Bernard Law Montgomery contributed to the plans, execution, and aftermath of Operation Overlord. He was a decisive and competent leader and thus an invaluable source for the planning of the Allied invasion of France. He was a successful leader who helped plan and lead the Allies to ultimate victory. Monty was first placed in command of the 21st division, the British and Canadian Allied ground troops preparing for the invasion. Later he was placed in charge of all the Allied ground forces. Monty was rigid and a perfectionist, whereas Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, was a congenial leader who was understanding and friendly with all the Allies. Many Americans did not appreciate Monty’s exacting personality. However, Monty was a wonderful military leader because he believed in training his troops so that they would be prepared for the horrific fighting they would face in battle. Monty made the British forces into a modern army, and he was cunning and strategic. Therefore, Monty played a significant role in D-Day. Most importantly, his plan for the invasion, with some modification, was the plan the Allies used.
As a strategic leader, he was concerned about the planning for the initial invasion, known by the code name Neptune, and later as D-Day. Monty was a capable British officer for the planning of the invasion of Normandy. Because he was the leader of the ground troops, he had a responsibility to carry out the execution of the invasion plan. He fundamentally changed the plans for the invasion by suggesting a significant increase of soldiers to extend the line of the Allied forces. His plan after the invasion was to take back France from German control within a three-month timetable. His plan of attack was to seize Caen initially. He planned to position a group of Americans on one side and a group of British on the other side to distract the Germans from the Allied offensive. Caen was not only a large city in Normandy, but it was of utmost importance for the Allies to capture because it was the center of the transmission of information and transportation. Located near bodies of water, this would have been a key place for the Germans to dig in their heels and form a defensive position. The plan was to force the Germans to fight hard in defending Caen so that the Allies could sneak around the east side.
This did not happen in three months as Monty expected because the Allies had to fight longer and harder than had been planned. However, his ideas were an integral component in the considerations that went into the planning of this vital operation for the success of the Allies and the ultimate defeat of the German menace over Europe.
Because of the weather delaying the initial landing, it took longer than three months for the Allies to take back France and expel the Nazis. However, after the Nazis faced some decisive blows, they retreated into the Low Countries, like Belgium and the Netherlands. Monty planned to expel the Germans in the Low Countries with a powerful force.
Monty and Ike did not get along with each other because of personality differences. Also after the invasion of Normandy, Ike took over Monty’s position as Commander of the Ground Forces. Monty became jealous about this; thus, Monty and Ike remained estranged.
Despite his flaws, Monty was a very important leader in the Allied invasion of Normandy. He is remembered by some for his stubborn, arrogant personality and by others for his decisive ability to lead his troops into battle to defeat the enemy.
Recommended Readings
Barbier, Mary Kathryn. “Marshall and Montgomery: Promoters of Military
Professionalism.” Defence Studies 8, no. 3 (November 2008): 369-380.
“Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976).” BBC. Accessed January 26,
2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/montgomery_bernard.shtml.
Hamilton, Nigel. “Men Who Called the Shots; Montgomery; D-Day Anniversary.”
The Times (London, UK), Jun. 03, 1994.
Lewin, Ronald. Montgomery as Military Commander. Conshohocken, PA: Combined
Publishing, 1998.
Nolan, Cathal J. The Concise Encyclopedia of World War II. Santa Barbara, CA:
Greenwood Press, 2010.
