The Monty Problem

In Panzer General, there are five campaigns, two for Germany (one going forward and one going backward), and one for each of the allies. Three are good clean Panzer fun - the Americans, Russians, and advancing Germans get to charge ahead, exploiting the advantages of the initiative. Even the German retreat campaign is 'fun', in the same way riding a bicycle in San Francisco traffic is fun - it's exhilirating until something bad happens.

But there's one campaign that's no fun at all - the British advance into Europe. It's the same as the American campaign, but without American air power and artillery. The first couple of scenarios are playable, but then, like Montgomery, you come to a place called Caen.

Caen was a meatgrinder, and probably the most controversial operation of Montgomery's career. The town is seven miles inland from the Normandy beaches, and he hoped it could be captured within 24 hours of the landings. But a month later the British were still bogged down around the town. Montgomery kept planning and attacking, planning and attacking. Operation Epsom, Operation Charnwood, Operation Goodwood - they all gained ground, but at a terrific cost. Volumes have been written on the bloodbath, but it was a hard battle to win, and he did eventually win it.

Montgomery's detractors say his methodical approach made it too easy for the Germans. (They also say he was a closet racist and committed atrocities in Ireland, but there's no pleasing some people.) His defenders (notably him) say he was supposed to tie down the German armor around Caen and did so, making the American breakout possible. Furthermore, he was facing very tough opposition from the 1st SS Panzer division and a fanatical garrison of Hitler Youth.

As Patton fans we're used to dissing Montgomery - Patton himself said “war requires the taking of risks, and Monty simply won’t take them.” But a German General who fought him, Wilhelm von Thoma, said: "I thought he (Montgomery) was very cautious, considering his immensely superior strength, but he is the only Field-Marshal in this war who won all his battles. In modern mobile warfare the tactics are not the main thing. The decisive factor is the organization of one's resources to maintain the momentum."

One other insight into Montgomery: When he took over the 8th Army in Africa, by his own account, he was told the main goal was force preservation - retreat to Egypt, retreat into the Sudan or Palestine, if necessary, but don't lose The Army.

His response: he told his army they were there to fight, and all withdrawal plans had been burned. Then he neutralized Rommel's genius for maneuver by drawing him into a set-piece battle of attrition.

Grant would have been proud.