Modern public memory makes the Roman competition for glory easier to understand. Campaigns in northern Europe associated with Eisenhower, Montgomery, and Patton tend to eclipse the army fighting in Italy under Mark Clark. In the Far East, MacArthur and the naval war dominate popular recollection while the British campaign in Burma receives less attention. The neglected armies did not contribute less simply because later audiences remember them less readily. Public narratives concentrate recognition around headline theatres and commanders, giving soldiers and officers a powerful reason to seek the leading role in a victory.
Notable Point · 2:16:05-2:17:21
Why secondary armies disappear from public memory
A comparison with the Second World War shows how headline commanders and theatres absorb public credit while secondary armies fade from view.