FIELD MARSHAL MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN (BERNARD MONTGOMERY) - TYPESCRIPT SIGNED - HFSID 1443

AS THE BATTLE OF ARDENNES COMES TO A CLOSE, GENERAL MONTGOMERY TELLS GENERAL BRADLEY: "WHAT A GREAT HONOUR IT HAS BEEN FOR ME TO COMMAND SUCH FINE TROOPS."
 
MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN (BERNARD LAW MONTGOMERY). Typescript signed: "Montgomery of Alamein/F.M.", 1½p, 8½x11. Parchment-like paper. An excerpt from Montgomery's memoirs entitled: "Tactical Victory Achierved in Battle of Ardennes" which he has signed on the bottom of the first page beneath the text of his letter of January 14, 1945, to GENERAL OMAR BRADLEY: "My dear Brad, It does seem as if the battle of the 'salient' will shortly be drawing to a close, and when it is all clean and tidy I imagine that your armies will be returning to your operational command. I would like to say two things: First: What a great honour it has been for me to command such fine troops. Second: How well they have all done. 2. It has been a great pleasure to work with Hodges and Simpson; both have done very well. And the Corps Commanders in the First Army (Gerow, Collins, Ridgway) have been quite magnificent; it must be most exceptional to find such a good lot of Corps Commanders gathered together in one Army. 3. All of us in the northern side of the salient would like to say how much we have admired the operations that have been conducted on the southern side; if you had not held on firmly to Bastogne the whole situation might have become very awkward. 4. My kind regards to you and to George Patton. yrs very sincerely B.L. Montgomery". On the second page is the text of Montgomery's letter to General Eisenhower on January 16, 1945 and Eisenhower's reply. Montgomery's letter begins: "I have great pleasure in reporting to you that the task you gave me in the Ardennes is now concluded...." The Battle of Ardennes was fought from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945. It was the last great German offensive in World War II. 100,000 German soldiers were killed. The United States casualties were 81,000 killed, wounded and captured. There were 1,400 British losses. General Bernard Law Montgomery (1887-1976) launched an attack on Rommel's forces at El Alamein in northern Egypt on October 23, 1942. When their lines broke, he pursued the German troops into Libya and beyond. Montgomery was the first Allied general to inflict a decisive defeat on a German army. On November 10, 1942, Montgomery was knighted and promoted to full General. In January 1944, he returned to Britain to lead the land forces under the command of General Eisenhower in the Normandy landing. In 1946, Montgomery became 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. Slightly creased. Fine condition.