“I understand the situation. Their [the Soviet] supply system is inadequate to maintain them in a serious action such as I could put to them. They have chickens in the coop and cattle on the hoof--that's their supply system. They could probably maintain themselves in the type of fighting I could give them for five days. After that it would make no difference how many million men they have, and if you wanted Moscow, I could give it to you. They lived on the land coming down. There is insufficient left for them to maintain themselves going back. Let's not give them time to build up their supplies. If we do, then . . . we have had a victory over the Germans and disarmed them, but we have failed in the liberation of Europe; we have lost the war!”
“In my opinion, the American army as it now exists could beat the Russians with the greatest of ease, because, while the Russians have good infantry, they are lacking in artillery, air, tanks and the knowledge of the use of the combined arms, whereas we excel in all three of these. If it should be necessary to fight the Russians, the sooner we do it the better.”
“The Russians are Mongols. They are Slavs and a lot of them used to be ruled by ancient Byzantium. From Genghis Kahn to Stalin. they have not changed. They never will and we will never learn, at least, not until it is too late.”
“If it should be necessary for us fight the Russians, the sooner we do it, the better. We could have arrived sooner but for the fact if one flies over Russian occupied territory they shoot at you. Nice friends.”
“If we have to fight them, now is the time. From now on, we will get weaker, and they will get stronger.”
It got him killed.
The comment of them shooting at you was corroborated by uncle who told me after the japs surrendered his navy air unit was shot at by the Ruskies over Manchuria. Our planes were disarmed.
[What did General Patton say about Russia?]
Was it something about “scum-sucking Siberian snow pimps,” or is that a National Lampoon cartoon I’m remembering?
students of history and human nature, Patton, like MacArthur knew exactly who America’s enemies were.
Parton spoke the truth on a lot of things. No wonder they had to make sure he was taken out and silenced for good after the war.
Should have taken care of Russia in 1945.
Would have been easy and better for Russian people.
This long commentary - if even quoted accurately - distills all the magnificent strengths, and atrocious weaknesses of Patton, that contributed to him being such a tragic figure. Probably right about a war with Russia, but it was a complete impossibility at that time. And his racial comments about Russians are not only gutter and offensive, but historically ignorant, especially for a self-avowed student of history.
Bkmk