SILENCE PATTON Q & A
It is 73 years since the death of General George S. Patton, but as in life he sets off a storm of controversy. My film Silence Patton raises the question of whether such a flawed character could have been right about his claim that because the Allied troops, some within 200 miles of Berlin, were held back from capturing the capital to let Soviet troops move in, the Cold War was inevitable.
He said it loudly and often enough that he was relieved of command and silenced. Some even believe that the auto accident that claimed his life was no accident. What I’ve found since the film’s release is that Patton’s behavior, character and performance on the field is looked at not through the lens of history but is retrofit into the standards of today, forgetting that the 1940s were an ugly, challenging time for the Allies and that Patton was almost uniquely up to the challenge. Was he volatile, bombastic, self-absorbed, reckless? Yes, but he was also politically astute and a brilliant military strategist who delivered badly needed wins.
Questions still abound about Patton’s rise and fall. I still have some myself, but here are my answers to the most pressing ones.
He said it loudly and often enough that he was relieved of command and silenced. Some even believe that the auto accident that claimed his life was no accident. What I’ve found since the film’s release is that Patton’s behavior, character and performance on the field is looked at not through the lens of history but is retrofit into the standards of today, forgetting that the 1940s were an ugly, challenging time for the Allies and that Patton was almost uniquely up to the challenge. Was he volatile, bombastic, self-absorbed, reckless? Yes, but he was also politically astute and a brilliant military strategist who delivered badly needed wins.
Questions still abound about Patton’s rise and fall. I still have some myself, but here are my answers to the most pressing ones.
DID PATTON DISPLAY A PATTERN OF CRUELTY TO THE MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND?
The incident everyone remembers is when he slapped two soldiers. It is in the history books and memorably, it seems, in the film Patton. To put the incident in context, if not excuse it, Patton had just led his troops to victory in Sicily. It was blood-curdling
warfare with major loss of life. Patton felt guilty and responsible. Internally, he was deeply empathetic towards his men and visited and prayed with them more than any other general. By the way, the film Patton and George C. Scott’s outsize portrayal was partly based on Omar Bradley’s book A Soldier’s Story. Bradley, who served under Patton and was often the target of his cutting remarks, managed to get even after the fact and in print.
The incident everyone remembers is when he slapped two soldiers. It is in the history books and memorably, it seems, in the film Patton. To put the incident in context, if not excuse it, Patton had just led his troops to victory in Sicily. It was blood-curdling
warfare with major loss of life. Patton felt guilty and responsible. Internally, he was deeply empathetic towards his men and visited and prayed with them more than any other general. By the way, the film Patton and George C. Scott’s outsize portrayal was partly based on Omar Bradley’s book A Soldier’s Story. Bradley, who served under Patton and was often the target of his cutting remarks, managed to get even after the fact and in print.
DO HIS CHARACTER FLAWS OUTWEIGH HIS SUCCESS?
Not when seen in light of the initial strength of the Nazi war machine. When the U.S. finally entered the war, the Allies were severely depleted. Although Russia had strength in numbers and was willing to sacrifice countless soldiers, Britain had lost many of its best men in battle and was in a desperate situation. That is what the American generals faced. And here is a reminder of Patton’s triumphs as the “winningest general” in World War 2.
Not when seen in light of the initial strength of the Nazi war machine. When the U.S. finally entered the war, the Allies were severely depleted. Although Russia had strength in numbers and was willing to sacrifice countless soldiers, Britain had lost many of its best men in battle and was in a desperate situation. That is what the American generals faced. And here is a reminder of Patton’s triumphs as the “winningest general” in World War 2.
~In 1943 was called in late to North Africa after a devastating Allied loss at Tunisia’s Kasserine Pass. The Patton-led defeat of Rommel’s seemingly invincible forces turned the war around in our favor and restored American pride.
~In that same year, Patton was the lead general in the Sicilian campaign, beating British General Montgomery to Messina. Not only did they destroy Nazi forces, it led to Italy’s surrender.
WHY WAS PATTON HELD BACK AND BERLIN CEDED TO THE RUSSIANS?
Although Winston Churchill agreed with Patton that it would be a political and humanitarian disaster for Eastern Europe, he was in no position to object to argue with the Yalta agreement which allowed it. What was left of his fighting forces did not give Churchill much leverage with his still well-armed allies, so he signed the agreement along with Roosevelt and the duplicitous Stalin, who pretended to discount the importance of Berlin in his plans. But Churchill was as outspoken as Patton on the dangers that it would unleash and he was adamant about pushing Stalin as far back East as possible. He even contacted US forces to urge him on. Patton at the time wrote: “We promised the Europeans freedom. It would be worse than dishonorable not to see that they have it. This might mean war with the Russians, but what off it.” This is a comment that illustrates the living dichotomy that was Patton: reckless but also prescient about what would follow: a Cold War that would last decades with its denial of freedom and massive loss of life in Soviet Bloc countries. Stalin, to cite one example, had the entire leadership of Catholic Poland killed. Stalin turned out to be as ruthless a mass murderer as Hitler.
Although Winston Churchill agreed with Patton that it would be a political and humanitarian disaster for Eastern Europe, he was in no position to object to argue with the Yalta agreement which allowed it. What was left of his fighting forces did not give Churchill much leverage with his still well-armed allies, so he signed the agreement along with Roosevelt and the duplicitous Stalin, who pretended to discount the importance of Berlin in his plans. But Churchill was as outspoken as Patton on the dangers that it would unleash and he was adamant about pushing Stalin as far back East as possible. He even contacted US forces to urge him on. Patton at the time wrote: “We promised the Europeans freedom. It would be worse than dishonorable not to see that they have it. This might mean war with the Russians, but what off it.” This is a comment that illustrates the living dichotomy that was Patton: reckless but also prescient about what would follow: a Cold War that would last decades with its denial of freedom and massive loss of life in Soviet Bloc countries. Stalin, to cite one example, had the entire leadership of Catholic Poland killed. Stalin turned out to be as ruthless a mass murderer as Hitler.
WOULD IT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO WIN A WAR AGAINST RUSSIA?
The examples of defeat at the hands of Russia are always brought up to countermand Patton’s arguments. True, Napoleon failed as did Hitler, whose troops could not survive the Russian winter. But Patton, although he might have wanted eventually to get to Moscow, made the case for pushing the Soviets back to their pre-war borders. And history tells us that was possible. His 3rd army was the best in US history, and with a force of 500,000. Stalin feared them and so did the Germans. You would adjust their strategies according to the location and direction of the 3rd. It was a risk, but was it worth pushing back Red Army to the original lines in Eastern Europe to give those people a chance at 20th century democracy. Patton would say hell yeah!
The examples of defeat at the hands of Russia are always brought up to countermand Patton’s arguments. True, Napoleon failed as did Hitler, whose troops could not survive the Russian winter. But Patton, although he might have wanted eventually to get to Moscow, made the case for pushing the Soviets back to their pre-war borders. And history tells us that was possible. His 3rd army was the best in US history, and with a force of 500,000. Stalin feared them and so did the Germans. You would adjust their strategies according to the location and direction of the 3rd. It was a risk, but was it worth pushing back Red Army to the original lines in Eastern Europe to give those people a chance at 20th century democracy. Patton would say hell yeah!
WAS PATTON INTOXICATED BY WAR AND MENTALLY UNSTABLE?
He had spent his life preparing to be a soldier in a great battle, as were his ancestors. Widely eccentric but he was not unhinged. Perhaps if you compare his fervor to the average citizen, it sounds extreme, even crazy. It is easy as the world wars recede to forget what the Allies were faced with when Patton was called to battle. His message is worth repeating: There is “no social justice, no law, no freedom, without peace, and many times peace begins with the willingness for a nation to defend itself.” All soldiers in the end are professional killers, and in peace, that seems irrelevant or out of place. World War 2 was a time of blood and survival, and General Patton was born and baptized in that blood.
WHAT ABOUT HIS LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR SOLDIERS WHO SUFFERED FROM PTSD?
During Patton’s service, PTSD was just beginning to be understood. During World War 2 the terminology was “combat neurosis” to “combat exhaustion” or “battle fatigue.” The U.S. Army adopted this as its official slogan: Every man has his breaking point. Patton has been accused of denying treatment to those suffering from the condition. The truth is that he just didn’t think they should be treated in the same facilities as soldiers with devastating physical injuries. He couldn’t equate nervousness with faces and limbs blown off. After he had just led them into their destruction.
During Patton’s service, PTSD was just beginning to be understood. During World War 2 the terminology was “combat neurosis” to “combat exhaustion” or “battle fatigue.” The U.S. Army adopted this as its official slogan: Every man has his breaking point. Patton has been accused of denying treatment to those suffering from the condition. The truth is that he just didn’t think they should be treated in the same facilities as soldiers with devastating physical injuries. He couldn’t equate nervousness with faces and limbs blown off. After he had just led them into their destruction.
WHY DOES HIS AGGRESSIVENESS AND STRIDENT MILITARISM COLOR HIS OVERALL REPUTATION?
It turned out those character traits—and he was a man of massive contradictions— were what helped him succeed. And at one point he was the most popular man in America. To draw a moral equivalent between his bellicosity and harshness to Hitler’s, as some have done, is on the face of it ridiculous. We have some how conflated toughness at times of war with abuse. Patton knew some of his men hated him personally, but also chose to stay with his army for the best chance of survival. The very aggression that was trouble off the battlefield was necessary during war. War is a mess, and we cannot use peace time perception.
It turned out those character traits—and he was a man of massive contradictions— were what helped him succeed. And at one point he was the most popular man in America. To draw a moral equivalent between his bellicosity and harshness to Hitler’s, as some have done, is on the face of it ridiculous. We have some how conflated toughness at times of war with abuse. Patton knew some of his men hated him personally, but also chose to stay with his army for the best chance of survival. The very aggression that was trouble off the battlefield was necessary during war. War is a mess, and we cannot use peace time perception.
DID HIS VOLATILITY LEAD TO HIS DEMISE?
He certainly was defiant when he felt he wasn’t supported by his superior officers and he did not hesitate to let them or the world know about it. It was that outspokenness which was the beginning of the end for his career. He spoke up throughout the war, but it was especially his furious comments about being held back from Berlin, his belief that the German troops should not be disbanded because they would be needed to fight the Soviets and that the Russia posed as great a danger to the West as Nazi Germany that led to his demotion.
It also led to his being “silenced,” especially after he threatened that after he returned to the U.S. he would tell all that went on behind the scenes. It also led to the conspiracy theory that the automobile accident was a staged assassination. He may have been silenced then but he was right about the postwar world. Eventually Germany had to reconstitute their troops to keep the Soviets at bay and Eastern Europe remained in the Soviet noose until it was loosened 44 years later with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
He certainly was defiant when he felt he wasn’t supported by his superior officers and he did not hesitate to let them or the world know about it. It was that outspokenness which was the beginning of the end for his career. He spoke up throughout the war, but it was especially his furious comments about being held back from Berlin, his belief that the German troops should not be disbanded because they would be needed to fight the Soviets and that the Russia posed as great a danger to the West as Nazi Germany that led to his demotion.
It also led to his being “silenced,” especially after he threatened that after he returned to the U.S. he would tell all that went on behind the scenes. It also led to the conspiracy theory that the automobile accident was a staged assassination. He may have been silenced then but he was right about the postwar world. Eventually Germany had to reconstitute their troops to keep the Soviets at bay and Eastern Europe remained in the Soviet noose until it was loosened 44 years later with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Copyright © 2020 | PHONE +1 (609) 430-8286 | EMAIL robo(at)silencepattton.com
20 NASSAU STREET. 22 PRINCETON NJ 08542 USA |