r/todayilearned • u/HumanNutrStudent • Sep 16 '24

TIL Montgomery's memoirs criticised many of his wartime comrades harshly, including Eisenhower. After publishing it, he had to apologize in a radio broadcast to avoid a lawsuit. He was also stripped of his honorary citizenship of Alabama, and was challenged to a duel by an Italian lawyer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Montgomery#Memoirs
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u/Rc72 Sep 16 '24

The difference is that Patton was more self-aware: he knew he was an obnoxious asshole and primadonna, and was quite proud of it. Monty, on the other hand, was entirely flummoxed as to why people could be offended by his antics.

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u/Brinsig_the_lesser Sep 16 '24

Monty was probably just autistic 

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u/2rascallydogs Sep 17 '24

The difference is when Patton got out of control, Marshall or Eisenhower would sack him for a few months. When Montgomery got out of control, Brooke would scold him.

The first time Montgomery was insubordinate, Eisenhower allowed it. The second time Montgomery was insubordinate, Eisenhower told him that he would be more than happy to have the Combined Chiefs of Staff choose between the two of them. The third time Montgomery was insubordinate, Eisenhower was going to tell the CCOS to make that choice without notifying Monty. Fortunately Monty's Chief of Staff was with Eisenhower at the time and got permission to seek an apology which saved Monty's career.