Was there ever a general who lived more on his (trumped up) reputation then Bernard Montgomery?
Aside from Douglas MacArthur?
Both men were average generals whose country made them into something more because they were desperate for a hero.
Truman should have allowed Patton's Army to drive into eastern Germany.
Of course he should have, but Truman was determined to help the Soviets end up in control of half of Europe after the war.
Dimocraps were always benevolent to commies that way.
Ive known several retired military officers over the years who thought very little of Patton as a hero. He was always ready to have his troops die to benefit himself and he reveled in the glory bought by the blood of others.
His vehicle hit a landmine the morning of leaving the last base he visited and spent the night at as his vehicle went over the first ridge out of the valley after hosting a party the night before that he hosted in his own honor. My Maj uncle and multiple medaled war hero was there at the time.
Patton had ordered all officers to attend to be able to hobknob and befriend them as he knew he was not universally adored. Several officers didnt attend due to their disgust with him dancing on the graves of their men and their names were taken by order of Patton and were to be courts martialed later.
My uncle was one of those officers.
Someone didnt want that to happen.
There was no way the enemy could have gotten to the road out of the encampment overnight to plant a landmine as the road was heavily patrolled.
He was essentially assasinated by some of his own troops.
America had been through a hard war and had lost a lot of fathers, brothers and sons. It needed a hero to point to- someone who could be pointed to with pride in the knowledge he had kicked the Germans backside. They had that man of pride in the prima donna Patton, in spades.
