General Sir Bernard Montgomery in England, 1943

Half-length portrait of the Commander of the Eighth Army General Sir Bernard Montgomery taken during a visit to England.

In December 1943 Bernard Law Montgomery – known as ‘Monty’ was appointed to command the Allied ground forces which were to invade north-west Europe. He revised the D-Day plans, widening the invasion area and adding more assault divisions. Despite disagreements about subsequent strategy with Eisenhower, he led his forces to eventual victory, receiving the unconditional surrender of the German forces in North Germany, Holland and Denmark on 4 May 1945.