Feuding Allies: The Private Wars of the High Command by William B. Breuer

A first-class historian.--The Wall Street Journal Praise for William Breuer's Previous Works THE GREAT RAID ON CABANATUAN An exciting narrative presented by a first-rate storyteller.--Publishers Weekly Absorbing reading. . . . The book's great virtue is that it allows a number of the rapidly diminishing band of the survivors of the whole experience to have their say.--Booklist RETAKING THE PHILIPPINES Vivid . . . skillfully written.--Los Angeles Times GERONIMO Brings to life how airborne soldiers survived, how the human will prevails . . . against overwhelming enemies, tactical failures, and even death.--The New York Times RACE TO THE MOON Another smasher by Breuer, who specializes in thrilling reports of WWII spycraft and warfare.--Kirkus Reviews DEVIL BOATS Fast-paced, detailed, and satisfyingly dramatic.--World War II magazine It was an historic alliance between nations at war determined to defeat the Axis armies. But behind the facade of solidarity, other conflicts raged. Driven to halt the forces that had overrun Europe, Asia, and Africa, the British and the Americans argued over every command and strategy, neither side trusted the Soviets, and the French griped incessantly. William B. Breuer's dramatic behind-the-scenes narrative reveals for the first time the full extent of the internal conflict that ripped through the high command. British commanders thought the Americans too anxious to open a western front in Europe--to prove the point they gave the go-ahead to a suicidal assault on France. American commanders believed the British were stalling for time to bleed the Soviets to improve England's position in postwar Europe. General Douglas MacArthur, whose war in the Pacific took a backseat under the Germany first strategy, had bitter differences of opinion with almost everyone in the U.S. command, particularly the navy admirals he had to fight alongside. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the British commander of Allied ground forces, was roundly de-spised by the American generals for his haughty self-righteous attitude and cautious approach. And General Dwight Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied troops, faced the near-impossible task of assuaging the enormous egos of the Allied military and government leaders, keeping the coalition together, and at the same time, winning the war. Feuding Allies is a gripping story of wrangling, backstabbing, rivalries, and jealousies. This fast-paced account sheds new light on the most charismatic and renowned figures of World War II--Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, de Gaulle, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, and Montgomery--and reveals just how high passions ran on the road to victory. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Breuer, a writer of popular histories of WWII (Hoodwinking Hitler), focuses here on personality clashes and policy conflicts within the Allied coalition in WWII. Politicians and generals alike sometimes seemed to spend more time feuding with each other than fighting the Axis, according to Breuer, who emphasizes the human aspects of these feuds. The Allied leaders were men of strong will who deferred readily to no one. Substantive differences within and among the states of the alliance were correspondingly magnified. What was unusual was Allied success at compromising or camouflaging such divisions as the three-way tensions among Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt; the tempestuous relationship between supreme Allied commander Dwight D. Eisenhower and British field marshal Bernard L. Montgomery; and the Pacific rivalry between Army and Navy long enough to destroy their common enemies. A breezy read for military/diplomatic history buffs. Photos. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist The twenty-second book by prolific popular military historian Breuer discusses the infighting at the highest Allied command levels during World War II. Allies were ranged against allies, services against services, and individual statesmen and generals against each other. The intensity of the conflicts is worthy of Hollywood melodrama, but its truth is quite adequately documented, as Breuer demonstrates while focusing on Anglo-American relations and adding some of the painful episodes involving Charles de Gaulle for good measure. The book is not free from minor errors and is definitely partial to Douglas MacArthur and equally antipathetic to Bernard Montgomery. Still, it is a valuable resource for World War II students who are somewhat familiar with the general course of events but lack access to the acres of sources Breuer has drawn on to produce a single coherent narrative. Highly recommended for most World War II collections. Roland Green From the Publisher A seasoned author, renowned for his mastery of WWII military history, presents a vivid account of the feuds, intrigues, and rivalries among Allied political and military leaders during World War II. Includes coverage of the most charismatic and famous figures from Eisenhower and MacArthur to Churchill, DeGaulle, Roosevelt, and numerous others. From the Back Cover A first-class historian.--The Wall Street Journal Praise for William Breuer's Previous Works THE GREAT RAID ON CABANATUAN An exciting narrative presented by a first-rate storyteller.--Publishers Weekly Absorbing reading. . . . The book's great virtue is that it allows a number of the rapidly diminishing band of the survivors of the whole experience to have their say.--Booklist RETAKING THE PHILIPPINES Vivid . . . skillfully written.--Los Angeles Times GERONIMO Brings to life how airborne soldiers survived, how the human will prevails . . . against overwhelming enemies, tactical failures, and even death.--The New York Times RACE TO THE MOON Another smasher by Breuer, who specializes in thrilling reports of WWII spycraft and warfare.--Kirkus Reviews DEVIL BOATS Fast-paced, detailed, and satisfyingly dramatic.--World War II magazine It was an historic alliance between nations at war determined to defeat the Axis armies. But behind the facade of solidarity, other conflicts raged. Driven to halt the forces that had overrun Europe, Asia, and Africa, the British and the Americans argued over every command and strategy, neither side trusted the Soviets, and the French griped incessantly. William B. Breuer's dramatic behind-the-scenes narrative reveals for the first time the full extent of the internal conflict that ripped through the high command. British commanders thought the Americans too anxious to open a western front in Europe--to prove the point they gave the go-ahead to a suicidal assault on France. American commanders believed the British were stalling for time to bleed the Soviets to improve England's position in postwar Europe. General Douglas MacArthur, whose war in the Pacific took a backseat under the Germany first strategy, had bitter differences of opinion with almost everyone in the U.S. command, particularly the navy admirals he had to fight alongside. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the British commander of Allied ground forces, was roundly de-spised by the American generals for his haughty self-righteous attitude and cautious approach. And General Dwight Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied troops, faced the near-impossible task of assuaging the enormous egos of the Allied military and government leaders, keeping the coalition together, and at the same time, winning the war. Feuding Allies is a gripping story of wrangling, backstabbing, rivalries, and jealousies. This fast-paced account sheds new light on the most charismatic and renowned figures of World War II--Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, de Gaulle, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, and Montgomery--and reveals just how high passions ran on the road to victory. About the Author WILLIAM B. BREUER is one of today's most popular military historians and the critically acclaimed author of twenty-two books. Some of his previous titles include MacArthur's Undercover War and The Great Raid on Cabanatuan (both published by Wiley), Hoodwinking Hitler: The Normandy Deception, and Race to the Moon: How Hitler's Rocket Scientists Put America on the Moon. About the Author WILLIAM B. BREUER is one of today's most popular military historians and the critically acclaimed author of twenty-two books. Some of his previous titles include MacArthur's Undercover War and The Great Raid on Cabanatuan (both published by Wiley), Hoodwinking Hitler: The Normandy Deception, and Race to the Moon: How Hitler's Rocket Scientists Put America on the Moon.