THE GREATEST DRAMA FIELD MARSHALL BERNARD MONTGOMERY BIOGRAPHY 56534

This​ ​episode of the 1950s TV show "The Greatest Drama", ​“The​ ​Black​ ​Beret​ ​Field​ ​Marshal​ ​Montgomery”,​​ ​First​ ​Viscount​ ​Montgomery​.​ ​Nicknamed ‘Monty’​ ​he​ ​fought​ ​in​ ​both​ ​WW1​ ​and​ ​WW2​ ​earning​ ​himself​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​rank​ ​in​ ​the​ ​British army,​ ​Field​ ​Marshal.​ ​The​ ​film​ ​begins​ ​with​ ​his​ ​place​ ​of​ ​birth​ ​in​ ​Kensington,​ ​Surrey,​ ​England​ ​(:36).​ ​The narrator​ ​explains​ ​father,​ ​the​ ​popular​ ​Reverend​ ​Henry​ ​Montgomery​ ​hoped​ ​Monty ​would follow​ ​in​ ​his​ ​footsteps,​ ​yet​ ​would​ ​be​ ​disappointed​ ​and​ ​Monty would​ ​enroll​ ​in​ ​RMS Sandhurst​ ​instead.​ ​Montgomery​ ​was​ ​nearly​ ​expelled,​ ​however​ ​from​ ​the​ ​white​ ​pillared school​ ​(1:16),​ ​and​ ​projected​ ​to​ ​fail​ ​early​ ​in​ ​his​ ​service​ ​by​ ​superiors​ ​due​ ​to​ ​“bully”​ ​like nature​ ​and​ ​sharp​ ​tongue.​ ​Much​ ​later​ ​in​ ​life,​ ​faithful​ ​friend​ ​Winston​ ​Churchill​ ​says​ ​of Monty​ ​“In​ ​defeat,​ ​unbeatable;​ ​in​ ​victory,​ ​unbearable.” ​​ ​​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​first​ ​World​ ​War,​ ​Monty ​is​ ​only​ ​a​ ​lieutenant.​ ​During​ ​the​ ​twenty​ ​interwar years​ ​he​ ​has​ ​become​ ​General​ ​Officer​ ​Commanding​ ​Officer​ ​8th​ ​Infantry​ ​Division,​ ​yet​ ​is still​ ​unpopular​ ​due​ ​to​ ​a​ ​belief​ ​in​ ​mechanized​ ​armies.​ ​He​ ​would​ ​be​ ​proven​ ​right by the ​Blitzkrieg​ ​​(1:11).​ ​A​ ​sign​ ​for​ ​Public​ ​Air​ ​Raid​ ​Shelter​ ​flashes​ ​by​ ​(2:46)​ ​and​ ​Montgomery's​ ​home​ ​along​ ​with much​ ​of​ ​Britain​ ​is​ ​left​ ​burning.​ ​Monty’s​ ​wife​ ​is​ ​killed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​attack​. ​ Meanwhile,​ ​Winston​ ​Churchill​ ​had​ ​become​ ​Prime​ ​Minister​ ​and​ ​moved​ ​into​ ​10​ ​Downing Street​ ​(3:12).​ ​Churchill​ ​promotes​ ​Monty​ ​to​ ​Command​ ​of​ ​the​ ​British​ ​Eighth​ ​Army​ ​in​ ​Africa. The​ ​words​ ​and​ ​date​ ​El​ ​Alamien​ ​1942​ ​appear​ ​on​ ​screen​ ​(3:12).​ ​Monty,​ ​donning​ ​the​ ​donated​ ​‘lucky’​ ​black beret​ ​which​ ​he​ ​becomes​ ​known​ ​for​ ​is​ ​shown​ ​(3:33)​ ​and​ ​he​ ​sets​ ​to​ ​prepare​ ​his​ ​troops​ ​for an​ ​offensive.​ ​However,​ ​​set​ ​up against​ ​the​ ​‘desert​ ​fox’,​ ​Erwin​ ​Rommel. Monty ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​instill​ ​his​ ​own​ ​confidence​ ​in​ ​his​ ​troops​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are pictured​ ​bracing​ ​for​ ​an​ ​assault​ ​(4:17).​ ​On​ ​the​ ​outcome​ ​of​ ​this​ ​assault,​ ​rests​ ​the​ ​fate​ ​of Egypt​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​Monty's​ ​future​ ​military​ ​career.​ Destroyed​ ​German​ ​tanks​ ​lay​ ​in​ ​heaps​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sand​ ​(5:03)​ ​and​ ​Monti’s​ ​pursuit continues.​The​ ​German​ ​military​ ​had been​ ​shoved​ ​back​ ​over​ ​1400​ ​miles​ ​from​ ​Egypt​ ​to​ ​Tripoli,​ ​forcing​ ​the​ ​high​ ​Command​ ​to recognize​ ​defeat​ ​and​ ​retreat (5:55).​ ​Field​ ​Marshal​ ​Montgomery​ ​a​ ​hero. ​Later​ ​in​ ​Italy​ ​in​ ​1943,​ ​tank​ ​warfare​ ​would​ ​be​ ​deemed​ ​sluggish​ ​and​ ​painful​ ​despite Monti's​ ​prior​ ​success​ ​(6:26).​ ​He​ ​is​ ​soon​ ​summoned​ ​back​ ​to​ ​Britain​ ​and​ ​must​ ​bid​ ​his troops​ ​goodbye​ ​(7:06).​ ​Upon​ ​returning​ ​he​ ​has​ ​now​ ​developed​ ​a​ ​‘new​ ​personality’​ ​a friendly​ ​contrast​ ​to​ ​the​ ​undiplomatic​ ​bull​ ​depicted​ ​previously.​ ​He​ ​speaks​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time (7:25),​ ​and​ ​is​ ​quoted​ ​explaining​ ​how​ ​the​ ​war​ ​was​ ​taking​ ​a​ ​turn​ ​for​ ​the​ ​better​ ​because​ ​of the​ ​British​ ​Army,​ ​because​ ​they​ ​had​ ​“the​ ​best​ ​equipment,​ ​and​ ​we’ve​ ​got​ ​the​ ​best​ ​men, and​ ​women​ ​too!” ​ ​Eisenhower,​ ​Montgomery,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​high​ ​Command,​ ​are​ ​shown​ ​formulating​ ​the​ ​final push​ ​(7:54-9),​​ ​on​ ​D-Day​ ​(8:19).​ ​ ​Eisenhower​ ​and​ ​Monty ​receive​ ​news​ ​the​ ​beach​ ​heads​ ​have​ ​been​ ​firmly​ ​secured​ ​(8:40). Monty​ ​prepares​ ​to​ ​land​ ​on​ ​the​ ​shore​ ​to​ ​face​ ​his​ ​men​ ​(8:52). ​ ​​ ​Once​ ​again​ ​the​ ​Monty ​is​ ​up​ ​against​ ​the​ ​German​ ​Commander,​ ​Erwin​ ​Rommel.​ ​​Rommel's​ ​gravesite​ ​flashes​ ​on​ ​scene​ ​(9:03)​.​ ​Buildings​ ​crumble​ ​and​ ​fall​ ​(9:18)​ ​in​ ​Italy​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​a​ ​stunning​ ​view​ ​of​ ​bombs tumbling​ ​down​ ​from​ ​fighter​ ​planes,​ ​and​ ​exploding​ ​back​ ​upwards​ ​(9:20).​ ​German​ ​troops retreat​ ​and​ ​surrender​ ​below​ ​(9:31).​ ​​ One​ ​last​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​encircle​ ​Berlin​ ​from​ ​all​ ​fronts​ ​ensues​ ​(10:00).​ ​Tanks​ ​are​ ​driven through​ ​the​ ​fields​ ​in​ ​Germany​ ​(10:06).​ ​Germany​ ​is​ ​subsequently​ ​beaten​ (10:18-10:26).​ ​At​ ​the​ ​height​ ​of his​ ​military​ ​career,​ ​Monti​ ​announces​ ​the​ ​German​ ​surrender​ ​to​ ​Allied​ ​forces​ ​(10:44). King​ ​George​ ​arrives​ ​from​ ​England​ ​and​ ​is shown​ ​briefly​ ​shaking​ ​his​ ​hand​ ​(11:19).​ ​ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@Jabberstax]

It may be trendy to belittle Monty these days but he achieved a great victory in Africa and Operation Overload was his plan. That deserves respect in my book.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Montgomery was the most successful Western Allied ground commander of WW2 by some way. He took more ground through more countries while facing more quality German opposition than any other Western Allied ground commander in WW2.

[@ahmadbaret1698]

thank u for sharing this video, the legend

[@JoeHinojosa-ph8yw]

He had big ones in WW1. As an officer he led the charge against German trenches with Webley in hand. He got shot in the chest and knee. But he was too proud to die! He went back for more but was reassigned as a battle planner. Good job Monty! Here,here.

[@natasazieger3067]

wow amazing

[@oldvet7547]

Two words: Market Garden.

[@stuglenn1112]

That should have gotten both Him and Boy Browning sacked.

[@mikeohagan2206]

ha ha haaa. i have a cunning plan.

[@ThePierre58]

Germans joined the Army too.

[@thevillaaston7811]

@@stuglenn1112
'That should have gotten both Him and Boy Browning sacked.'
Why?..

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Stu Glenn,
Why should Montgomery have been sacked when Bradley, Hodges and Patton weren't sacked for the Hurtgen Forest, Lorraine and Operation Queen failures?
And who should have been sacked for allowing the Germans to smash through the American lines in the Ardennes, causing 90,000 allied casualties? Eisenhower or Bradley?

[@TheRanriegler]

Ran Riegler
no. 1 general of all times . rab el elamin. the general of turning point and the guardian of israel

[@Richard_K1630]

I Was Monty's Double.

[@numbynumb]

Seriously?

[@Dnvr8083]

He had interresting uniforms.☺

[@powderriver2424]

Monty was a good General, but his ego made him a legend in his own mind. Patton had no use for him that's for sure.

[@enthalpiaentropia7804]

you are right,Monty was useless,Patton did'nt need Monty

[@thevillaaston7811]

Marir Daniel
'Patton did'nt need Monty'
You are right. Patton slapped two US soldiers and got himself passed over for army group command all by himself.

[@thevillaaston7811]

A good point. I am just about to give someone called 'Cold Beer' a volley.

[@jamesmillar3548]

@@enthalpiaentropia7804 Monty had to double back in Sicily to save Patton's ass when Patton overshot his supply line with his tanks

[@DeniatitadenCompostela]

Patton was of no use to anybody after the war. As usual, a car accident takes care of the troublemakers.

[@richmcintyre1178]

All hail the lord and savior LOL I'll say this Monty could handle the PR like none other. It is a shame his achievements didn't keep pace with his ego. Rommel was "killed", hmm I thought he committed suicide. This piece of fiction makes it appear that Monty took him out. Bad luck old chap LOL

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Montgomerys achievements were in being the most successful Western Allied ground commander of WW2 by some way, taking more ground through more countries while facing more quality German opposition than any other Western Allied ground commander in WW2.

[@davidkimball7427]

This video is propaganda as opposed to information. Montgomery was a bully. Obnoxious even to Churchill. A review of how he got troops to win would be helpful. His sloppy preparation and execution of "Market Garden" greatly diminishes his reputation as a general. He wanted to be Supreme Commander but that could have seriously endangered the allied effort. His upbringing under his dysfunctional mother explains much of his bullying behavior. If he was so loved by the British, why were they eager to consider stories about child abuse about him after WW2. He was best when he put his arrogant ego aside.

[@thevillaaston7811]

Montgomery won at Alam el Halfa, Alamein, in Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, the Bulge and the Rhine.
Care to name an allied commandr with a better record over six years of war?
Fancy coming over to Britain to discuss it?..

[@thevillaaston7811]

I thought not.

[@reds7vn644]

Monty was a horrible general.
Whenever something went wrong he always pointed fingers and blamed other people, not taking responsibility like a real leader of men. Was he an egomaniac? He had a Rolls-Royce for a staff car! (Contrast that to Patton riding around in a Jeep. And for the US, Patton was considered egotistical!)
He claimed in 1945 that he alone was responsible for the allied victory when General Patton and the change in weather had a lot more to do with it.
After earlier allied losses, by the time Montgomery took over the North Africa campaign German resupply was almost totally cut off by allied air and sea power, and of course, ultimate victory came when throngs of American troops and supplies showed up.
Montgomery was something of a dilettante, petty and demanding while thinking nothing of undermining his own superiors. Monty ran staff meetings like a petulant school marm, no coughing, no smoking, no anything that would detract from attention paid to himself.
Move so slow in Sicily that Patton took over the island for him. Of course, Monty pouted and whined about it as well, not really studly behavior for such a celebrated hero.
The one time Montgomery came up with a bold and aggressive plan, it resulted in the debacle at Arnhem and failed to accomplish its goals.
Never having a good thing to say about other leaders, Montgomery continued to criticize Dwight Eisenhower after the war, and then even after Ike became president Monty criticized that! Monty kept up the verbal attacks into old age, severely criticizing the US military effort in Viet Nam. Montgomery, Alabama stripped Monty of his honorary citizenship. Even his enemies did not really admire him, an Italian officer challenging him to a duel!
Came close to losing Normandy because of hesitation and in action. He almost got fired by Eisenhower who was at wits end trying to get the notoriously cautious Montgomery to get up and move out of the beachhead.
He look like a Boy Scout running around in shorts, not a warrior.
He strutted about like a bantam rooster. Although professing to be homophobic, at least one biographer is convinced Monty was gay and there is a documented relationship with a 12 year old Swiss boy. Even if it was not “improper” it was odd to say the least.
He was a scared General. He was said to refuse to attack unless he had a 15 to 1 advantage. Moreover, Montgomery actually supported Apartheid in South Africa. What a legacy!

[@terrysmith9362]

what an ignorant comment

[@terrysmith9362]

its a pity you take you history from Stephen Ambrose whose anglophobia was legendary

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

"He was a scared General. He was said to refuse to attack unless he had a 15 to 1 advantage"
Monty beat Rommel at Alam Halfa with 4 divisions to Rommels 6 divisions.

[@shepleonard8695]

@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- 2 of the 6 Divisions were Italian which had obsolete tanks and they were Italian. They were not reliable troops.
The British had 700 tanks to the Germans 200 and the 240 obsolete Italian tanks.
The British had the high ground on the ridge.
In the air the Germans had 298 aircraft and 210 Italian aircraft.
The British had 400+ aircraft as well as U. S. Fighters
All this combined gave Monty a massive 3.5 to 1 advantage of nearly with the high ground.
So yes Monty NEVER went into battle without a MASSIVE advantage.

[@terrysmith9362]

@@shepleonard8695another comment based on Hollywood not facts