THE BLACK BERET

greatest drama for memorable story of the great among us written by you the people this chapter the black beret the story of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery he was England's greatest general rows of medals are tested to his victories yet in the beginning it was freely predicted that he would fail as a soldier born in 1887 Bernard Montgomery started life in a strange setting for a future military hero religion was the greatest single influence in those early days Montgomery's father was the bishop of the church of england he hoped his son would follow his example and become a churchman but young Monty was rebellious unwilling to follow anyone one day the bishop announced his son was entering the army at sandhurst military school young Monte was unpopular too headstrong and sharp-tongued instructors said he'd fail in the regular service and they were right for many years when the first world war began Montgomery was only a lieutenant on the Western Front he was wounded and received a medal but he was too opinionated to suit his superiors 20 years passed by the time of the Second World War Monty was a general but still unpopular because he believed in mechanised armies the disaster of 1940 proved him right the British retreated a surly beaten smashed by the German blitzkrieg their one chance of survival was evacuation at Dunkirk Monte's division survived the retreat almost intact because he had trained it in blitzkrieg tactics now away to England and safety coming ashore Monty's min could thank their stubborn commander for their lives but there was no time for rejoicing a German invasion of England was expected at any moment montgomery's home was destroyed in a German air raid his wife was dead his young son orphaned suffering hardened Monte's resolved someday he would make Germany burn as England was burning now meanwhile Winston Churchill had become Prime Minister and moved into the residence at number ten Downing Street's he promoted Montgomery to command of the British Eighth Army in Africa monta flew to Egypt the story of the black beret was about to begin in the sands of El Alamein a soldier had lent Monty the beret he kept it for luck and started preparations for an offensive against the Germans his battle weary troops complained the enemy commander Erwin Rommel was a master of desert warfare did Montgomery who knew nothing about the desert seriously think he could defeat the desert fox with supreme determination Monty issued his battle order we shall win here or die as the tanks rolled out to take position for the battle Monty's will to win was transmitted to the Troops the man in the black bear a had given his soldiers new courage they braced for the assault which would begin at dawn and the outcome of this battle hung the fate of Egypt and Montgomery's military future it developed according to Monty's battle plan across the desert raced the British in pursuit of Rommel and the plane German hundreds of German tanks were destroyed by mozzies planes Field Marshal Rommel the tank experts was beaten at his own specialty enemy towns and strongholds were taken by the British in their swift advance as the pursuit continued thousands of German troops were taken prisoner the German generals held a war council they had been driven 1,400 miles from Egypt to Tripoli admitting defeat Field Marshal Rommel decided to return to Germany Montgomery was everywhere as the offensive roared toward its climax in tanks and planes permitting the enemy no recipes finally the triumphant link up of British and American forces in Tunisia from El Alamein Montgomery had led the 8th army to the conquest of Africa the man in the black beret had won britain's first decisive victory of the war he was world famous literally 1943 for the man and the black beret a period of reverses his troops after the victories in Africa and Sicily were bogged down in the Italian Hills the tank crews did their best but the ground was not suited for mobile warfare progress was slow and painful then for Monty and his soldiers came a day of party the man in the black beret had been summoned to England he spoke briefly concealing deep emotion with these troops he had won glory now goodbye in England responding to admiring crowds the battle-hardened commander developed a new personality he became friendly smiled and joked and developed a talent for public speaking why is it why is it that today is the the tide has turned and we are beating the Germans and becoming the ward to the final climax of the wall I'll tell you why is it the calls we've got far the best equipment and we got far the best men and women 20 then to work planning the invasion of France there were differences of opinion between Monte and Eisenhower but in the end they reached agreement the plan called for a great thrust across the English Channel by British and American armies Monty commanded all ground forces on d-day the invaders reached the Normandy beaches under the protective guns of a great armada of warships rushing to stop them the Germans land their Atlantic Wall defenses and the crucial battle began soon Eisenhower and Montgomery received news that the beachheads were firmly established Monte started for sure where the soldiers would be heartened by the sight of that lucky black beret the German commander was Irwin Rommel this was his chance to avenge the defeat in Africa but Rommel was fated to be destroyed by Montgomery he was killed and over his grave swept the tide of battle the german grip on france was broken germany's best troops surrendered to then the black beret had become an omen of defeat it was clear even to the enemy that the end of the war was not far off now Eisenhower took direct command of all Allied forces the man in the black beret was left with two British armies the last big push began from every direction armored spearhead stabbed toward the heart of Germany Monte's tanks rolled into Germany from the north it was the enemy's turn to taste the horrors of war Germany collapsed defeated everywhere the first week of May in 1945 the German High Command offered unconditional surrender to Montgomery it was a fitting climax to his career the German command agrees to the surrender of all German armed forces in Holland in North West Germany including the Frisian islands in hello girl and in all other islands in specific hall style and in Denmark to the commander in chief 21st Army Group the swastika had been conquered by the black beret from England came King George to thank Montgomery for his share in the triumph the minister's son the early failure had become England's greatest Field Marshal he had given England a new symbol of victory the black beret be with us again next week at this time when the greatest drama to film biographies of the great among us again comes your way