This is the question being asked by the National Army Museum in an open online poll. Very specifically British I know but I thought it would be interesting to see how a poll conducted here might give different results to their open poll. (I already disagree strongly with the current leader on their poll!)
The poll and details of the names you can can vote for are here http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/enemy-commanders-britains-greatest-foes
I have reproduced the list below along with a couple of comments on each.
Akbar Khan - Akbar led Afghan forces to victory against two redoubtable foes, the Sikhs and the British. He proved to be a formidable political force as well as a talented military commander.
Andrew Jackson - His victory at New Orleans was a decisive blow in the War of 1812, revealing Jackson to be adept at conventional warfare as well as the irregular warfare of the American frontier where he honed his skills.
Eduard Totleben - A masterful military engineer, Totleben was largely responsible for prolonging the misery inflicted upon British and French forces in the Crimea.
Erwin Rommel - A decorated veteran of the First World War, Rommel became a legend during the Second World War, spearheading Germany’s ‘Blitzkrieg’ of France and battling British forces in North Africa before finally falling victim to the vengeance of his own Führer.
George Washington - The first President of the United States, Washington made his name as a skilled and determined military commander during the American Revolution. Despite many setbacks he consolidated and guided his forces to victory and helped secure independence from Britain.
James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick - After his father was deposed from the English throne, Berwick fled into exile and fought with the French and Spanish, inflicting a crushing defeat on British forces at Almanza in 1707.
Louis Botha - Botha proved an effective exponent of both conventional and guerrilla tactics. His men inflicted terrible losses on the British forces fighting in South Africa.
Maurice de Saxe - A master of strategy and tactics, Saxe outfoxed or defeated British and Allied armies on a number of occasions during the bloody wars of succession in 18th-century Europe.
Michael Collins - With his talent for organisation and logistics, Collins helped transform the Irish Republican Army into a powerful insurgent force that fought the British to a standstill.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - A seasoned veteran of the Balkan Wars, Kemal fought a tenacious defensive campaign at Gallipoli in 1915 which forced the Allied invasion force to withdraw. He would later become the ‘Father of modern Turkey’.
Napoleon Bonaparte - Bonaparte emerged from the turmoil and terror of revolution to become France’s greatest military commander, loved by his loyal troops, demonised by his enemies, feared and respected by all.
Ntshingwayo kaMahole - Ntshingwayo commanded the Zulu force that inflicted one of the most stunning defeats suffered by British forces, challenging the might of Queen Victoria’s Empire.
Osman Digna - Over two decades Digna fought numerous battles against the British and their Egyptian and Sudanese allies, as they attempted to occupy his territory or subdue his people.
Paul von Hindenburg - A classic 19th-century Prussian officer who embraced 20th-century total war. As a strategist and tactician Hindenburg contributed to the defeat of Russia in the East and confounded the French and British on the Western Front.
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck - A master of bush warfare, Lettow-Vorbeck fought a four-year guerrilla campaign against the British in East Africa, tying down large numbers of troops, and inflicting heavy casualties upon them.
Rani of Jhansi - (Indian Mutiny) A resourceful and courageous leader of her people, the Rani fought to the death against British forces bent on revenge and retribution.
Riwha Titokowaru - A brave and resourceful Maori commander, Titokowaru resisted the British during the New Zealand Land Wars of the 19th century.
Santiago de Liniers - Liniers had an eventful military career, fighting on land and sea. When confronted with the British in South America he proved to be a resourceful and inspiring commander, but his involvement in the turbulent politics of that continent resulted in his demise.
Tipu Sultan - The ‘Tiger of Mysore’ was a renowned Indian war leader. A skilled tactician and innovator, Tipu embraced western methods to ensure that his forces could overwhelm his Indian rivals and match the British forces sent against him.
Tomoyuki Yamashita - Employing innovative military tactics, Yamashita led Japanese forces to one of the most decisive and shocking victories of the Second World War. But the excesses committed by his troops were to cost him his life.
The poll and details of the names you can can vote for are here http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/enemy-commanders-britains-greatest-foes
I have reproduced the list below along with a couple of comments on each.
Akbar Khan - Akbar led Afghan forces to victory against two redoubtable foes, the Sikhs and the British. He proved to be a formidable political force as well as a talented military commander.
Andrew Jackson - His victory at New Orleans was a decisive blow in the War of 1812, revealing Jackson to be adept at conventional warfare as well as the irregular warfare of the American frontier where he honed his skills.
Eduard Totleben - A masterful military engineer, Totleben was largely responsible for prolonging the misery inflicted upon British and French forces in the Crimea.
Erwin Rommel - A decorated veteran of the First World War, Rommel became a legend during the Second World War, spearheading Germany’s ‘Blitzkrieg’ of France and battling British forces in North Africa before finally falling victim to the vengeance of his own Führer.
George Washington - The first President of the United States, Washington made his name as a skilled and determined military commander during the American Revolution. Despite many setbacks he consolidated and guided his forces to victory and helped secure independence from Britain.
James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick - After his father was deposed from the English throne, Berwick fled into exile and fought with the French and Spanish, inflicting a crushing defeat on British forces at Almanza in 1707.
Louis Botha - Botha proved an effective exponent of both conventional and guerrilla tactics. His men inflicted terrible losses on the British forces fighting in South Africa.
Maurice de Saxe - A master of strategy and tactics, Saxe outfoxed or defeated British and Allied armies on a number of occasions during the bloody wars of succession in 18th-century Europe.
Michael Collins - With his talent for organisation and logistics, Collins helped transform the Irish Republican Army into a powerful insurgent force that fought the British to a standstill.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk - A seasoned veteran of the Balkan Wars, Kemal fought a tenacious defensive campaign at Gallipoli in 1915 which forced the Allied invasion force to withdraw. He would later become the ‘Father of modern Turkey’.
Napoleon Bonaparte - Bonaparte emerged from the turmoil and terror of revolution to become France’s greatest military commander, loved by his loyal troops, demonised by his enemies, feared and respected by all.
Ntshingwayo kaMahole - Ntshingwayo commanded the Zulu force that inflicted one of the most stunning defeats suffered by British forces, challenging the might of Queen Victoria’s Empire.
Osman Digna - Over two decades Digna fought numerous battles against the British and their Egyptian and Sudanese allies, as they attempted to occupy his territory or subdue his people.
Paul von Hindenburg - A classic 19th-century Prussian officer who embraced 20th-century total war. As a strategist and tactician Hindenburg contributed to the defeat of Russia in the East and confounded the French and British on the Western Front.
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck - A master of bush warfare, Lettow-Vorbeck fought a four-year guerrilla campaign against the British in East Africa, tying down large numbers of troops, and inflicting heavy casualties upon them.
Rani of Jhansi - (Indian Mutiny) A resourceful and courageous leader of her people, the Rani fought to the death against British forces bent on revenge and retribution.
Riwha Titokowaru - A brave and resourceful Maori commander, Titokowaru resisted the British during the New Zealand Land Wars of the 19th century.
Santiago de Liniers - Liniers had an eventful military career, fighting on land and sea. When confronted with the British in South America he proved to be a resourceful and inspiring commander, but his involvement in the turbulent politics of that continent resulted in his demise.
Tipu Sultan - The ‘Tiger of Mysore’ was a renowned Indian war leader. A skilled tactician and innovator, Tipu embraced western methods to ensure that his forces could overwhelm his Indian rivals and match the British forces sent against him.
Tomoyuki Yamashita - Employing innovative military tactics, Yamashita led Japanese forces to one of the most decisive and shocking victories of the Second World War. But the excesses committed by his troops were to cost him his life.
which is a bit naughty seeing as how I have worked at GCHQ a few times.
