Patton, whose ego obviously matched Montgomery's, called Monty a "timid little fart." Montgomery's tactics in North Africa were credited by Eisenhower with turning the War, but his decisions in the Ardenne (op market garden) were a disaster. He was a meticulous, over-thinking-everything twit for sure, but mostly an asset to Eisenhower. I always figured that he resented the Americans being in charge on his soil and what he considered his war to fight. Not altogether surprising for a commanding general.Anybody else on here think Monty was a doofus? And don't get me started on the French.
He was also pompous azz who did everything he could to make Ike's life miserable like demanding to be put in charge of all ground forces in Europe. If Ike had let him have that we'd still be fighting in France. He botched Antwerp and Market Garden. He never fought until he had an overwhelming logistical advantage.Patton, whose ego obviously matched Montgomery's, called Monty a "timid little fart." Montgomery's tactics in North Africa were credited by Eisenhower with turning the War, but his decisions in the Ardenne (op market garden) were a disaster. He was a meticulous, over-thinking-everything twit for sure, but mostly an asset to Eisenhower. I always figured that he resented the Americans being in charge on his soil and what he considered his war to fight. Not altogether surprising for a commanding general.
I toured Normandy 10 or so years ago. What struck me was the length of the beaches with basically no cover at low tide. Talk about a killing field. Pointe du Hoc was unimaginable scaling that with the Germans right on top.
You don't fully appreciate until seeing it.
Interesting article about Point du Hoc linked and the historical "controversy" about its importance as an objective in the invasion. (contains a reference to an Aggy that I'm sure some of you might find interesting)
I'm biased (see screen name), but I can't recommend enough the National WWII museum here in N.O.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...e-been-unnecessary/ar-AACi2Lq?ocid=spartandhp
That's the way I read it as well. This was the first I had ever heard of Battery Maisy and its importance.correct me if i have this wrong, but the orders were still to first capture point du hoc and then move to the other installation?
Interesting article about Point du Hoc linked and the historical "controversy" about its importance as an objective in the invasion. (contains a reference to an Aggy that I'm sure some of you might find interesting)
I'm biased (see screen name), but I can't recommend enough the National WWII museum here in N.O.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...e-been-unnecessary/ar-AACi2Lq?ocid=spartandhp
He was also pompous azz who did everything he could to make Ike's life miserable like demanding to be put in charge of all ground forces in Europe. If Ike had let him have that we'd still be fighting in France. He botched Antwerp and Market Garden. He never fought until he had an overwhelming logistical advantage.
Rant over.
Aggies gonna Aggy. So Bud disobeys orders and attacks where the guns aren't? Then parlayed that into the job as head aggy? Wonder if that's going on the stadium wall?Interesting article about Point du Hoc linked and the historical "controversy" about its importance as an objective in the invasion. (contains a reference to an Aggy that I'm sure some of you might find interesting)
I'm biased (see screen name), but I can't recommend enough the National WWII museum here in N.O.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...e-been-unnecessary/ar-AACi2Lq?ocid=spartandhp
Everytime I have watched the Bridge Over the River Kwai, Alec Guinness portrayed the British guy exactly as I pictured Monty. An arrogant, know-it-all idiot that would never admit being wrong no matter how many men it got killed.Anybody else on here think Monty was a doofus? And don't get me started on the French.
Yep, they went through about 5 D-Days. Maybe not the scale in terms of size, but in terms of horrific beach landings.D-day gets all the press but there was one whale of a battle going on in the Pacific around this time too.
That's the way I read it as well. This was the first I had ever heard of Battery Maisy and its importance.
To your point, Point du Hoc had to be taken first. And based on the casualty figures it was obviously well defended and a difficult task. The article just highlights history's account of Point du Hoc as the main focus when more recent findings indicate the German gun placements had been moved from their prior to D-Day.
I merely shared the article because I hadn't heard of Battery Maisy until yesterday.
Your plan goes out the window as soon as you make contact with the enemy anyway. But still, Rudder has been lionized for his role at Pointe du hoc, and it appears he screwed the pooch. Which prepared him well for his tenure at aggy.
Eye-opening, to say the very least...An interesting tale of Winston, Ike and the King, plus some of S.L.A. Marshall's coverage of the invasion:
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-06-06/churchill-ike-epic-human-tragedy-first-wave-omaha
D-day gets all the press but there was one whale of a battle going on in the Pacific around this time too.
And that’s why a lot of people from that time didnt really care about what the atomic bombs did.I had a classmate in an undergrad psychology class who was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. In terms of atrocities, I can't imagine what could ever match it- Japanese soldiers cutting off American's fingers to take their rings, denying men water just to watch them die, men who passed out on their feet on the side of the road intentionally run over by every vehicle in the convoy, trucks passing by with Japanese soldiers leaning out, randomly slashing throats. . . 40 years later the man still couldn't approach it without breaking down. I think that's probably why he took the class, hoping to find some relief.