Generals and politics:

A bit of history

Wijitha NAKKAWITA

Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister was standing outside number 10, Downing Street, one day during the World War II days. His official car had given trouble. He hailed a taxi cab and the driver pulled it up to Churchill who was with his hat pulled down over his forehead so that he could not be recognised easily.

“Sir I could take you anywhere but I have to be free by 10 O’clock. I have to listen to that bulldog’s broadcast over the BBC,” the cabbie said before Churchill got in to the cab.

“O.K. I am going only up to the BBC station”, was Churchill’s rejoinder though the cabbie did not know that it was Churchill himself the passenger who was going to the BBC to deliver his broadcast to the nation.

Among hundreds of anecdotes and stories of the Second World War it is very clearly evident that it was the Churchill’s political leadership that contributed to the victory. If one studies wars of the past, or even the present, it would be quite clear that behind each of them there was a political leader.

Generals and politics, war and peace are usually as far apart as the north and south poles.

In the long history of nations hundreds of wars had been fought by armies. But except for rare exceptions like, Alexander, Asoka, Julius Ceasar or Napoleon when political and military leadership were in the hands of a single individual, political and military leadership are two different areas of activity.

When one looks at our own history all liberation wars in the past were led by our kings or princes who also had commanders under them.

The earliest recorded national campaign for liberating the country from a foreign ruler in the Second Century B.C., was led by Dutu Gemunu who was assisted by his brother Saddha Tissa to plan, prepare and start the offensive against Elara.

When one reads the Maha Vamsa or Thupa Vamsa, it is clear the king had first sought to cultivate rice paddies and other crops to feed the army. Then he organised his army under 10 Generals and they led the battle with King Dutugemunu’s leadership.

If one takes the Second World War, there were several brilliant Generals or Marshals who led their troops against the German Nazi war machine which was then the most efficient and ruthless force.

One of the most famous US Generals George S. Patton known as Blood and Guts Patton, Field Marshall Montgomery, Charles de Gaulle, Marshall Zhukov or Marshal Konev who were the military giants responsible for the victory of the allies.

Except for Dwight Eisenhower and Charles de Gaulle none of the other generals became politicians.

The great Sri Lankan General, also called the Third World General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, was asked by some friends to take over the then autocratic regime in power and his reply was.

“The worst democracy in the world is better than the most benevolent military rule.

Therefore leave me out of politics. I will serve my country as a soldier and that is enough.”

That epigram sums up the difference between running an armed force and running a country.

For even Eisenhower cannot be listed among the best US Presidents though he was one of the great Generals in the Second World War.

Incidentally, Marshal Zhukov who took Berlin first had placed 22,000 pieces of artillery in one line and ordered them to be fired in the direction of Berlin at once in one moment.

The noise like 100 claps had created a gush of wind like a minor storm and old buildings of Berlin crumbled in the vibration. His artillery gunners bled from their ears when the 22,000 pieces were fired at the same moment.

According to military historians, there was a joke circulating among the US troops then, “It took the Russians 10 minutes to take Berlin. Eight minutes to laugh their heads off and two minutes to take the city!”

The legendary general Marshal did not take to politics but was an advisor to the Soviet Government, and lived a private life in retirement later a person who was honoured by his country with the highest national award.

Incidentally, Blood and Guts General Patton was awarded about 30 military and other honours both from his own country as well as from allies. His military discipline became a legend in the US but he stood away from politics.