've been stymied on how best to counter this tactic. The St Michel offensive highlights the just how close the Allies could've been defeated. Now imagine the same offensive in 1916 or 17.
xavier
Well, precisely because the Alps are mountains that the Germans and Austrians had to come up with alternative tactics to fight the Italians. The most effective was the infilitration and bypassing the defenses by highly mobile units. The trench systems were as 'insurmountable' an obstacle as the Alps. The stormtrooper recreated the same tactics but these developed independently.. Consequently, had the Germans and Austrians passed on their tactical experience to their counterparts at the Western front, it's quite possible that the Germans would've incorportated the storm trooper tactics even earlier and the Allies would've been stymied on how best to counter this tactic. The St Michel offensive highlights the just how close the Allies could've been defeated. Now imagine the same offensive in 1916 or 17.
xavier