Tuesday was one of those classic feverish, in-and-out of consciousness days. Before beaching myself on the couch for the duration, however, I sortied to the book store for reading material. My author of choice for feverish days is Carl Hiaasen, in this instance the farcical mystery "Basket Case" which somehow I missed when it was published a number of years ago. Without going into detail, the novel involves a journalist's investigation of the death of a has-been rock star - the leader of the band "Jimmie and the Slut-Puppies." Hiaasen's books are a quick read and I finished the tome by about 11 PM which still allowed ample time for multiple naps and periods of semi-consciousness during the course of the day.
By Wednesday morning my fever had broken and I had moved into the more phlegmatic stage of the viral infection. Lots of coughing - and schnoz blowing. Still felt like crap, although I did manage to wash the windows both inside and out and do a little house cleaning. And picked-up the second volume from my recent trip to the booksellers "Patton, Montgomery, Rommel - Masters of War" by Brit historian, Terry Brighton.
Although the book does not break any new ground, it is well written, or at least easily read. The lives of these three gentlemen are inextricably linked in the major battles of the European theater in World War II from North Africa, Sicily, through the Normandy campaign. All three were representative in many respects of their nation's cultural identities and yet all three were also very much nonconformists. And all three were made heroes by the war time press and propagandists of their respective countries - something very much encouraged and enjoyed by their super-sized personalities.
And each could be his own worst enemy. For example, Montgomery, a divisional commander during the Battle of France, almost missed the battle due to an order he issued during the "sitzkrieg" of the fall and winter of 1939-1940 in an attempt to reduce the prevalence of V.D. among his troops - who had taken to romancing the local population in the beetroot fields that surrounded the division's encampment.
On November 15 he issued Divisional Order 179/A:
The whole question of women, V.D., and so on must be handled by the regimental officer, and in particular by the C.O. My view is that if a man wants to have a woman, let him do so: but he must take precautions against infection - otherwise he becomes a casualty by his own neglect, and this is helping the enemy. He should be able to buy French Letters in the unit shop. If a man desires to buy his French Letter in a civil shop he should be instructed to go to a chemist and ask for a "Capote Anglaise." The cases of V.D. we are getting are from local "pick-ups." There are in Lille a number of brothels, which are properly inspected and where the risk of infection is practically nil. These are known to the military police, and any soldier in need of horizontal refreshment would be well advised to ask a policeman for a suitable address.
This order nearly got Monty relieved of command insofar as it greatly offended the senior chaplain at the headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force who lobbied for Monty's dismissal. Fortunately for Montgomery, and the Allied cause, cooler heads prevailed.
The reaction of the troops under his command to this order, was quite different, however, as reflected in a ditty composed at the time by a young soldier:
The General was worried and was very ill at ease,Monty, Patton, and Rommel had turbulent relationships with their superiors both military and political throughout their careers. Although "turbulent" doesn't quite do justice to being offered the choice between a firing squad or committing suicide - the choice ultimately offered Rommel by Hitler.
He was haunted by the subject of venereal disease;
For four and forty soldiers was the tale he had to tell;
Had lain among the beets and loved not wisely but too well...
No kind of doubt existed in the Major-General's head
That the men who really knew the game of Love from A to Z[ed]
Were his Colonels and his Adjutants and those above the ruck,
For the higher up an officer the better he can fuck...
...
While the incidence of venereal disease in Monty's division dropped sharply, the true effect was greater still. The "VD Affair" had much to do with the affection in which his men held him throughout the war years: a general who concerned himself with sexual diseases, condoms and brothels could be trusted with their lives.
A less bloody example of these relationships, however, was Monty's first meeting with Churchill while commanding troops in the south of England after the Dunkirk evacuation.
"Churchill asked me what I would drink and I replied - Water. This astonished him. I added that I neither drank nor smoked and was 100 per cent fit; he replied in a flash that he both drank and smoked and was 200 per cent fit."
...
The meal had a yet greater effect, which would prove itself later. There had been no rapport between the two men of the kind evident between Hitler and Rommel. On the contrary, the prime minister took a dislike to Monty as a man, while being mightily impressed by him as a soldier. He felt that Monty was insufferable but right.
Well, enough of this. As you've probably figured out by the nature of this post - I'm going stir-crazy. I feel much better today although I'm still sniffling and snuffling. Think I'll go have a light workout and a shower at the Club. And this afternoon go for a walk. It's a gorgeous day.
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