@1981dariusz Market Garden failed for many reasons and cannot be placed on one man. Ike should have insisted on clearing the Scheldt and never OKed the operation, Monty should have actually handled the planning and exection, Browning and Brereton made a bad plan and issued controdicting orders, neither they nor Dempsey showed any zeal or grip when the operation was undertaken, the XXX Corp didn't move that quickly and the 82nd Airborne failed to take their targets on schedule.
@1981dariusz The documentory "Generals Honour" is a biased source. It is polish and based on the story of General Sasabowski. Sasabowski's Polish Brigade were unjustly made the scapegoat for the failure by Browning and Monty and the Polish have never forgiven Monty for it.
@abdg32esd23 I agree that Monty was a great pest for Allies relations & the US having their own pests doesn't excuse him but the point I was making was that it was far from a one-way street. For example, after Normandy had been secured Bradley & Patton decided the British were worthless now & the Americans no longer needed them & attempted to convince Eisenhower to keep 21st Army Group as only Flank guard. This wasn't because of Monty's personality, it was Patton and Bradley's nationalism.
@11nytram11 Monty was the greatest Allied leader, It was Monty who broke Rommel and defeated the Axis forces in N.Africa, Rommel betrayed hitler and went running it was game over and the end of the Axis Africa campaign, Monty in the Italy campaign, It was Monty who lead D-Day in Operation overlord, Monty who help save the Americans from the weak Axis forces in the bulge, Monty who nearly took Berlin before the Soviets and could have saved moreof Europe from Communism, If O.M.Garden had worked.
@abdg32esd23 Well, it is undeniable that Montgomery always built up his advantages and trained thoroughly before he launched any operation (Market Garden being the except) so if that wasn't skill it was certainly planned. If your on the side that has preponderance of material then what's the point in not using it?
Beside which, playing the mobile, mechanized warfare game would have been playing to the German strenght, not to the British. Firepower and numbers gave the British the advantage.
@abdg32esd23 You say that the odds were always in his favor as if that were a bad thing or something that came about through circumstances. Montgomery made sure he always had the odds in his favor so his chances of victory were greater.
And the Americans were hardly blameless in the break down of their relationship with Monty. Patton was arrogant, boastful and insulting and Bradley was petty, bitter and small minded, each more concerned with their own place in history than overall victory.
does anybody have access to the transcripts for this speech/ other General Montgomery speeches, if you do can you please message me, it would be much much appreciated.
the way tv presenters and people used to speak back then was so great, now all the presenters on uk tv sound like a bunch of low class common people from the street...
I have a question, as an American who is studying the British front of WWII, wasn't Churchill at times frustrated with Monty because he didn't go full blast?
@bluesboy25000 Alot of people often were frustrated with monty not because he didn't go fall blast but because he insisted on meticulous organisation of his forces to maximise their effectiveness, he delayed but with frustrated churchill but the results of the dealays were devastating... for the germans as seen in North Africa the Ardennes and the rhine crossing.
So the frustration was that he insisted on going full blast and not at half cock, the one time he did do it that way was Arnham
@Macca17 If Churchill's frustration with Montgomery was that Monty didn't go gung ho in a full blooded charge against the enemy then the fault is Churchill's. Monty's 21st Army Group represented the last major force the British could put into the field and Dempsey's 2nd Army represented the last of the British manpower available. For the British to have any influence in the post war world they couldn't risk any large scale losses so had to play cautiously. The American had no such restraints.
One thing was sure about Monty, he could really talk to mass crowds.
But he feared Rommle not on the other way. Rommel could have won if he had a bit more fuel, tanks and not so many Italian troops (than ks Good for that) so he lost against a far better equiped and stronger 8th army.
But just as Rommle, Montys highest point was in Africa and diretly after WW II he got fired!
Mongomery was afraid of General Erwin Rommel. Montgomery was a school boy who got schooled in the field by Rommel. If it were not for the lack of fuel, food and water......Montgomery would still be chasing Rommel in the desert. Montgomery was trying to "mooch off the reputaton of Rommel. He never caught the "Desert Fox".
Montgomery wanted to be like Rommel. Montgomery was scared to take the initiative unless Americans were on that front line. Americans made Rommel famouse. Rommel made Montgomery look good.
A great and proud englishman , i am incredibly proud that men like montgomery are part of our history. Its just a shame that these exceptional men arent given much regard anymore. Its true what Winston Chruchill said We are creatures of short memory, 6 decades ago these men won the world for us and we have already mostly forgot. Despite this he is forever a part of history and for that im glad.
According to Churchill, Montgomery fought 'half-hearted. Eisenhower noted that Montgomery "loved the limelight" and needed a "strong immediate commander".
@7514328 If Eisenhower noted that Montgomery needed a "strong immediate commander" then he singularly failed to provide one. Montgomery routinely treated Eisenhower like a naughty school boy, had no repect for Eisenhower as a general whatsoever and criticized Eisenhower's decisions and argued with him constantly. Eisenhower meanwhile spent almost all his time away from the front, issuing vague directives while doing nothing to get them done and asserting no control over the Army Groups.
@11nytram11 now, if you had eisenhower as a civilian president, monty as the supreme commander and patton as the star front line general, you'd have something
Agreed, he was a great military man. I'm ashamed of the fact that he has a somewhat tattered reputation in my country (USA) That's mostly a legacy from the movie "Patton." Some Americans blindly believe Hollywood propaganda, especially about history.....like with Oliver Stone's "JFK"
its actually true... monty refused to give patton fuel and gas because they were competing. this ended up in many american casualties because it gave the chance for the germans to build a defense and group up.... that is a fact, it was on the history channel
Monty was north of Patton, he got given fuel he did not transport it. Monty like Patton were at no point in charge of logistics. That was Eisenhower. Eisenhower admired Monty. Monty has the US legion merit award.
monty was overated, he shouldnt have been a field marshall. he wasnt in the same league as the german generals, especially rommel,von manstien,von runstedt and guderian!!1
@dave4248 He was not a great military man, he was an incompetant fool who lacked any innovation and absorbed fame for himself by winning campaigns in theatres where the Germans & Italians had little to no chance of victory. Just look at Caen, he made a mockery of the commonwealth contribution to overlord then lied about his objectives to cover up his own incompetance. Americans are right to criticize him, and im British so dont accuse me of being some kind of American super patriot.
@thewalkereffect Calling Monty an "incompetant fool" destroys your argument. He was many things - arrogant, concieted, egomaniacal, tactless, insulting, bullying, self-obsessed and self-glorifying - but incompetant and a fool he was not. An incompetant general couldn't have won a single battle even with all the advantages, a fool wouldn't play to the strengths of his own forces.
@thewalkereffect Americans dont have a leg to stand on when the criticise him mainly because they never look at the careers of their own generals with the fine-toothed comb they use to review Monty. They criticise him so they can build up Eisenhower, Bradley & Patton. They have never even attempted to find half as many percieved faults, let a lone real ones, with their own generls. Without that fair ballance in reviewing their criticism of Monty is biased and not reliable.
the greatest coward of second world war,thanks to him operation market garden failed!!!!!!watch documentary "generals honour" to find out more
1981dariusz 2 weeks ago
@1981dariusz Market Garden failed for many reasons and cannot be placed on one man. Ike should have insisted on clearing the Scheldt and never OKed the operation, Monty should have actually handled the planning and exection, Browning and Brereton made a bad plan and issued controdicting orders, neither they nor Dempsey showed any zeal or grip when the operation was undertaken, the XXX Corp didn't move that quickly and the 82nd Airborne failed to take their targets on schedule.
11nytram11 2 days ago
@1981dariusz The documentory "Generals Honour" is a biased source. It is polish and based on the story of General Sasabowski. Sasabowski's Polish Brigade were unjustly made the scapegoat for the failure by Browning and Monty and the Polish have never forgiven Monty for it.
11nytram11 2 days ago
wonder what year this was?
movement26 3 months ago
@abdg32esd23 I agree that Monty was a great pest for Allies relations & the US having their own pests doesn't excuse him but the point I was making was that it was far from a one-way street. For example, after Normandy had been secured Bradley & Patton decided the British were worthless now & the Americans no longer needed them & attempted to convince Eisenhower to keep 21st Army Group as only Flank guard. This wasn't because of Monty's personality, it was Patton and Bradley's nationalism.
11nytram11 7 months ago
@11nytram11 Monty was the greatest Allied leader, It was Monty who broke Rommel and defeated the Axis forces in N.Africa, Rommel betrayed hitler and went running it was game over and the end of the Axis Africa campaign, Monty in the Italy campaign, It was Monty who lead D-Day in Operation overlord, Monty who help save the Americans from the weak Axis forces in the bulge, Monty who nearly took Berlin before the Soviets and could have saved moreof Europe from Communism, If O.M.Garden had worked.
martynrobin121 4 months ago 2
@abdg32esd23 Well, it is undeniable that Montgomery always built up his advantages and trained thoroughly before he launched any operation (Market Garden being the except) so if that wasn't skill it was certainly planned. If your on the side that has preponderance of material then what's the point in not using it?
Beside which, playing the mobile, mechanized warfare game would have been playing to the German strenght, not to the British. Firepower and numbers gave the British the advantage.
11nytram11 7 months ago
@abdg32esd23 You say that the odds were always in his favor as if that were a bad thing or something that came about through circumstances. Montgomery made sure he always had the odds in his favor so his chances of victory were greater.
And the Americans were hardly blameless in the break down of their relationship with Monty. Patton was arrogant, boastful and insulting and Bradley was petty, bitter and small minded, each more concerned with their own place in history than overall victory.
11nytram11 7 months ago
does anybody have access to the transcripts for this speech/ other General Montgomery speeches, if you do can you please message me, it would be much much appreciated.
bart3394 8 months ago
the way tv presenters and people used to speak back then was so great, now all the presenters on uk tv sound like a bunch of low class common people from the street...
kurai6 1 year ago
The best equipment! Must be talking of those 100's of American sherman tanks, not the crappy breakdown limey ones?? ...........;)
fuhmeregan 1 year ago
I have a question, as an American who is studying the British front of WWII, wasn't Churchill at times frustrated with Monty because he didn't go full blast?
bluesboy25000 1 year ago
@bluesboy25000 Alot of people often were frustrated with monty not because he didn't go fall blast but because he insisted on meticulous organisation of his forces to maximise their effectiveness, he delayed but with frustrated churchill but the results of the dealays were devastating... for the germans as seen in North Africa the Ardennes and the rhine crossing.
So the frustration was that he insisted on going full blast and not at half cock, the one time he did do it that way was Arnham
Macca17 1 year ago
@Macca17 If Churchill's frustration with Montgomery was that Monty didn't go gung ho in a full blooded charge against the enemy then the fault is Churchill's. Monty's 21st Army Group represented the last major force the British could put into the field and Dempsey's 2nd Army represented the last of the British manpower available. For the British to have any influence in the post war world they couldn't risk any large scale losses so had to play cautiously. The American had no such restraints.
11nytram11 7 months ago
@bluesboy25000 Churchill wanted to drop anthrax bombs on Germany. His idea of 'full blast' was slightly different ti everyone elses :p.
00JakeR00 1 year ago
Monty, my great grandfathers cousin. Lovely <3
hinduw 1 year ago
One thing was sure about Monty, he could really talk to mass crowds.
But he feared Rommle not on the other way. Rommel could have won if he had a bit more fuel, tanks and not so many Italian troops (than ks Good for that) so he lost against a far better equiped and stronger 8th army.
But just as Rommle, Montys highest point was in Africa and diretly after WW II he got fired!
51TGM71 2 years ago
@51TGM71 - Actually he was promoted to Chief of the Imperial General Staff and then to head up NATO.
lovemorembigi 1 year ago
Mongomery was afraid of General Erwin Rommel. Montgomery was a school boy who got schooled in the field by Rommel. If it were not for the lack of fuel, food and water......Montgomery would still be chasing Rommel in the desert. Montgomery was trying to "mooch off the reputaton of Rommel. He never caught the "Desert Fox".
7514328 2 years ago
The way he spoke was very strange!
GeneraleFlavioEzio 2 years ago 3
He spoke in "everything is pretty obvious" tone..that boosts moral.
hinduw 2 years ago
Comment removed
GeneraleFlavioEzio 2 years ago
Montgomery wanted to be like Rommel. Montgomery was scared to take the initiative unless Americans were on that front line. Americans made Rommel famouse. Rommel made Montgomery look good.
7514328 2 years ago
A great and proud englishman , i am incredibly proud that men like montgomery are part of our history. Its just a shame that these exceptional men arent given much regard anymore. Its true what Winston Chruchill said We are creatures of short memory, 6 decades ago these men won the world for us and we have already mostly forgot. Despite this he is forever a part of history and for that im glad.
hanson666999 2 years ago 4
Polish soldiers hate him after he blamed General Sosabowski of his failture in Market Garden and lead to his demotion.
B1SCOOP 2 years ago
According to Churchill, Montgomery fought 'half-hearted. Eisenhower noted that Montgomery "loved the limelight" and needed a "strong immediate commander".
7514328 2 years ago
Monty beat Rommel.
Rommel feared Monty more than anyone else.
warriorprince1010 2 years ago 4
@7514328 If Eisenhower noted that Montgomery needed a "strong immediate commander" then he singularly failed to provide one. Montgomery routinely treated Eisenhower like a naughty school boy, had no repect for Eisenhower as a general whatsoever and criticized Eisenhower's decisions and argued with him constantly. Eisenhower meanwhile spent almost all his time away from the front, issuing vague directives while doing nothing to get them done and asserting no control over the Army Groups.
11nytram11 7 months ago
@11nytram11 now, if you had eisenhower as a civilian president, monty as the supreme commander and patton as the star front line general, you'd have something
each in their best place, right?
noobler9 1 month ago
My grandad fought under monty, i have a great respect for him xxx
babylemonade40 3 years ago 9
Agreed, he was a great military man. I'm ashamed of the fact that he has a somewhat tattered reputation in my country (USA) That's mostly a legacy from the movie "Patton." Some Americans blindly believe Hollywood propaganda, especially about history.....like with Oliver Stone's "JFK"
dave4248 3 years ago 16
its actually true... monty refused to give patton fuel and gas because they were competing. this ended up in many american casualties because it gave the chance for the germans to build a defense and group up.... that is a fact, it was on the history channel
Renagade1325 2 years ago
Monty was north of Patton, he got given fuel he did not transport it. Monty like Patton were at no point in charge of logistics. That was Eisenhower. Eisenhower admired Monty. Monty has the US legion merit award.
warriorprince1010 2 years ago 5
Patton was brilliant, but Monty was a level above. Monty was ambitious wanting to get to beat the Germans first. A fault I guess, but a winner.
warriorprince1010 2 years ago
monty was overated, he shouldnt have been a field marshall. he wasnt in the same league as the german generals, especially rommel,von manstien,von runstedt and guderian!!1
goldyn12345 2 years ago
@dave4248 The failure that was Market Garden says hello.
WTCTribute 1 year ago
@WTCTribute..... The failure that was Kasserine Pass, Anzio, Rapido River says hello right back.
shankly01 1 year ago
@dave4248 He was not a great military man, he was an incompetant fool who lacked any innovation and absorbed fame for himself by winning campaigns in theatres where the Germans & Italians had little to no chance of victory. Just look at Caen, he made a mockery of the commonwealth contribution to overlord then lied about his objectives to cover up his own incompetance. Americans are right to criticize him, and im British so dont accuse me of being some kind of American super patriot.
thewalkereffect 1 year ago
@thewalkereffect Calling Monty an "incompetant fool" destroys your argument. He was many things - arrogant, concieted, egomaniacal, tactless, insulting, bullying, self-obsessed and self-glorifying - but incompetant and a fool he was not. An incompetant general couldn't have won a single battle even with all the advantages, a fool wouldn't play to the strengths of his own forces.
11nytram11 10 months ago
@thewalkereffect Americans dont have a leg to stand on when the criticise him mainly because they never look at the careers of their own generals with the fine-toothed comb they use to review Monty. They criticise him so they can build up Eisenhower, Bradley & Patton. They have never even attempted to find half as many percieved faults, let a lone real ones, with their own generls. Without that fair ballance in reviewing their criticism of Monty is biased and not reliable.
11nytram11 10 months ago