| "When some of Pattons units came up against determined German resistance they were stopped as effectively as Montgomery."
Wrong again. Patton swept through the Germans at every stand and only stopped when he ran out of fuel as it had been given to Montgomery who then sat on it. At the Battle of the Bulge Patton moved an entire Army virtually overnite from one heated engagement in the Ruhr to relieve Bastogne in another. They traveled more than a hundred miles. A feat that nobody thought could be done. Montgomery was the master of the set piece battle but he was no assault force commander of instant decision and lightning speed - Patton was. It wasn't all "open ground" either that he took his men through. It may be comforting to you to think you won the war all on your lonesome and that the US was a bunch of amatuer hangers on, but history knows better. There was afterall another army there besides the British and the Americans - ask the Germans they know who was their main threat.
You are entirely correct, however, that both the Americans and the British needed each other to win the war. We just did alot more than be "masters of the build-up". Your army fought bravely and well, your intelligence was first rate, and your people offered us your hearts and your homes. I find it unfortunate that in defending Montgomery you felt it necessary to denigrate the American commanders and soldiers.
Britain did have an assault force commander of decision though in the person of General Slim. It was a mistake to venerate Montgomery because he gave you a victory at El Alamain when you desperately needed one and have largely forgotten Slim who did so much more. Many historians feel that that is so only because Slim was from the British Indian Army and Montgomery from the regulars. The Indian Army was considered of much lower distinction and merely by serving in it Slim was cheated out of the laurals he deserved.
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"Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings."
- Frederick the Great, King of Prussia  |