Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives - Hardcover

Caddick-Adams, Peter

 
9781848091528: Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 1848091524 ISBN 13: 9781848091528
Publisher: Preface Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

Two men came to personify British and German generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel. They fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theatres of war which established them as two of the greatest captains of their age. Our understanding of leadership in battle was altered for ever by their electrifying personal qualities. Ever since, historians have assessed their outstanding leadership, personalities and skill. Born four years apart, their lives were remarkably similar. In this groundbreaking study, Peter Caddick-Adams explores Montgomery and Rommel's lives from their provincial upbringing, through to the trench fighting of the First World War, where both nearly died in 1914. Obsessed with fitness and training, the future field marshals emerged highly decorated and with a glowing war record. The pair taught in staff colleges, wrote infantry textbooks and fought each other as divisional commanders in 1940. The careers of both began on the periphery of the military establishment and represent the first time military commanders proactively and systematically used (and were used by) the media as they came to prominence, first in North Africa, then in Normandy. Dynamic and forward-thinking, their lives also represent a study of pride, propaganda and nostalgia. Caddick-Adams tracks and compares their military talents and personalities in battle. Each brought something special to their commands. Rommel's breathtaking advance in May-June 1940 was nothing less than inspired. Montgomery is a gift for leadership gurus in the way he took over a demoralised Eighth Army in August 1942 and led it to victory just two months later. This is the first comparative biography written of the two. It explores how each was 'made' by their war leaders, Churchill and Hitler, and how the thoughts of both permeate down to today's armies. Even though Rommel died in 1944, the rivalry between the two carried on after the war through their writings and other memoirs. This compelling work is both scholarly and entertaining and marks the debut of a major new talent in historical biography.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Peter Caddick Adams is a Lecturer at Cranfield Military Academy specialising in military history and media operations working alongside Richard Holmes. His special areas of interest are battlefield history and he researches in Military Doctrine and Leadership. He has led over 200 visits to more than 50 battlefields around the world. He joined the Territorial Army in 1985 and served as a military media advisor in the rank of major until his recent retirement.

From the Back Cover

The first comparative biography of two of the most charismatic, and strategically important, military leaders of the Second World War.

From the Inside Flap

Two men came to personify British and German generalship in the Second World War: Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel. They fought a series of extraordinary duels across several theatres of war which established them as two of the greatest captains of their age. Our understanding of leadership in battle was altered for ever by their electrifying personal qualities. Ever since, historians have assessed their outstanding leadership, personalities and skill.

Born four years apart, their lives were remarkably similar. In this groundbreaking study, Peter Caddick-Adams explores Montgomery and Rommel's lives from their provincial upbringing, through to the trench fighting of the First World War, where both nearly died in 1914. Obsessed with fitness and training, the future field marshals emerged highly decorated and with a glowing war record. The pair taught in staff colleges, wrote infantry textbooks and fought each other as divisional commanders in 1940.

The careers of both began on the periphery of the military establishment and represent the first time military commanders proactively and systematically used (and were used by) the media as they came to prominence, first in North Africa, then in Normandy. Dynamic and forward-thinking, their lives also represent a study of pride, propaganda and nostalgia. Caddick-Adams tracks and compares their military talents and personalities in battle. Each brought something special to their commands. Rommel's breathtaking advance in May-June 1940 was nothing less than inspired. Montgomery is a gift for leadership gurus in the way he took over a demoralised Eighth Army in August 1942 and led it to victory just two months later.

This is the first comparative biography written of the two. It explores how each was 'made' by their war leaders, Churchill and Hitler, and how the thoughts of both permeate down to today's armies. Even though Rommel died in 1944, the rivalry between the two carried on after the war through their writings and other memoirs.

This compelling work is both scholarly and entertaining and marks the debut of a major new talent in historical biography.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Preface Publishing
Publication date
2011
Language
English
ISBN 10 
1848091524
ISBN 13 
9781848091528
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
640

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781848091542: Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1848091540 ISBN 13:  9781848091542
Publisher: Arrow, 2012
Softcover