Pop Quiz for The Historically Minded!

I am not certain if this is the correct forum for this thread. I apologize in advance for my ignorance. Now to the quiz!

Which of the following officers commanded the most troops during the First World War?

A-Dwight David Eisenhower

B-Douglas MacArthur

C-Bernard Law Montgomery

D-George Smith Patton, Jr.

The answer to this question might surprise some people. :)
 
well bugout Doug is the oldest of the 4 by a few years, so i'm gonna go with him based on the fact that he'd be higher up the promotion totem pole during WW1
 
I'm not really a military expert, but I go for Montgomery, since he was probably involved for the longest time span and no one has taken him yet.
 
You guys appear to be struggling a bit, so I'll hand out some clues.

One of these guys commanded an infantry platoon.

Another one commanded an infantry brigade.

Then there was the dashing cavalier who led a tank brigade.

And let us not forget the gentleman who commanded a tank training establishment.

Does that help at all?
 
This was where he camped.

EISENHOWER_HOUSE,_GETTYSBURG,_ADAMS_COUNTY,_PA.jpg
 
Ike would be that last one. But I don't think he ever lead any one in combat?

Ike is indeed that last one. And no, he did not ever lead anyone in combat during the First World War (or any other, for that matter). But I am NOT asking who lead the most troops in combat. I merely asked which of these four men lead the most soldiers during the war.
 
MacArthur. What is your point?

It;s just a quiz for my personal amusement, nothing more, to see what other posters might know or not know, as the case may be. Regrettably, you are mistaken. MacArthur did not command the most troops out of these four officers. He is, however, number 2 on the list, though. :)
 
It;s just a quiz for my personal amusement, nothing more, to see what other posters might know or not know, as the case may be. Regrettably, you are mistaken. MacArthur did not command the most troops out of these four officers. He is, however, number 2 on the list, though. :)

Well, if MacArthur is no.2, Ike is the last one, Patton was the dashing cavalier/tanker, so it's Montgomery by the process of elimination?

I s'pose that makes sense because he had four years of conflict to work his way up the ranks/have his superiors get killed.
 
Well, if MacArthur is no.2, Ike is the last one, Patton was the dashing cavalier/tanker, so it's Montgomery by the process of elimination?

I s'pose that makes sense because he had four years of conflict to work his way up the ranks/have his superiors get killed.

Nope, not Montgomery. The biggest unit personally commanded by Montgomery during the First World War was a platoon. After being seriously wounded in October, 1914, he was relegated to staff duties for the remainder of the war. AFTER the shooting stopped, Monty did command a battalion in the British Army of the Rhine on occupation duty in Germany.
 
well according to wiki (i know) Patton command a brigade of tanks at roughly the same time that Bugout commanded a division of troops

so while the game is now boring me could you tell us what you say is the answer so that we can all move on
 
well according to wiki (i know) Patton command a brigade of tanks at roughly the same time that Bugout commanded a division of troops

so while the game is now boring me could you tell us what you say is the answer so that we can all move on

Very well. The answer is Dwight Eisenhower. As Commanding Officer of Camp Colt in 1918, Ike presided over a command that peaked at 10,000 enlisted men and six hundred officers. MacArthur's 84th Infantry Brigade had a paper strength of approximately 8,400, but was usually far below that. MacArthur was briefly assigned to serve as acting commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, to be effective from November 10th, 1918, but MacArthur did not formally assume command until the 12th of November, the day after the Armistice. Mac always liked to do things at his own pace.

AS for Patton, his 304th Tank Brigade, composed of a mere two battalions with no supporting units, was actually quite small. Its strength probably never reached 2,000.
 
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