Both were intimate with "Prince" Frederick von Anhalt?
Posted on 04/30/2008 1:20:52 PM PDT by devane617
I have read practically everything available on this great man. Thank you for posting.
Patton bump
You don't need to give contemporary US commanders the back hand in order to praise Patton.
But there is a big difference in military climate. Patton could spend most of his career on the tactical and strategic arts, from becoming a master fencer and excellent pistol and rifle man on up to the tactical and strategic operations of armored regiments. Todays military officer, however, smart, must spend most of his life burdened with administrative chores, and if he plays hooky from his bureaucratic jobs to enhance his military arts, will suffer promotion wise.
His romanticized "quick thrust" into Germany however, portrayed in the movie as some kind of Monty/Ike conspiracy, was in fact a plan for disaster. The "red ball express" was already exhausted and couldn't be pushed one mile further. We HAD to have closer bases for supplies, and had Patton's view carried, he would have ended up perhaps inside Germany, but cut off, surrounded, and without supplies.
No disrespect meant toward any military commander. Those guys are doing what most of only dream about.
Agree. The guys who staged the “Thunder Run” into Baghdad were every bit as innovative, and clearly Petraeus is among the finest, most insightful military minds we’ve had in decades.
Another thing about Patton: he was dyslexic in his youth, and spent many evenings to the early morning hours reading and understanding his lessons.
I recall an interview given with General von Rundstedt of the German Army after the WWII.
In response to a question “Who do you think is the best General in the WWII?”.
His answer: General George Patton, Jr. He is the very best Battlefield Commander!
Pop quiz: what did Patton have in common with Zsa Zsa Gabor?
Wow...I have no idea...But I bet it is good.
Thanks for posting! I knew most of this but still enjoy reading about a real man and soldier.
That's not to say that Patton wasn't an egocentric person. However, Bradley, in the movie, comes across as the gentle guiding hand that looked after Patton, who was supposedly nuts. Patton knew more about the battlefield than the rest of them put together.
One line in the movie was true. When Patton said, "I'm one of the people who believe we can still lose this war." Today, there's the assumption that we can win no matter how much stupidity is dumped onto the troops. We CAN lose, and I fear we may have to take catastrophic loses before the political correctness comes off.
Thank you for this post and what a great website.....
Both were intimate with "Prince" Frederick von Anhalt?
Patton spent most of the time between 1916 and 1940 creating the US Army's armored cavalry capability.
He spent long hours preparing presentations to brass and to Congressional committees on the need for appropriations for armor.
He spent years going through prototype after prototype of different kinds of armor, of dealing with various arms manufacturers and their contracts. He set up a school for training in armor and dealt with all the red tape which that inevitably involved.
Make no mistake: George Patton was a dogged and accomplished bureaucrat.
The fact that he once took a summer off to study fencing in France and spent a couple of years teaching saber fighting between fighting Villa and the beginning of WWI doesn't really compare to the almost-quarter century he spent in and around the Beltway advocating for and building US armor capacity practically from scratch.
And despite all those years on committees and boards and task forces, he almost ruined his brilliant WWII exploits due to logistical blunders.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness,
to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend.
Grant us fair weather for Battle.
Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that,
armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory,
and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies
and establish Thy justice among men and nations.
-by Msgr. James H. O’Neill12/8/1944 (the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton)
http://www.pattonhq.com/prayer.html
Probably one of the most famous prayers written outside of a biblical context.
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