1 of 40:
The Fifth Star: A Market Garden Story in 40 Tweets
The Fifth Star: A Market Garden Story in 40 Tweets
2 of 40:
It’s Tuesday! While we're not doing #TuesdayTrivia, as part of our Operation MARKET-GARDEN story, Tragic Ambition, we do have a related question:
Which of these Allied Officers was awarded a fifth star first?
A. Bradley
B. Eisenhower
C. Marshall
D. Montgomery
It’s Tuesday! While we're not doing #TuesdayTrivia, as part of our Operation MARKET-GARDEN story, Tragic Ambition, we do have a related question:
Which of these Allied Officers was awarded a fifth star first?
A. Bradley
B. Eisenhower
C. Marshall
D. Montgomery
3 of 40:
The answer is Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery.
The answer is Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery.
4 of 40:
Since the end of WWII, the Army and the Department of Defense have lauded the benefits of international partnership. “We can’t fight alone” has become an oft-repeated slogan
Since the end of WWII, the Army and the Department of Defense have lauded the benefits of international partnership. “We can’t fight alone” has become an oft-repeated slogan
5 of 40:
We talk all the time of our nation’s first ally, France, and her assistance in winning our independence from the British.
We talk all the time of our nation’s first ally, France, and her assistance in winning our independence from the British.
6 of 40:
But in the years between Lafayette and WWII, American forces didn’t have a lot of experience working with allies.
But in the years between Lafayette and WWII, American forces didn’t have a lot of experience working with allies.
7 of 40:
There was the Eight Nation Alliance in 1900, and of course America’s entry into WWI and limited involvement in the Russian Civil War. But WWII was different.
There was the Eight Nation Alliance in 1900, and of course America’s entry into WWI and limited involvement in the Russian Civil War. But WWII was different.
8 of 40:
Especially in the European Theater, the Allies’ ability to work together was crucial to the overall success in defeating the Axis Powers. SHAEF was the top of that alliance. (SHAEF = Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force)
Especially in the European Theater, the Allies’ ability to work together was crucial to the overall success in defeating the Axis Powers. SHAEF was the top of that alliance. (SHAEF = Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force)
9 of 40:
General Dwight Eisenhower was the commander of SHAEF, and it was up to him to maintain the working relationships between more than a dozen countries AND win the war in Europe.
General Dwight Eisenhower was the commander of SHAEF, and it was up to him to maintain the working relationships between more than a dozen countries AND win the war in Europe.
10 of 40:
And like any relationship, alliances aren’t always easy to maintain. Sometimes there are disagreements.
And like any relationship, alliances aren’t always easy to maintain. Sometimes there are disagreements.
11 of 40:
One of those rough spots manifested in the weeks leading up to Operation Market Garden
One of those rough spots manifested in the weeks leading up to Operation Market Garden
12 of 40:
Just 17 days before the 1st Allied Airborne Army jumped into Nijmegen, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery is awarded a 5th star. This promotion upset many American generals, for several reasons.
Just 17 days before the 1st Allied Airborne Army jumped into Nijmegen, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery is awarded a 5th star. This promotion upset many American generals, for several reasons.
13 of 40:
At the beginning of September 1944, Churchill wisely agreed that Ike would assume command of all Allied ground forces. This effectively meant a *demotion* for Monty, who commanded Allied ground forces successfully up to that point
At the beginning of September 1944, Churchill wisely agreed that Ike would assume command of all Allied ground forces. This effectively meant a *demotion* for Monty, who commanded Allied ground forces successfully up to that point
14 of 40:
Although Monty had been awarded the Legion of Merit by the US Congress in 1943 for his actions in North Africa, some felt that Monty’s battle record in Europe was less than perfect.
Although Monty had been awarded the Legion of Merit by the US Congress in 1943 for his actions in North Africa, some felt that Monty’s battle record in Europe was less than perfect.
15 of 40:
By autumn 1944, Monty was under some criticism for his 2-month long effort to capture Caen. Some feel this criticism was mostly unjustified & largely came from people who didn’t understand Monty’s approach.
By autumn 1944, Monty was under some criticism for his 2-month long effort to capture Caen. Some feel this criticism was mostly unjustified & largely came from people who didn’t understand Monty’s approach.
16 of 40:
In truth, the fighting went according to Monty’s plan in Normandy: he had always intended to attract and pin the German panzer divisions on the left flank of the Allied line, enabling Bradley's troops to break out on the right flank.
In truth, the fighting went according to Monty’s plan in Normandy: he had always intended to attract and pin the German panzer divisions on the left flank of the Allied line, enabling Bradley's troops to break out on the right flank.
17 of 40:
So, after Normandy, here’s the architect of Operation Overlord, Monty, essentially getting demoted in front of the world and removed from his role as Commander of Land Forces.
So, after Normandy, here’s the architect of Operation Overlord, Monty, essentially getting demoted in front of the world and removed from his role as Commander of Land Forces.
18 of 40:
Churchill’s promotion of Monty helps take some of the sting out of the demotion.
Churchill’s promotion of Monty helps take some of the sting out of the demotion.
19 of 40:
Why promote Monty? Well, the war was coming to a close. That much was clear. To stay a global power, Churchill knew the Brits would need a major role in reshaping Europe after the eventual German surrender.
Why promote Monty? Well, the war was coming to a close. That much was clear. To stay a global power, Churchill knew the Brits would need a major role in reshaping Europe after the eventual German surrender.
20 of 40:
By promoting Montgomery, Churchill achieved several political goals. First, as it stood, much of the senior Allied command was now American. So now Monty outranked his boss, Ike.
By promoting Montgomery, Churchill achieved several political goals. First, as it stood, much of the senior Allied command was now American. So now Monty outranked his boss, Ike.
21 of 40:
Of course, by position, Ike outranked Monty (and that’s what really mattered most in terms of chain of command in Europe).
Of course, by position, Ike outranked Monty (and that’s what really mattered most in terms of chain of command in Europe).
22 of 40:
Second, once the Yanks went home, Churchill ensured that Monty would be the most-senior ranking officer in post-war Europe, thus ensuring the British would have a key role in reshaping the continent after the war.
Second, once the Yanks went home, Churchill ensured that Monty would be the most-senior ranking officer in post-war Europe, thus ensuring the British would have a key role in reshaping the continent after the war.
23 of 40:
One thing that would really help Churchill advance these political goals is a daring, successful (and British-led) victory.
One thing that would really help Churchill advance these political goals is a daring, successful (and British-led) victory.
24 of 40:
On paper, they had one. A bold, ambitious strike to close in on and trap the Germans. It was called Operation Comet – an airborne assault by the British 1st Airborne Division (alone) to capture the bridges at Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem.
On paper, they had one. A bold, ambitious strike to close in on and trap the Germans. It was called Operation Comet – an airborne assault by the British 1st Airborne Division (alone) to capture the bridges at Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem.
25 of 40:
Bad weather delayed Operation Comet, and reports of larger enemy formations meant that while waiting for the clouds to clear, the plan had to evolve to include a ground offensive as well.
Bad weather delayed Operation Comet, and reports of larger enemy formations meant that while waiting for the clouds to clear, the plan had to evolve to include a ground offensive as well.
26 of 40:
As the re-named Operation Market-Garden, it now included 3 airborne divisions (2 US, 1 British) as well as the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade.
As the re-named Operation Market-Garden, it now included 3 airborne divisions (2 US, 1 British) as well as the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade.
27 of 40:
Now the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions would be under Monty’s command for the operation.
Now the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions would be under Monty’s command for the operation.
28 of 40:
There were some concerns raised with the plan (we’ll get to the intelligence warnings tomorrow).
There were some concerns raised with the plan (we’ll get to the intelligence warnings tomorrow).
29 of 40:
Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski, commander of the Polish Independent Brigade, told Browning (the 1st British Airborne Division commander) that the plan could not possibly succeed.
Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski, commander of the Polish Independent Brigade, told Browning (the 1st British Airborne Division commander) that the plan could not possibly succeed.
30 of 40:
On September 10th 1944, Monty went to see Eisenhower in Brussels. They met on an airfield in Ike’s plane. Ike approved the plan despite his reservations.
On September 10th 1944, Monty went to see Eisenhower in Brussels. They met on an airfield in Ike’s plane. Ike approved the plan despite his reservations.
31 of 40:
So, side note – Not directly related to Operation Market Garden, there was another result of Monty’s promotion: the subsequent promotion to Five Star rank of American generals.
So, side note – Not directly related to Operation Market Garden, there was another result of Monty’s promotion: the subsequent promotion to Five Star rank of American generals.
32 of 40:
This was (and remains) completely unnecessary and was just done to keep up with the British Joneses. It was a pointless effort though. The fifth star added no responsibility or authority.
This was (and remains) completely unnecessary and was just done to keep up with the British Joneses. It was a pointless effort though. The fifth star added no responsibility or authority.
33 of 40:
Going back to our #TuesdayTrivia question - interestingly, many people think our first 5-star was Eisenhower. Not so. Marshall beat him to it by 4 days (Dec 16, 1944 vs Dec 20, 1944).
Going back to our #TuesdayTrivia question - interestingly, many people think our first 5-star was Eisenhower. Not so. Marshall beat him to it by 4 days (Dec 16, 1944 vs Dec 20, 1944).
34 of 40:
We had a number of 5 stars, to include US Army General Hap Arnold and the @USNavy’s Admiral Chester Nimitz.
We had a number of 5 stars, to include US Army General Hap Arnold and the @USNavy’s Admiral Chester Nimitz.
35 of 40:
Arnold, by the way, is the only American to hold a 5-star rank in two different US military services: the @USArmy and the @USAirForce
Arnold, by the way, is the only American to hold a 5-star rank in two different US military services: the @USArmy and the @USAirForce
36 of 40:
Anyway, this quick succession of unnecessary promotions to 5-star underscores our earlier point: the rivalries inherent in the Alliance led to some odd decisions.
Anyway, this quick succession of unnecessary promotions to 5-star underscores our earlier point: the rivalries inherent in the Alliance led to some odd decisions.
37 of 40:
Nonetheless, as we’ll see in the coming weeks, these political decisions did not necessarily cause Market Garden to fail. But they didn’t help.
Nonetheless, as we’ll see in the coming weeks, these political decisions did not necessarily cause Market Garden to fail. But they didn’t help.
38 of 40:
Montgomery continues to cast an enormous shadow over history and there is much debate over his role in leading Operation Market Garden.
Montgomery continues to cast an enormous shadow over history and there is much debate over his role in leading Operation Market Garden.
39 of 40:
Now, we know we’re going to get blasted in the comments by Americans who feel we’re not being hard enough on Monty. And we’re going to get blasted by those who feel Monty’s plan was justified. This is day 2 or 25 – we’ll get to it.
Now, we know we’re going to get blasted in the comments by Americans who feel we’re not being hard enough on Monty. And we’re going to get blasted by those who feel Monty’s plan was justified. This is day 2 or 25 – we’ll get to it.
Final:
So, let’s all come together and discuss it. How much blame does Montgomery deserve for Market Garden? You’ve got an opinion. Let’s hear it.
So, let’s all come together and discuss it. How much blame does Montgomery deserve for Market Garden? You’ve got an opinion. Let’s hear it.
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