Hollow Heroes: An Unvarnished Look at the Wartime Careers of Churchill, Montgomery and Mountbatten

ISBN: 1612002730

Author: Arnold, Michael

Condition: New

The book reveals the truths behind the conventional images of three of Great Britain's primary military leaders during and immediately after the Second World War. In each case there was a totally different side to each man, which demonstrates that a great deal of their reputation was built on contrived results, deception and dishonesty.It examines the influence and impediment of class on the performance of the British Army in World War II, and quotes the views of the Americans that far too often there was an unwillingness among the British to base officer promotion on effectiveness rather than on social background; conforming was more important than performing, as anyone who has served in the British Armys ranks would agree. At the same time, Montgomery feared and was jealous of Patton, whose rate of advance was nearly always twice that of Montys.The services of Field Marshals Wavell and Auchinleck, two of Britains finest commanders of the war, were largely lost to Britain because of Churchills consistent interfering in field matters and his need to contrive almost anything to remain in power after he had been responsible for the fall of Singapore.This book includes the bizarre case of Major-General Dorman-Smith, one of Britains most brilliant original thinkers, who without reason was sacked by Churchill. Dorman-Smith was the tactician who had produced Britains victory over Rommel at the first battle of Alamein, but his crime seems have been overachievement; an unforgivable sin in some eyes. Mountbattens fumbling in India is also realistically portrayed in these pages, putting paid to the man for the centurys overly embellished reputation.Table of ContentsIntroduction-An Unholy TrinityChapter 1 Class and the British ArmyChapter 2 Churchill-The Black DogChapter 3 Montgomery-Military Messiah or Army Arriviste?Chapter 4 Mountbatten-Product of Protected PatronageChapter 5 Churchill and SingaporeChapter 6 The Monty MythChapter 7 Mountbatten-Disaster at DieppeChapter 8 Churchill-Meddling in the Middle EastChapter 9 Montgomery-Pretentious PlodderChapter 10 Mountbattens Malayan Madness-Operation ZipperChapter 11 Montgomerys Market Garden-ArnhemChapter 12 Montgomerys Bulge-the ArdennesChapter 13 Mountbattens Catastrophe-Indian IndependenceChapter 14 World War II without Churchill?Chapter 15 Unsung Heroes-Wavell and AuchinleckChapter 16 The Hidden Hero-Major-General Eric Dorman-SmithChapter 17 Final CountdownNotesBibliographyIndex