War Diaries, 1939-1945 Quotes

“Smuts appeared having arrived in the morning, he raised the interesting point as to whether we really wanted to dismember Germany now, or whether a strong Germany in the future might not assist in balancing power in Europe against Russia. He said he had no doubts last year about dismembering Germany, but now was doubtful about it.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Selborne [responsible for SOE] there pleading for more aircraft for his activities. He asked PM to approach President with a view to securing more Liberators. PM replied, ‘What you are after is for me to pull the teat off the cow’!!!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“I find it very hard even now not to look on your North African strategy with a jaundiced eye!!’ I replied, ‘What strategy would you have preferred?’ To which he answered, ‘Cross Channel operations for the liberation of France and advance on Germany, we should finish the war quicker.’ I remember replying, ‘Yes, probably, but not the way we hope to finish it!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“We have now at last received their paper and are to discuss it tomorrow. I shudder at the results.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“The trouble is that the American mind likes proceeding from the general to the particular, whilst in the problem we have to solve we cannot evolve any form of general doctrine until we have carefully examined the particular details of each problem. The background really arises out of King’s desire to find every loophole he possibly can to divert troops to the Pacific!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“However it is not sufficient to see something clearly. You have got to try and convince countless people as to where the truth lies when they don’t want to be acquainted with that fact. It is an exhausting process and I am very very tired, and shudder at the useless struggles that lie ahead.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“I remember that when I was discussing the matter with Wavell and trying to stop him from sending in his resignation, I told him that if I were to take offence when abused by Winston and given to understand that he had no confidence in me, I should have to resign at least once every day! But that I never felt that any such resignations were likely to have the least effect in reforming Winston’s wicked ways! I think this argument fortunately convinced him that it was a bad step to take.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Running a war seems to consist in making plans and then ensuring that all those destined to carry it out don’t quarrel with each other instead of the enemy.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Winston did not like the plan for the capture of Burma, and produced one of his priceless sentences by saying, ‘You might as well eat a porcupine one quill at a time’!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“We were also shown latest aircraft without propellers, driven by air sucked in in front and squirted out behind! Apparently likely to be the fighter of the future.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Patton had been of great interest. I had already heard of him, but must confess that his swash-buckling personality exceeded my expectation. I did not form any high opinion of him, nor had I any reason to alter this view at a later date.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Eisenhower evidently became aware of this manoeuvre and with his high quality of impartiality rid himself of Clark as his Deputy Commander and sent him back to command the reserve forces in Morocco. Through this action Ike greatly rose in my estimation.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“A false idea of his value, consequently some difficulty in making him realize that he had reached his ceiling. Then Beckett back from Malta with long talk why Gort had better be relieved. Then Andy McNaughton to discuss employment of Canadians. Then QMG and DCIGS to discuss rate of arrival which could be contemplated as maximum for American divisions and date of departures of Tank Brigade for Tunisia. From there to S of S and finally with PM for 6.30 to 8.15 pm. Back to flat with lots of work after dinner. This is a dog’s life!!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“remarks about Eisenhower are pretty drastic! My opinion, however, never changed much as regards his tactical ability or his powers of command. In these early days he literally knew nothing of the requirements of a commander in action…. Where he shone was in his ability to handle allied forces, to treat them all with strict impartiality, and to get the very best out of an inter-allied force…. As Supreme Commander, what he may have lacked in military ability he greatly made up for by the charm of his personality.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“I am afraid that Eisenhower as a general is hopeless! He submerges himself in politics and neglects his military duties, partly, I am afraid, because he knows little if anything about military”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Had to turn down a very bad plan for the capture of Sardinia worked out by Eisenhower. It never went beyond the landing on the beaches and failed to examine the operations required after the landing is completed. A typical bit of work of the Combined Operations department of Mountbatten’s. Instructed Joint Planners to work out complete plan.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“It must be remembered that Eisenhower had never even commanded a battalion in action when he found himself commanding a group of armies in North Africa! No wonder he was at a loss as to what to do, and allowed himself to be absorbed in the political situation at the expense of the tactical. I had little confidence in his having the ability to handle the military situation confronting him, and he caused me great anxiety.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“This must not be considered as the end, it may possibly be the beginning of the end, but it is certainly the end of the beginning.’!!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“He is the most difficult man I have ever served with, but thank God for having given me the opportunity of trying to serve such a man in a crisis such as the one this country is going through at present.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“filled with sympathy for him when one realized the colossal burden he was bearing and the weight of responsibility he shouldered. On the other hand if we had not checked some of his wild ideas, heaven knows where we should be now!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“This day is a good example of the way Winston’s impetuosity was apt to delay matters and waste one’s time. If only he had given us time to consider this wire before meeting him we should not have wasted half the morning, nor would his time and that of Eden, Attlee and Lyttelton also [have] been wasted. We could easily have stated the time by which we should have been ready, much confusion would have been avoided and time saved. Unfortunately he always wished to stick his fingers into a pie before it was cooked!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“We were next shown a parachuting display by over 600 parachutists. Only 3 casualties”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Eden’s support of de Gaulle will go near losing the war for us if we do not watch it.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“went to see the organization for breaking down ciphers [Bletchley Park] – a wonderful set of professors and genii! I marvel at the work they succeed in doing.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“He certainly had a much easier time of it working with Roosevelt, he informed me that he frequently did not see him for a month or six weeks. I was fortunate if I did not see Winston for 6 hours.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Party politics, party interests, still override larger war issues. Petty jealousies colour discussions and influence destinies. Politicians still suffer from that little knowledge of military matters which gives them unwarranted confidence that they are born strategists!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“democracy is at a great disadvantage against a dictatorship when it comes to war. Secondly a government with only one big man in it, and that one man a grave danger in many respects, is in a powerless way.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Stalin turned to Anthony and said: ‘Do your Generals also hold their drink so badly?’ Anthony, the complete diplomat, replied: ‘They may have a better capacity for drink, but they have not the same ability for winning battles!”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Timoshenko arrived drunk and by continuous drinking restored himself to sobriety by 5 am.”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke

“Lunched with de Gaulle a most unattractive specimen”
― Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, Alanbrooke War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke