General G.S. Patton was assassinated to silence his criticism of allied war leaders claims new book

The Telegraph ^ | December 21, 2008 | Tim Shipman in Washington

[Daffynition]

The newly unearthed diaries of a colourful assassin for the wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the CIA, reveal that American spy chiefs wanted Patton dead because he was threatening to expose allied collusion with the Russians that cost American lives.

The death of General Patton in December 1945, is one of the enduring mysteries of the war era. Although he had suffered serious injuries in a car crash in Manheim, he was thought to be recovering and was on the verge of flying home.

But after a decade-long investigation, military historian Robert Wilcox claims that OSS head General "Wild Bill" Donovan ordered a highly decorated marksman called Douglas Bazata to silence Patton, who gloried in the nickname "Old Blood and Guts".

His book, "Target Patton", contains interviews with Mr Bazata, who died in 1999, and extracts from his diaries, detailing how he staged the car crash by getting a troop truck to plough into Patton's Cadillac and then shot the general with a low-velocity projectile, which broke his neck while his fellow passengers escaped without a scratch.

Mr Bazata also suggested that when Patton began to recover from his injuries, US officials turned a blind eye as agents of the NKVD, the forerunner of the KGB, poisoned the general.

Mr Wilcox told The Sunday Telegraph that when he spoke to Mr Bazata: "He was struggling with himself, all these killings he had done. He confessed to me that he had caused the accident, that he was ordered to do so by Wild Bill Donovan.

"Donovan told him: 'We've got a terrible situation with this great patriot, he's out of control and we must save him from himself and from ruining everything the allies have done.' I believe Douglas Bazata. He's a sterling guy."

[snip]

[Just mythoughts]

Whatever happened Mr Bazata has already gotten to have his face to face with Patton.

[SatinDoll]

“He’s a sterling guy.”

An assassin, a sterling guy?

[wmileo]

I am not familiar with Tim Shipman or Robert Wilcox. Honestly, I am a little skeptical of this information.

Someone is always writing a book or otherwise promoting a movie, play or their own credibility at the expense of others who are dead and therefore unable to defend themselves.

This could be an example of vintage Revisionist History. It could be the right wing version of Oliver Stone/Ron Howard propaganda.

However I will keep an open mind as I read what others have said about Robert Wilcox's new book before formulating an opinion.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

According to all the medical evidence, Patton had a severe spinal injury from a broken neck, which could have easily been sustained in the type of vehicle he was riding in, as well as the nature of the accident.

Because of the severity of the injury, Patton's body functions began to slowly shut down and in his weakened state he became vulnerable to a virus.

This “book” is just a lame opportunistic attempt to create another conspiracy theory based on our “evil, corrupt and heartless” Military.

[Daffynition]

It sounds interesting though, but just in case...”Dan Brown please pick up the white courtesy phone.”

[PowderMonkey]

Delusional, revisionist garbage. And please don’t refer to Gen. Donovan as “Wild Bill.” He hated the moniker. He felt it carried negative conotations for himself and the fledgling organization that would later become the Central Intelligence Agency.

[bmwcyle]

"I had heard a version of this tale based upon German villainy, but never with the detail and matter-of-fact persuasion in TARGET: PATTON...Exhume the corpse. End the debate." -John Batchelor, host WABC, WMAL, KSFO, KFI

[popdonnelly]

Paranoia.

[MindBender26]

This same idiocy and method of killing was the subject of a movie years ago.

Three steps to financial independence:

1. Write outrageous book
2. Idiots buy it
3. You cash checks

[BullDog108]

Very interesting. My father told me this and I was going to give him some aluminum foil. I guess he was right about more things than I think.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I’m going to write a book on how to become a multi-millionaire and sell it for $19.95..basically the book will tell you to write a book on how to become a multi-millionaire and sell it for $19.95..

[silverleaf]

I agree.

[Jemian]

This is the article I was telling you about. Whenever Patton’s death has been discussed in my presence, someone has always said that there was something fishy about it; that it didn’t seem “right” to them.

[SampleMan]

I’d like to see the low velocity projectile that breaks someone’s neck. I’m guessing it looks a lot like a truck.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Oh yes, one that is fired from a 10 ton tactical vehicle, in 10 wheel drive. (Imagine the impact force! Even at 40 miles per hour)

The stupidity is “Progressive” in nature.

[IronJack]

Patton's body functions began to slowly shut down and in his weakened state he became vulnerable to a virus.

Which is pretty much what happened, if I recall.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Sure thing.

Conspiracy theorists do a lot of fishing, but mostly eat crow.

[decimon]

I’d like to see the low velocity projectile that breaks someone’s neck. I’m guessing it looks a lot like a truck.

And how the physicians treating Patton didn't notice his injury looked more a bullet wound than a crash wound.

[wally-balls]

I’m not sure about the assassination angle but I do believe Ike, Truman, and the Communist Media (yes, very much our enemy even then - and Patton knew it) tried to marginalize that great man by portraying as unhinged and turning him into the lovable but crazy uncle. At a minimum he was the victim of character assassination. Read ‘A Genius for War’ by Carlos D’Este.