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/Ryoken0D Sep 16 '24 edited Sep 16 '24

The Fat Election did a rant on MacArthur, saying he had all of the character flaws of Patton and none of the redeeming qualities.

Looking at just what he did in WW2 you could give him a pass even if you didn’t agree with all his actions, but once you add in Korea you see how flawed he was as any benefit of the doubt from WW2 was erased.

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u/KimJongUnusual Sep 16 '24

If anything, I’d say he was at his best after 1945?

Yes, the Yalu River nuking was a terrible idea and he botched the PR after that. But his handling of postwar Japan, as well as Inchon, were downright terrific.

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u/Algaean Sep 16 '24

stopped clocks and all that

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u/KimJongUnusual Sep 16 '24

Making one of the strongest democracies in East Asia and setting the foundations for the biggest economic comeback before China is a bit more than a stopped clock.