Quote:
Originally Posted by dragoon500ly
When I bought Hastings book, I was hoping for a detailed look into the British Army during the battle, its a decent overview of that. but Hastings pretty much blows off the accomplisments of the US Army, indeed, one is left with the opinion that if that idiot Eisenhower had simply shown the good sense to anoint dear Monty as ground forces commander, the war would have been over in time for the August holidays.
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I don't know about the Monty thing. Hastings was pretty critical of Monty in
Armageddon (his history of the last year of WWII in Europe), and his portrayal of Monty's handling of the multiple offensives around Caen during the Normandy campaign in
Overlord was none too flattering either.
On a side note, reading Hastings'
Overlord in high school (thank goodness for that free period) is what turned me on to WII.
I just want to know what Australians think about his accusations. I've read nothing but good things about the Aussies in North Africa and Anthony Beevor (in his recent single volume history of WWII), gives them props for their near superhuman efforts on the Kokoda trail. Heaven knows that not all American units peformed admirably during the war- we kind of bungled our way through North Africa and it was touch-and-go a couple of times in Italy- so I'm not trying to stir up trouble here along national fault lines. I'd just like the Australian POV on the matter.