Ten Famous Generals of World War II Series: Montgomery (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Ge Yewen (Translated)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Montgomery was an outstanding British military leader during World War II. He defeated the "Afrika Korps" in the Battle of El Alamein, turning the tide of the North African campaign, and was known as Rommel's nemesis, bringing hope for Britain's victory. He led his troops to land in Normandy, advancing deep into mainland Europe, restoring the reputation of the British army. During war, he was resolute and firm; in adversity, he was tenacious and unyielding; in victory, he was lenient and kind; and in peace, he was friendly and amiable. Montgomery's life was full of legends. Born on November 17, 1887, in a clergyman's family in Kensington, London, he moved to Tasmania, Australia, with his father, Bishop Henry Montgomery, when he was less than two years old. Upon returning to Britain in 1902, he was sent to St. Paul's School. In January 1907, he entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In September 1908, he was assigned to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and stationed in India. When World War I broke out in 1914, he initially served as a lieutenant and company commander, participating in combat. In one battle, he was wounded in the chest and legs and had to be hospitalized for treatment. After recovering, he was appointed as a regimental staff officer and again fought on the front lines. The gunpowder of the battlefield repeatedly put him in danger, but he always turned misfortune into good fortune. Montgomery's military career spanned 50 years, with a service record longer than Wellington, Marlborough, and Monk. After retiring, he continued to engage in international and domestic political activities for 10 years before completely withdrawing from public life in 1968. He focused his energy on three areas: visiting countries to share insights on international relations; writing historical works and scripts for television and radio; and participating in domestic politics. As a result, he not only met with many famous political figures such as Stalin, Khrushchev, Tito, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Nehru but also authored five works: "Memoirs," "The Art of Judgment," "The Path to Leadership," "Three Continents," and "A History of Warfare."