There is a massive problem here. ‘ many were left with the impression that Montgomery believed he had saved the day’. Who were these ‘many’? Why were they left with that impression? If you bother to read the script of Monty’s briefing, there is nothing in there to suggest this. Monty set out to support Eisenhower, who he knew was being criticised in the British press, and to get the British press back in line. He was incredibly complimentary about the American troops and their commanders. The US press (back in the States) reported favourably.
So, why did this come to be seen negatively? Certainly, Bradley was very upset about US forces on the north of the Bulge being put under Monty’s command - though this was the most sensible move, given Bradley’s poor communications with Hodges, etc, under those circumstances. Moreover, German propaganda did stir the business up somewhat (see https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/how-nazi-fake-news-split-allied-commanders-in-1945/). While Monty was not ‘good’ at expressing himself diplomatically, as I say, the US press reported favourably. I suspect that Bradley was going to be offended, no matter what Monty said. However, there is simply no evidence that he claimed, or sought to claim, that he had saved the day.
There is a massive problem here. ‘ many were left with the impression that Montgomery believed he had saved the day’. Who were these ‘many’? Why were they left with that impression? If you bother to read the script of Monty’s briefing, there is nothing in there to suggest this. Monty set out to support Eisenhower, who he knew was being criticised in the British press, and to get the British press back in line. He was incredibly complimentary about the American troops and their commanders. The US press (back in the States) reported favourably.
So, why did this come to be seen negatively? Certainly, Bradley was very upset about US forces on the north of the Bulge being put under Monty’s command - though this was the most sensible move, given Bradley’s poor communications with Hodges, etc, under those circumstances. Moreover, German propaganda did stir the business up somewhat (see https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/how-nazi-fake-news-split-allied-commanders-in-1945/). While Monty was not ‘good’ at expressing himself diplomatically, as I say, the US press reported favourably. I suspect that Bradley was going to be offended, no matter what Monty said. However, there is simply no evidence that he claimed, or sought to claim, that he had saved the day.