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Jan 30, 2025
1:10:39pm
TheNerd 3rd String
Some interesting things I've learned about him, especially considering how it
relates to the movie:

1. While he may have had some competition/rivalry with Bernard Montgomery, the Messina "race" was not accurate; when Patton proposed his plan to take Messina then cut across to Palermo in Sicily, Monty actually agreed that it was a good plan. The movie made it look like that plan was rejected and Patton defiantly raced to beat Monty to Messina, but my understanding is that they actually went with Patton's plan.

2. Patton's voice was actually fairly high-pitched, and did not sound like Scott's gruff voice.

3. Patton swore a lot in front of his troops, because it "helps it stick", but actually didn't swear that much around others. Not that he didn't swear, but the worst of it (where he gets his reputation) was mostly reserved for talking to his soldiers.

4. The Germans' view of Patton is likely overexaggerated. Some may claim that the Germans hardly noticed or cared about him, but either way he wasn't feared like the movie made it seem. Not that he wasn't feared at all, just that the Germans didn't watch his every move with great anxiety. That being said, him being used as a decoy for the D-Day invasion likely did play a role in diverting the German forces, but it most likely wasn't as big of a factor as the movie made it seem (there were other reasons they didn't go full-in on reinforcing Normandy).

5. Despite being seen as a more tactical and less strategic general, he was actually pretty good at logistics and taking care of things in that regard. He actually did very well in his efforts to relieve Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge, and his troops were well-supported in their advance. And yes, his turnaround in making that happen was indeed impressive. I think it's safe to say the movie did not exaggerate how well he handled that, but there was even more to it that the movie kind of just brushed over. By the time he told the other generals he could "attack the day after tomorrow morning", he already had things in motion to make it happen and had left three alternative plans with his deputy general.

6. Patton did indeed believe he was reincarnated.

7. Patton was an Olympic athlete.

8. On a related note, although Eisenhower was known for his strategy (and yes, he did handle his command of the European Theater very well), he was also very capable as a field commander. He had to take command at some point in the war and showed that he was not just a high-level strategist.
This message has been modified
Originally posted on Jan 30, 2025 at 1:10:39pm
Message modified by TheNerd on Jan 30, 2025 at 1:14:28pm
TheNerd
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