Relations with generals

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Whilst Churchill did have some limited military experience, vastly outsized by his generals.
Strong supporter of new ideas:
- Mulberry harboours
- Tanks
- RAF

Sometimes generals criticised his antiquated views:
- Ismay said that: Churchill ‘does not appreciate the changes that have taken place in modern times’
- Field Marshal Wavell complained: ‘Winston’s tactical ideas had to some extent crystallised at the South African War of 1899.’

Churhcill also made some mistakes in the wrar such as demanding the pointless sacrifice of Claude Nicholson and his men of Calais.

Question 2

Sir Alan Brooke

Answer 2

From March 1942, Broke was the foremost military advisor to Churchill. They had a tempestuous relationship – Churchill: ‘when I thump the table and push my face towards him, what does he do? Thumps the table harder and glares back at me.’

There is a lot in Alan Brooke’s diary that criticises Churchill’s strategic ability, but as Best points out, the entries were ‘instantly recorded for private consumption’.

For example: ‘[we have] a peevish temperamental prima donna of a Prime Minister’… In September 1944, Broke wrote: ‘it is far better that the world should never know, and never suspect the feet of clay of that otherwise superhuman being’.

HE, in this same passage, writes ‘Never have I admired and despised a man simultaneously to the same extent’… Captures there relationship  they were not friends… Brooke would not visit Chartwell like other military leaders.

HE, in calmer moments Brooke was a lot kinder saying that ‘I thank God that I was given an opportunity of working alongside such a man’ and that ‘he is quite the most wonderful man I have ever met’.

Question 3

Sir Archibald Wavell

Answer 3

Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East, Sept 1939 – June 1941.

Churchill disliked Wavell because too cautious. Wavell scored first land British victory of war when he freed Eqypft from foreign troops and captured some 40,000 Italians as pow. Even then Churchill refused to grant him due credit.

Often Wavell unfairly received blame, such as in 1940 War Cabinet order 55,000 of Wavell’s troops in North Africa to be sent to defend Greece from the Italians. When the attack failed, Churchill blamed Wavell.

He was sacked on 21st June 1941 with approval of Chiefs of Staff… Channon noted Wavell; s demotion was ‘a sacrifice to Winston’s personal dislike’.

Question 4

Sir Claude Auchinleck

Answer 4

Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East, July 1941-August 1942

Churchill liked Auchinleck, but also seemed too cautious to Churchill - particularly when he insisted on delaying an attack against Germans in North Africa.

In August 1942, fed up with inaction, Churchill flew to N. Africa and sacked Auchinleck, later writiig ‘we must use Auchinleck again’ stating that ‘it is atrocious to remove a good General’. HE he removed him because he believed the army needed a moral boost in North Africa… ‘I saw that Army. It was a broken, baffled Army’.

Question 5

Sir Bernard Montgomery

Answer 5

Commander in Chief of Middle East Command, August 1942-1944

Won over Churchill… ‘in Montgomery we have a highly competent daring and energetic solider… if he is disagreeable to those about him, he is also disagreeable to the enemy’.

HE, also aware of his ego… noting that ‘in defeat unbeatable, in victory unbearable’.

HE, Montgomery delivered decisive 2nd el Alamein victory… turning point… Bells rung back in britain for the first time since 1939.
Churchill reflected: ‘before Alamein, we never had a victory – after Alamein, we never had a defeat’.

Question 6

Sir John Dill

Answer 6

Sir John Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff was nicknamed ‘Dilly-Dally’ and removed ASAP.