Eisenhower meeting with Middleton - 9 Sep 44

[Carl Schwamberger]

Spent more than a few minutes picking though one of Ike biographys (Perret) for that one. Looks like it was from something else, perhaps relating to the campaign, not necessarily Ike. Will look again tomorrow.

[Carl Schwamberger]

Try Heinemann 'Crusade in Europe'. It may have a description of the meeting between Ike and Middleton. I have a description of a meeting between Bradley, Patton, & Middleton from Whiting 'Hunters from the Sky' ascribed as "In the the second week" (of September). Whiting describes Middleton as reporting inadaquate artillery ammunition and infantry regiments made up of raw replacements. After Middleton departed Patton told Bradley he could not continue to fight a army in "four" different directions, & wanted to be shed of VIII Corps.

[Tom from Cornwall]

Carl,

Thanks for the suggestions - I will keep looking and report back any findings.

Cheers

Tom

[canambridge]

I had always thought that he was laid up with a badly wrenched knee and therefore could not go forward to confer with his Army Group commanders over the best option for further advances towards Germany until 10 Sep when he met with Montgomery. Even then, I'm sure I've read that he asked to meet on his plane as his knee was not up to travelling anywhere by jeep/car.

Tom, Eisenhower's bad knee was well known, the result of a football injury during his cadet days at West Point. It was aggravated by a forced landing shortly before (I can't recall the exact date) the early September meetings.
I have never heard the injury used as a reason why he couldn't travel to confer with Bradley and Montgomery. He did request that the meeting be held on the plane because of the injury. I have also read that Montgomery insisted that everyone else leave the plane so there would be no witnesses.
In any case, it does not appear that, injured knee or not, Eisenhower had any problems visiting his field commanders. Including the ones that were difficult to deal with or ate Spartan meals.

[Tom from Cornwall]

Hi Canambridge,

In any case, it does not appear that, injured knee or not, Eisenhower had any problems visiting his field commanders. Including the ones that were difficult to deal with or ate Spartan meals.

Which kind of begs the question why he didn't visit Montgomery between 28 August and 10 September 1944.

Regards

Tom

[canambridge]

Hi Canambridge,

In any case, it does not appear that, injured knee or not, Eisenhower had any problems visiting his field commanders. Including the ones that were difficult to deal with or ate Spartan meals.

Which kind of begs the question why he didn't visit Montgomery between 28 August and 10 September 1944.

Regards

Tom

Uhh, because he had other things to do? He was after all responsible for the entire theater. SHAEF didn't assume ground command until September anyway. Up until then Montgomery was ground commander. Why didn't Montgomery go and see him, Eisenhower was the superior officer after all? Montgomery had no qualms about insisting that his subordinates visit him, refer to the dust up with Crear at around the same time. But Eisenhower accepted that Montgomery was really busy and did go see him. And just maybe the knee was bothering him enough that he didn't all that many trips in him at the time. We'll never know.

[Aber]

I have never heard the injury used as a reason why he couldn't travel to confer with Bradley and Montgomery.

IIRC he was confined to bed for a couple of day, but will need to check details.

[canambridge]

I would be very interested to know what you find. I quick look about didn't reveal anything, not even the date of the forced landing.

[Aber]

September 2nd from D'Este's biography, but cannot find references re day to day activities after that

[canambridge]

September 2nd from D'Este's biography, but cannot find references re day to day activities after that

Thanks, I'm about 7,000 miles away from my books. I am surprised that there is so little about this on-line.

[Delta Tank]

September 2nd from D'Este's biography, but cannot find references re day to day activities after that

Thanks, I'm about 7,000 miles away from my books. I am surprised that there is so little about this on-line.

I will try to remember and check the book entitled: "Beetle, The Life and Times of Walter Bedell Smith" by Croswell, when I get home. It is a very detailed book.

Mike

[Delta Tank]

To all,

Can't find anything on the 9 September meeting in Crosswell's book on "Beetle"

Mike

[Delta Tank]

To all,

Just remembered that I bought this book recently: "Troy H. Middleton, A Biography" by Frank James Price. So, far I have found no mention of the visit on 9 Sept. 44 by Eisenhower.

Mike

[Delta Tank]

To all,

Have found nothing yet, then again may not find anything, Eisenhower visiting a Corps CP is probably not a note worthy event. In the book entitled "Monty, Final Years of The Field-Marshal 1944-1976" by Nigel Hamilton. ISBN 0-07-025807-4", page 37.

Ike was at the Victory Parade in Paris on 8 September, 9 September visited VIII Corps HQ, night of 9 September spent the night at Bradley's Rear CP at Versailles. I also read, in another book (Carlo D'este) that one of Ike's planes that he used to get around was a B-25 Bomber, IIRC, which is a lot faster than a light observation plane and probably a lot safer.

Mike

[Aber]

Except that it was engine failure on the B-25 that put him on the light plane on 2nd September!