Bernard Montgomery (17 Nov. 1887 - 24 Mar. 1976)
Montgomery was part of the British Expeditionary Force with the 3rd Division at the beginning of the war. Predicting defeat on the same level as the First World War, he focused on tactical withdrawal instead of offensives. When the German invasion began, this training paid off, and his forces managed to escape with few casualties. Until 1942, Montgomery commanded various outfits across the United Kingdom.
In 1942, Montgomery was appointed to assume command of the Eight Army in Egypt. He reorganised and reinforced, and wanted all elements of the military to battle in unison. As well as this, Montgomery ensured that he made his rounds of the troops, familiarising them with him and vice versa. This helped to boost morale and lift the spirits of the soldiers.
His methodical strengthening of his forces drew some criticism after the German assault on Alam Halfa in late August, and his failure to counter attack. However, Montgomery was planning to attack in October, to seize Libya in order to help support Malta. In October the attack began, winning the Second Battle of El Alamein. From there his forces chased the Axis armies to Tunisia. His planning ensured that the British were ready to defeat any German attack – the military worked in unison, orders were not muddled and morale was high. As well as this, Montgomery knew when his plans were not working, and ensured to change them to ensure victory.
In 1943 he commanded during the invasions of Sicily and Italy. He reworked plans of the Sicilian invasion, and led the invasion through the toe of Italy. At the start of 1944, Montgomery returned to Britain to command during Operation Overlord, or D-Day. He continued his theories of boosting morale and making careful plans. However his plans were forced to change due to the situation he found himself in (bad weather created logistical issues), and he began fighting a war of attrition.
Montgomery was influential in the continuance of the war, offering advice to Eisenhower and commanding on the front lines. His cautiousness and unwillingness to sacrifice men earned him some criticism from American commanders. At the end of the war, Montgomery pushed through the Netherlands and cut off Denmark, in order to ensure that the Russians would not advance there. In 1945 he accepted the surrender of German forces in the north.
For more reading on Bernard Montgomery:
Hamilton, Nigel. The Full Monty: Montgomery of Alamein 1887 – 1942 (London: Allen Lane), 2001.
Hamilton, Nigel. Monty: Master of the Battlefield (London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd.), 1984.
Mead, Richard. Churchill’s Lions: A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II (Stroud: Spellmount), 2007.
In 1942, Montgomery was appointed to assume command of the Eight Army in Egypt. He reorganised and reinforced, and wanted all elements of the military to battle in unison. As well as this, Montgomery ensured that he made his rounds of the troops, familiarising them with him and vice versa. This helped to boost morale and lift the spirits of the soldiers.
His methodical strengthening of his forces drew some criticism after the German assault on Alam Halfa in late August, and his failure to counter attack. However, Montgomery was planning to attack in October, to seize Libya in order to help support Malta. In October the attack began, winning the Second Battle of El Alamein. From there his forces chased the Axis armies to Tunisia. His planning ensured that the British were ready to defeat any German attack – the military worked in unison, orders were not muddled and morale was high. As well as this, Montgomery knew when his plans were not working, and ensured to change them to ensure victory.
In 1943 he commanded during the invasions of Sicily and Italy. He reworked plans of the Sicilian invasion, and led the invasion through the toe of Italy. At the start of 1944, Montgomery returned to Britain to command during Operation Overlord, or D-Day. He continued his theories of boosting morale and making careful plans. However his plans were forced to change due to the situation he found himself in (bad weather created logistical issues), and he began fighting a war of attrition.
Montgomery was influential in the continuance of the war, offering advice to Eisenhower and commanding on the front lines. His cautiousness and unwillingness to sacrifice men earned him some criticism from American commanders. At the end of the war, Montgomery pushed through the Netherlands and cut off Denmark, in order to ensure that the Russians would not advance there. In 1945 he accepted the surrender of German forces in the north.
For more reading on Bernard Montgomery:
Hamilton, Nigel. The Full Monty: Montgomery of Alamein 1887 – 1942 (London: Allen Lane), 2001.
Hamilton, Nigel. Monty: Master of the Battlefield (London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd.), 1984.
Mead, Richard. Churchill’s Lions: A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II (Stroud: Spellmount), 2007.