Letter, Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bernard Montgomery

SHORST December 31, 1944 Dear Monty Bulling Enclosed is my outline plan covering operations as far as they can be foreseen. The immediate thing is to give the enemy in the salient a good beating, destroying everything we can. Following upon that, the plan concentrates everything for the destruction of the enemy north of Prum==Bonn, and gives to you and Bradley each a specific task. The plan also provides for great strength north of the Ruhr when the Rhine is crossed. In these principal features it exactly repeats my intentions as I gave them to you verbally on the train, on the 28th. In the matter of command I do not agree that one Army Group Commander should fight his own battle and give orders to another Army Group Commander. My plan places a complete U.S. Army under command of 21 Army Group, something that I consider militarily necessary, and most assuredly reflects my confidence in you personally. If these things were not true this decision could, in itself, be a most difficult one. You know how greatly I've appreciated and depended upon your frank and friendly counsel, but in your latest letter you dis- turb me by predictions of "failure" unless your exact opinions in the matter of giving you command over Bradley are met in detail. I assure you that in this matter I can go no further. Please read this document carefully and note how definitely I have planned, after eliminating the salient, to build up the 21 Army Group, give it a major task, and put that task under your command. Moreover, Bradley will be close by your hq. I know your loyalty as a soldier and your readiness to devote yourself to assigned tasks. For my part I would deplorethe development of such an unbridgeable gulf of convictions between us that we would have to present our differences to the cc/s. The confusion and debate that would follow would certainly damage the good will and devotion to a common cause that have made this Allied Force unique in history. As ever, your friend, "IKE" DECLASSIFIED DOD DIR. 5200.9, SEPT. 27, 1958 NE BY RJS DATE 2/2.4167 TOP STORET