Field Marshal, though General for most of WWII, Harold Alexander was no typical military man. Far from his generally gruff colleagues, Alexander had an artistic strea, being a lifelong painter, and was known for his likeable, if not necessarily agreeable personality. General Patton once said ”an army is a team” - Alexander fit the role of the fair and personable team captain.
In France, North Africa, Burma and eventually Italy, Alexander led the Allied forces through personal charm, persuasion and mediation - an approach that sometimes bordered on manipulation. Some would say it was warranted, however, in an army full of talented but headstrong types.
Known for Alexander's impeccable manners and modesty, he had established good relations with the key decision makers, like Sir Winston Churchill and Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower. The praise and the criticism usually centered on the same trait, simply observing it from a different angle. While some admired his laissez-faire approach, others faulted him for insufficient oversight; some admired Harold's honesty and modesty, others claimed it was a deliberately cultivated image. Some even framed his usual calm under pressure as complete detachment from combat. Field Marshals Montgomery and Brooke claimed he was “intellectually unimpressive”, though some suspect it was another display of modesty - after all, Alexander definitely had a keen mind for interpersonal relations.
The facts, however, spoke for themselves - Harold Alexander was an incredibly experienced war leader, who fought with equal efficiency in the mountains, deserts, jungles or plains. And in 1945, it was him who accepted the first major surrender of the German forces - a one million-strong group of armies in Italy.
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