12 - Transformation in the Jungle

Summary

By 1943, there was little doubt that the British and Commonwealth Armies in the West had discovered an operational approach that systematically, if not dramatically, wore the Wehrmacht down in battle. Montgomery’s ‘Colossal Cracks’ method was a step away from the Field Service Regulations (FSR); rather than leaving the outcomes of battles in the hands of empowered junior officers, Montgomery determined that those at the top of the strategic chain should centralise command and control and create opportunities through ‘unity of effort’. Although less dynamic and flexible, this approach, it was intended, would limit the impact of poor training and questionable motivation on the outcome of events. By controlling operations tightly, Montgomery hoped that he could get more out of the materiel advantages enjoyed by his armies.