avatar

[Falcon]

the avatar size of 6kb is really small me thinks, especially if I host the pic myself. I realize not everyone uses broadband, but looks like 15~ wouldn't be too much to ask...

[Pablo Sanchez]

the avatar size of 6kb is really small me thinks, especially if I host the pic myself. I realize not everyone uses broadband, but looks like 15~ wouldn't be too much to ask...

Well, tough. That's the limit, and unless you want to post your totally elite photoshop lens flaring animated .gifs, it should be more than enough. Those dancing wizards are distracting enough, and they're inside the limit.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

All I care about is the 80x80. I need to make my Thrawn guy bigger.

[Falcon]

*cough*chip on some1's shoulder*cough*


ya, I just discovered the pixel limit too ;\


still, my l33t skillz let me whip this up special for these boards, so I guess I can't complain. was still a pain tho O_o

[Robert Treder]

The size seems fine to me...as long as the Imperial symbol inside my little Emperor's head is distinguishable, I'm cool with it.

[Dalton]

My avatar looks awesome despite the size limit.

Size matters not

[Pablo Sanchez]

My avatar looks awesome despite the size limit.

Size matters not

Mine is much more elite than anyone else's on this board, except for maybe Doomriser's.

But Dalton... your avatar just keeps looking at me. Staring, endlessly, staring into my soul...



I must seek out and kill Frodo Baggins.

[Mr Bean]

No one kills Frodo but me!
*Stalks off agian another victory
The count has been raised

The short man shall die

[MKSheppard]

MWHAHAHHA!

[Steve]

Shep, I find your avatar disturbing.

[phongn]

Mine is much more elite than anyone else's on this board, except for maybe Doomriser's.

Well, I suppose I could dig out the B-52 pictures and become more l33t than you

[MKSheppard]

Shep, I find your avatar disturbing.

Ok, then, want me to put up a pic of von Reichenau? Or Sepp Dietrich?

Erwin Rommel was the "cleanest" German general of WW2! If you can't
accept that, then git stoofed!

[Pablo Sanchez]

Ok, then, want me to put up a pic of von Reichenau? Or Sepp Dietrich?

Erwin Rommel was the "cleanest" German general of WW2! If you can't
accept that, then git stoofed!

True, true. Although I'm not part of the Rommel Fanclub. IMO he's too tactical, a General should focus his energies on the higher levels of combat and assume that his lower echelons are competent enough to handle their job. Rommel won battles thanks to his tactical brilliance, but lost in the long run.

I personally prefer Manstein. So there.

[MKSheppard]

True, true. Although I'm not part of the Rommel Fanclub. IMO he's too tactical, a General should focus his energies on the higher levels of combat and assume that his lower echelons are competent enough to handle their job. Rommel won battles thanks to his tactical brilliance, but lost in the long run.
I personally prefer Manstein. So there.

Rommel only lost due to overwhelming allied superority in EVERYTHING.

*******************************************

Now, people are almost sick of hearing about Monica Lewinsky.
I don't care about her or the thing in her dress. My topic is about
another Lewinski.

Erich von Lewinski was born in Prussian Poland, as the tenth child
of a Pole of modest backgrounds. At that time, being a Pole in
Prussia was somewhat like being Irish in England. In other words,
not much prospects.

However, his mother's sister was married to a guy named
von Manstein, who was childless and belonged to the Prussian
gentleman class.

Erich Lewinski's mother decided to give him to the von Mansteins.
Since his father had nine other children to raise with modest income,
he agreed. From that day, Erich Lewinski would be known as
Erich von Manstein.

Lewinski (=Manstein) got into the Prussian Army as an officer,
thru the influence of his adopted father. He distinguished himself
during the Great War, and continued to serve under the German Army
after the Kaiser was out.

Manstein decided to help Hitler when the latter came to power. Of course, many
other Prussian officers alsod did that. However, Manstein had ability, and that
counted.

Manstein was the guy who came out with the idea of the blow in the Ardennes in
1940. It helped that the plane which carried the original plan crashed in
Allied territory. (Sometimes, you need luck to get ahead.)

Manstein's ability was known to both sides. He always seeked to defeat the
enemy with the fewest waste of resources.

His troops were no better than other Nazi soldiers; they participated in the
atrocricities for which the Third Reich was famous. However, that was not his
fault (at least in paper).

Manstein distinguished himself in the Soviet Campaign, and was directly
responsible for the capture of Sevastopol (a stronghold in the Crimea; now a
Ukrainian naval base). He was also directly responsible for the deportation and
murder of all of the city's garrison.

However, his greatest gig was the Battle of Kharkov, in Feb 1943. The Germans
were defeated at Stalingrad the previous year, but Manstein's victory at
Kharkov negated it. He became a German Field Marshal. Apparently Hitler did not
pay attention that he was not an Aryan and actually a Slav.

(He was partly responsible for Stalingrad; he refused to reinforce Paulus in
there, citing several difficulties. However, Hitler spared him because of his
ability.)

Manstein smashed the Soviets badly, and asked Hitler to give him material to
drive to Kursk (and then to Moscow). However, at this point, Hitler got jealous
of him and refused to do so.

By the time Hitler gave the go-ahead to Kursk, the Soviets were well dig-up and
the Germans were defeated. But, again, Manstein managed to avoid the blame; a
subordinate was sacked instead.

At that time (september 1943), Manstein decided Hitler and his gang were fucked
up, and offered to resign. Hitler, happy to see one potential rival eliminated,
agreed and Manstein moved to a sleepy base in Western Germany.

M knew how to avoid trouble and avoid making the strongman angry.

When Germany was finally defeated, Manstein surrendered to the British. The
British treated him well, unlike others like Jodl or Keitel. When Manstein was
forced to sit down at Nuremberg Trials because of Stalin's pressure, many
people in the West actually FELT SORRY FOR HIM!

Stalin wanted Manstein dead; he was responsible for the death of many Soviets
soldiers. However, there was insufficient evidence to convict him. Unlike other
careless generals, Manstein had made sure that his subordinates destroy all
papers not favorable to him.

Manstein also testified against his former comrade-in-arms.

Manstein got four years, a very light sentence for someone of his stature.
Howvever, by the time the sentence was delivered in 1948, he had remained a POW
for more than three years. So, he got out after serving one year. He got many
visitors, including Lord Montgomery, while doing time.

And, there is one more surprise for you.

Not long after getting out of gaol, HE WAS APPOINTED AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF
THE WEST GERMAN ARMY!
(Exact title is different, since at that time Germany was nominally
demobilized. However, he was the top dog of West German military force.) He
served under Chancellor Adenauer, who used to be an exile during the Nazi
regime. In other words, he served under his former foe.

He was the only one Nazi Marshal to remain in military after the war.

He was able to remain influential, because he had quit when he still had
something.

He remained as a strong force in West German Army before dying in 1973. His
funeral was attended by many people, including many of his former foes. The
current German Army are led by his disciples.

Lewinski/Manstein had changed masters several times (The Kaiser, the Weimar,
the Nazis, the British and the West Germans.) and succeeded. This success is
even more remarkable, considering he was a Pole and not a German at the first
place.

That was because he had ability, and he knew what to do in times of trouble.
Rommel failed to do so and ended up commiting suicide. Ditto to Kluge (the
savior of German Western Front in 1944).

Lewinski/Manstein's life has many lessons to true survivalists.

[His Divine Shadow]

Nothing compares to the Imperial Logo, nothin! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

[Pablo Sanchez]

Rommel only lost due to overwhelming allied superority in EVERYTHING.

Excuses, excuses.

[phongn]

Nothing compares to the Imperial Logo, nothin! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

I much prefer the Republic's logo, thank you very much.

But I think it's time to bring back the old B-52H/Skybolt avatar

[Admiral Valdemar]

Nothing compares to the Imperial Logo, nothin! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

I much prefer the Republic's logo, thank you very much.

But I think it's time to bring back the old B-52H/Skybolt avatar

Awww!

Use a different craft... say, a YF-19.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Thrawn superior, all others inferior.

[Howedar]

My normal one

wouldn't fit.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Thrawn superior, all others inferior.

*Tachyon class PatCom jumps in and vapes Thrawn ISD*

You were saying? [/i]

[His Divine Shadow]

I much prefer the Republic's logo, thank you very much.

Your loss

[phongn]

Nothing compares to the Imperial Logo, nothin! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

I much prefer the Republic's logo, thank you very much.

But I think it's time to bring back the old B-52H/Skybolt avatar

Awww!

Use a different craft... say, a YF-19.

Bah. The Stratofortress my avatar shall be. Not some silly anime fighter

[David]

Thrawn superior, all others inferior.

Incorrect.

Soundwave superior, Thrawn inferior.

[Robert Treder]

Ah, ah, ah, don't forget Galactus.



Superior.