Salerno Discussion

[Sublime]

Joch, in Atkinson's book he mentions Montgomery thought the whole thing was off and being done wrong.

It also mentions the famous scene before Husky where he gets the plan changed by using his breath on the bathroom mirror.

Also, in reference to the British soldiers from 8th Army comment about it being like a holiday - The Messina Crossing by 8th Army was described by participants as a regatta, etc. The holiday stroll comment was from 8th Army troops going up Calabria.

Joch does have a point about the generals, if I dont exactly agree on the level of command. For example Eisenhower during Torch - of course he had great influence, but was continually chastised for not paying enough attention to the battlefield opposed to greater issues of politics and the allied situation. However in retrospect I think he had little choice in the matter, as the political situation was that much more complex than say Normandy, and the Allies were still getting used to eachother. Still he was at such a high level of command that while the Allied armies perhaps suffered under his lack of focus on the battlefield, they still prevailed. Jason makes a good point about Fredendall and Atkinson goes to lengths to discuss Fredendalls alcoholism, distance from reality, and ridiculous orders to make a gigantic 'air raid shelter' bunker complex nearly 100 miles from the front lines.

[Chek]

Btw JonS you're qoute is just pure poetry mate.