How good were the two armies in comparison to the rest of the world at the time

[johan_steele]

Of note it is important to realize that things change rapidly in wartime and the side that adapts most rapidly is the side that wins... No European Army has a history of rapid adaptation. No nation is innocent of stagnation in their military; Armies consistantly fight wars w/ the last wars tactics and weapons and the US CW and the Armies of that era are no different.

To me proving beyond a shadow of doubt the Russian adage that Wars are not won by the most competant army but by the least incompetant.