Taylor, Daniel Montgomery's Tactical Headquarters

From Alamein to the Baltic

It seems fair to say that Bernard Montgomery remains a controversial and polarising figure even fifty years after his death. Some see him as the greatest commander and strategist of his generation, others as a deeply flawed character who was solely responsible for all the misfortunes that befell the troops under his command. According to some assessments, he was responsible for sluggish and overly cautious campaigns in which he was unable or unwilling to admit anything that could be interpreted as failure. Others, however, believe that he made brilliant use of his limited personnel resources, overcoming a series of superior opponents in the process. Added to this is Montgomery's unique character. He seems to inspire a kind of reverence in some, but deep aversion in others. Certainly, he could come across as gruff and selfish, abrupt and prone to condescension. At the same time, he was a committed and dedicated professional soldier who was widely respected and skilfully nurtured young officers. This report therefore offers an opportunity to take a detailed look at the three crucial years that took him from El Alamein to the Baltic Sea and made him famous worldwide. To this end, the reader is guided through the environment in which his tactical headquarters operated, its organisation and equipment, while at the same time highlighting the campaigns he led and, in particular, the sometimes conflictual relationships on which much of the recorded history is based.