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Well, far be it from me to defend Monty, but I believe in giving the devil his due. Monty pursued the Afrika Corps across Northern Africa for a year (from mid-42 until the Germans started their withdrawal in March of 43, surrendering to the allies in mid-43), destroying the myth of Rommel the Invincible and permanently ending Hitler's drive to get mid-eastern oil. The British 8th army carried on while green Americans were taking a licking at Kasserine Pass.

Monty's performance in France in 1944 is certainly less than stellar, but I blame Ike for that, not Monty. When Patton broke out of the bocage in August of 44, Ike should have opportunistically supported the drive of the Third Army across the mid-section of France. He could have used Monty as a "pivot point" and surrounded the entire German army (the Schlieffen Plan -- in reverse!). Monty could always be counted on to not give any territory -- he just couldn't be counted on to take any, at least in a timely manner.

Anyway, I'm glad Monty held the numerical and material edge over Rommel in 1942 -- if he hadn't, things in Africa might have gotten quite sticky indeed.

Well, far be it from me to defend Monty, but I believe in giving the devil his due. Monty pursued the Afrika Corps across Northern Africa for a year (from mid-42 until the Germans started their withdrawal in March of 43, surrendering to the allies in mid-43), destroying the myth of Rommel the Invincible and permanently ending Hitler's drive to get mid-eastern oil.

My mama could have done the same thing.

Rommel ended El Alamein with 35 tanks. I think Montgomery had something like 800. His "pursuit" was tardy in the extreme. One Amercian oberver said the 8th Army approached the Mareth line (Rommels' Tunisian defenses) with all the speed and grace of a pachyderm.

Walt

Anyway, I'm glad Monty held the numerical and material edge over Rommel in 1942 -- if he hadn't, things in Africa might have gotten quite sticky indeed.

Thank the Russians. Without them, Montgomery would never have won a thing. :)

Walt