There is also a thing where yes on the one hand attrition, population size, industrial capacity has a certain inevitable logic. But if you aren't winning battles the strain can become unbearable and armies can break down.
1941 and the first three months of 1942 were bad times for the Allies. Millions of troops, thousands of aircraft, tanks, guns and other materiel were lost. The news was full of defeat after defeat. German and Japanese triumphs. New atrocities and endless slaughter. The Allies were hemorrhaging trained soldiers and equipment. Losing ground. If you are a soldier in one of those losing armies in the Philippines or Malaysia or Ukraine or Egypt, the notion that attrition and production logistics are inevitably on your side is cold comfort.
That surging Axis momentum needed to be checked, and as soon as possible. The Soviets started to stiffen up in the mid year but didn't really start turning it around until the fall of 1942. The British began turning things around in the middle of the year, also peaking around November. For the Allies in the Pacific Theater, Midway was huge. The loss of those Japanese carriers and all those flight crews meant that the avalanche was quite checked, literally over night. The armed forces suddenly, in one day, shifted rapidly toward parity, and in a more even fight, the attrition and production advantages begin to seem a lot more real for the soldier, sailor and airman.
That is also why I think the Spitfire was really necessary in the BoB. The Hurricane could shoot down the bombers quite efficiently and cause a certain amount of damage to the fighters, losing 10 to shoot down 3 Bf 109s say. But the Spitfire was even, or a little better than even. Maybe 5 for 5 or even 5 for 6. The Spitfire was where the British could say, we can best them. Not just endure them or whittle them down, but we can win.
1941 and the first three months of 1942 were bad times for the Allies. Millions of troops, thousands of aircraft, tanks, guns and other materiel were lost. The news was full of defeat after defeat. German and Japanese triumphs. New atrocities and endless slaughter. The Allies were hemorrhaging trained soldiers and equipment. Losing ground. If you are a soldier in one of those losing armies in the Philippines or Malaysia or Ukraine or Egypt, the notion that attrition and production logistics are inevitably on your side is cold comfort.
That surging Axis momentum needed to be checked, and as soon as possible. The Soviets started to stiffen up in the mid year but didn't really start turning it around until the fall of 1942. The British began turning things around in the middle of the year, also peaking around November. For the Allies in the Pacific Theater, Midway was huge. The loss of those Japanese carriers and all those flight crews meant that the avalanche was quite checked, literally over night. The armed forces suddenly, in one day, shifted rapidly toward parity, and in a more even fight, the attrition and production advantages begin to seem a lot more real for the soldier, sailor and airman.
That is also why I think the Spitfire was really necessary in the BoB. The Hurricane could shoot down the bombers quite efficiently and cause a certain amount of damage to the fighters, losing 10 to shoot down 3 Bf 109s say. But the Spitfire was even, or a little better than even. Maybe 5 for 5 or even 5 for 6. The Spitfire was where the British could say, we can best them. Not just endure them or whittle them down, but we can win.