Colossal CracksStackpole Books, 2007 - 256 pages
A reinterpretation of the British Army's conduct in the crucial 1944-45 Northwest Europe campaign, this work examines the "Colossal Cracks" operational technique employed by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group. Rooted in concerns about morale and casualties, "Colossal Cracks" was a cautious, firepower-laden approach that involved the concentration of massive force at points of German weakness. Hart argues that Montgomery and his two senior subordinates handled this formation more effectively than some scholars have suggested and that "Colossal Cracks" represented the most appropriate weapon the British Army could develop under the circumstances. |
Contents
The Maintenance of Morale | 20 |
Casualty Conservation | 42 |
The SetPiece Battle | 69 |
The Other Elements | 107 |
Dempsey and the Second British Army | 122 |
Crerar and the First Canadian Army | 147 |
Conclusions | 174 |
Select Bibliography | 212 |
Common terms and phrases
21st Army Group achieve Allied American Armored Division army commander Army Group conducted army's artillery attack attritional battle BLM to CIGS Britain British army Brooke Caen Canadian Army Colossal Cracks combat concern conducted the campaign corps commanders Crerar D-Day D'Este Decision defense Dempsey Dempsey's Diary Eisenhower enemy Field Marshal fire-plan firepower flank formations German Goodwood Grigg Guingand historians Horrocks infantry J. F. C. Fuller July 44 June 44 LHCMA Liddell Hart London Ltr BLM Maj-Gen Major-General manpower master plan MICHAEL WITTMANN MILITARY HISTORY SERIES Mont Montgomery Montgomery's operational Monty Normandy campaign Northwest Europe Northwest Europe campaign O'Connor offensive Office Operation Veritable operational approach operational technique Overlord Panzer Papers reinforcements remained Scheldt Second Army Second British Second World Second World War senior commanders Sept 44 September 1944 set-piece Simonds soldiers Stacey STACKPOLE MILITARY HISTORY Staff strategic subordinate tactical tion Veritable victory Waffen SS War Office Westheer