George Patton on April 5, 1945
writes his friend Brig-General Beverly F. Browne an exceptional battlefield
enclosing an unsigned copy of his General Orders Number 70 to the "Officers
and Men of the Third Army and To Our Comrades Of the XIX Tactical Air Command".
He notes to Gen. Browne that he has taken 43,000 more German Prisoners since
March 22nd and notes
" we are for the first time in the history of the 3rd Army 'Re-grouping,' which
is a word I despise, but it is sometimes necessary."
Prophetically, in this same letter Patton
remarks:
"I wish that the papers would admit that the Germans in front of the 3rd Army
fight. Apparently all the bigger and better Germans fight everyone else except
me. Actually, the reason we have less trouble is that we go faster."
Today all WWII historians agree that many of Hitler's finest was thrown
against Patton and the reason why he was so successful in this 1945 Campaign is
that he indeed moved faster then other Allied Generals.
Gen. Browne, under Patton signature writes:
"Typical of George always had a grudge until things were decided upon
then he was loyal to the core ... ".
These three exceptional war dated George
Patton correspondence items have been de-acidified and encapsulated in archival
Mylar by the Folger-Shakespear Library in Washington DC. They all come with our
company's certificate of authentication.
View Typed Letter Signed -
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Patton Letter and Enclosures compliments of the
Estoric
Letter in Full:
HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 403
5 April, 1945
My dear Beverly:
Your interesting
letter with the equally interesting enclosures of March 25 just reached me. As
usual, I was delighted to hear from you.
We have certainly
been having a lot of fun with the Germans as will be shown by the enclosed
General Order which, however, stopped on the 22nd of March. Since that
time we have taken 43,000 more.
At the moment, due to
a change of boundaries, we re for the first time in the history of the 3rd Army
"Re-grouping," which is a word I despise, but is sometimes necessary.
I wish that the
papers would admit that the Germans in front of the 3rd Army fight. Apparently
all the bigger and better Germans fight everyone else except me. Actually, the
reason we have less trouble is that we go faster.
Beatrice wrote me
that you wrote a letter in my behalf to Look Magazine. I certainly
appreciate it.
With sincere regards to Louise, I am.
Devotedly yours,
George
G.S. Patton, Jr.
Brig. Gen. Beverly Browne
Front Royal, Virginia
U.S.A.
Incl. General Order No. 70
Typical of George always had a gripe until things were
decided upon then he was loyal to the core and all "up & over"
Later * not exactly what I mean -- He always had an
idea, but was always willing to be shown.
View General Orders 70 Printed Signature -
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HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
APO 403
GENERAL ORDERS
23 March 1945
NUMBER 70
TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE THIRD ARMY
AND
TO OUR COMRADES THE XIX TACTICAL AIR COMMAND
In the period from January 29 to March 22, 1945, you have
wrested 6,484 square miles of territory from the enemy. You have taken
3,072 cities, towns, and villages, including among the former: TRIER, KOBLENZ,
BINGEN, WORMS, MAINZ, KAISERSLAUTERN, and LUDWIGSHAFEN.
You have captured 140,112 enemy soldiers, and have killed or wounded an
additionally 99,000, thereby eliminating practically all of the German 7th and
1st Armies. History records no grater achievement in so limited a time.
This great campaign was only made possible by your disciplined
valor, unswerving devotion to duty, coupled with the unparalled audacity and
speed of your advance on the ground; while from the air, the peerless
fighter-bombers kept up a relentless round-the-clock attack upon the
disorganized enemy.
The world rings with your praises: better still, General
Marshall, General Eisenhower, and General Bradley have all personally commended
you. The highest honor I have ever attained is that of having my name
coupled with yours in these great events.
Please accept my heartfelt admiration and thanks for what you
have done, and remember that your assault crossing over the Rhine at 2200 hours
last night assures you of even greater glory to come.
G.S. Patton, Jr.
G.S. Patton, Jr.
Lieut. General, U.S. Army,
Commanding
DISTRIBUTION: "A" & "C"
Twelfth Army Group
XIX TAC
Censored: G.S. Patton, Jr.
FREE HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 403
Brig. Gen. Beverly F. Brown
Front Royal, Virginia
U.S.A.
Patton, George Smith, Jr.,1885–1945,
American general, born on 11 November 1885 in San Gabriel, California. He
briefly attended the Virginia Military Institute before joining the Class of
1909 at West Point. Upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy he was
commissioned in the cavalry the served in World War I and was wounded while
commanding a tank brigade in Europe.
In
World War II he commanded (1942–43) a corps in
North Africa and the 7th Army in Sicily. Despite a brilliant record, a Patton
was relieved from his command and his promotion to the permanent rank of major
general delayed until Aug., 1944 because he slapped a soldier suffering from
battle fatigue. Early in 1944 he was given command of the 3d Army, which
spearheaded the spectacular sweep of U.S. forces from Normandy through Brittany
and N France. He relieved Bastogne in December 1944, crossed the Rhine on March
22, 1945 and raced across Southern Germany into Czechoslovakia. As Military
Governor of Bavaria, Patton was criticized for leniency to Nazis. He was removed
as governor in October, 1945 and given the command of the U.S. 15th Army.
Patton died after an automobile accident in Germany.
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