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Patton

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Elkstone (U3836042) on Tuesday, 19th May 2009

  I read that post D-Day he was the allied commander the Germans feared the most. They had specialist intelligence units focussed on his men in particular as well as the whole front.
  
  Did they see him as a kind of Zhukov figure on the west? He was viewed by some as a reckless but effective commander, who would not let casualties put him off securing objectives. Who would want to face two such generals on both fronts simultaneously? However if he had not been killed, would he have been moved over to a desk job after the war?
  
  
  The general in the war comedy Kelly's Heroes, was said to be a parody of Patton
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by peteratwar (U10629558) on Tuesday, 19th May 2009

  Nope, I doubt it. He had I think reached the limit of his ability.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TimTrack (U1730472) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  The Germans knew that they would be facing General Patton so they studied him. Quite logical. My bet is that they studied all their opposing generals equally. After all, if they thought one strong, they though another weaker. It is the weaker one you single out to attack.
  
  General Patton was not as high in the structure as Marshal Zhukov (the clue is in the title !). His counterpart in the West was General Eisenhower. I doubt that the Germans were as romantically attached to Patton's reputation as we are now.
  
  We focus on such figures as General Patton now because they stir the imagination more than the rather dour General Bradley or our own Field Marshal Montgomery. Tacticly Patton was, on occasion quite brilliant, and more aggressive than others. But the Germans needed to know all their opponents, not just the ones we made films about.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by giraffe47 (U4048491) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  I do not think he would have gone much higher than Army Commander, and even getting to that was doubtful. (he got sacked in Sicily, but they needed him, so he got re-instated)
  A great 'attacking' soldier, but stepped on too many political toes to get on well in the post-war world.
  Any General worth his salt studies all his enemies, (and all his allies) 'cos you never know which one you might be up against in the future!

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Grumpyfred (U2228930) on Wednesday, 20th May 2009

  I would suggest that Patton was, like a number of other Generals on both sides, a legend in his own mind.

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