“I will be damned if I see why we have divisions if not to use them.”
TO EVERETT HUGHES, Patton looked fine, less nervous. He had stopped smoking, had a fund of funny stories, and retained his sense of humor. Everywhere he went, he was recognized. At Versailles, where SHAEF was established,
[Bedell] Smith was very eloquent and said, “I suppose you don’t know the high strategy, but I am convinced that my northern effort [21 Army Group] cannot logistically support more than 35 divisions. As we have 83 divisions, that leaves quite a few I can use anywhere else, and I want you to be prepared to resume the old effort through Saarlautern and Saareguemines. How many divisions would you require?”
I said I could make the attack with five.
He said, “I think you should have twelve.”
I had never known how great he really is.
Smith took him hunting on one of the “old royal preserves of the Kings of France now used by the Presidents,” and Patton
killed three ducks, one phesant, and three hares, and then got ptomane and had to go in. I am all right to day.
We went to the “Follies” which is perfectly naked, so much so that no one is interested. As usual there was a big going on when I got there. We had a box and drank champagne back stage with the manager and his wife. She said, “My dear General, when ever you come to Paris, make the Follies your home. You can rest here always.” I can think of no place less conducive to rest.
Then he returned to the war.
Diary, February 19
Wrote Bradley a letter saying that all U.S. troops, except the Third Army, were doing nothing, and that while I was still attacking, I could do better with more divisions, and asked him for from one to three additional ones. I wrote this letter in order to get on record, as we will be criticized by history, and rightly so, for having sat still so long. Also, I do not wish any more of my ideas used without credit to me as happens when I give them orally.
Walker called . . . to say that he feels the 94th Division is prepared for a breakthrough in the triangle, and wanted to know if we could get him an armored division.
I phoned Bradley who, fortunately, was out, so I called Bull [SHAEF G–3], and as a result of my proselyting of the other day [in Versailles], secured the 10th Armored with a string tied on it, “only for this operation.”
I will be damned if I see why we have divisions if not to use them.
He wrote to Bradley to ask for more divisions – so the XX Corps could reduce a pocket in the Saar-Moselle triangle, remove all threat to Luxembourg, and make possible the capture of Trier; so the VIII Corps could start an advance to Bonn or Coblenz; so the XII Corps could capture Bitburg, essential for movement to the Rhine.
Bradley agreed with the desirability of all of Patton’s points. Unfortunately, “higher authority” had already decided to make the main effort elsewhere. “Regardless of what you and I think of this decision, we are good enough soldiers to carry out these orders.” Therefore, since assuming a static posture was necessary, Bradley hoped that Patton would get all his divisions “rested, refitted, and filled up to full strength, so that when the proper time” came, he would be able to deliver “a decisive blow in conjunction with Hodges.”
He came personally to explain the facts of life to Patton.
Bradley looked very tired to me and did not seem at all sure of himself. I asked definitely if there was any objection to my making a run for Coblenz ahead of time or of taking Cologne if opportunity suddenly developed. He said there was no objection.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 21, 1945
Well we did it again on the usual shoe string. I refer to the taking of the Saar-Moselle triangle yesterday . . . I had to use deception], tears, and every other means to get one [division] . . . One would think people would like to win a war.
Now I am trying to wheedle an infantry division, seven of which are resting, so I can take a large and famous city [Trier].
Yesterday I drove all day looking at roades or rather at places where roades had been. I have never seen such mud, just miles and miles of cocoa colored goo . . .
I went inside some of their pill boxes [in the Siegfried Line]. They were stupendus . . .
I love to read about my self. The scrap books will probably be my only literature [after the war] . . .
There is much envy, hatred, and malace, and all unchareatableness. To hell with them. They have associates, I have fate.
Diary, February 22
Met Walker and Morris [10th Armored Division]. To my disgust, I discovered that Morris had let his bridge train get lost, so had not crossed at Saarbourg, as I had supposed, but had sat there until well after noon waiting to find the train and was still sitting, due to the fact that he was being held up by small arms and mortar fire at the far side of the river. I told him to fine the officer who got lost and to cross at once.
I feel we missed the boat on this one – just lack of drive. Walker should have been on the job too, and perhaps I am also to blame. Had I been personally present, the train would probably never have been lost, and the same thing applies to Walker and then to Morris – all three of us fell down.
Everyone was terribly tired and discouraged by the bad weather and the mud.
GSP, Jr., Press Conference, Luxembourg, February 23, 1945 Patton: The operations of the so-called Moselle-Saar triangle were exceedingly well timed. It was a very fine sense of touch, played by ear so to speak, and General Walker did a great job . . .
The fighting up in the VIII Corps has illustrated again the thing
I keep on talking about – the utter futility of defense ; . . We have to keep stressing it and preaching it even after the war. A host of people who squat and piss say this will be the last war and that you’ll only need clubs, but they are responsible for the death of millions of people . . . The only thing to do when a son-of-a-bitch looks crosseyed at you is to beat the hell out of him right then and there . . .
They now say that we’ve got 3,000 miles of ocean, but 20 years from now this 3,000 miles of ocean will be just a good spit. This is a very serious thing, and many people don’t visualize this very grave danger . . .
Wars are won by the people who actually go out and do things . . .
The Third Army appreciates the efforts which you gentlemen have made . . .
We are prone to think too much that weapons are more important than the knowledge of soldiering . . . It takes ability to take care of yourself and live under bad conditions, and above all, it means ability to work with other men . . .
Question: The Germans are still building tank ditches?
Patton: If they would use all that energy in some other way, they might do much better, but they are still building those things, and the only thing they are good for are toilets . . .
Question: Any indication where the next line of resistance will be?
Patton: I think any time you can break through you can go straight ahead. Of course every town and every crossroad and bridge will be defended, but that is not too serious.
Question: Are we going to try to take Trier?
Patton: I fear we lost the boat on that one. We had a bridge train knocked out – but don’t say that. This is the first bad luck the Army has had. Every minute you don’t put this operation across, it makes it that much harder. I think it is a very feasible operation, though, and we have done well.
Diary, February 23
The situation in the triangle is annoying, not due to the Germans but due to the Americans. SHAEF has a new toy called SHAEF Reserve, and every time they let an Army have a division, they want one in return. Now they say that if I keep on using the 10th Armored, I will have to put the .11th, 6th, or 4th Armored in reserve – this despite the fact that all these divisions are properly placed to attack. I just hope something will turn up to prevent my having to do this. The best I could do for the moment was to settle for 48 hours more time, by which time the situation may have cleared.
Bradley called to state that I would get two new infantry divisions but would have to pull out two old ones in this so-called reserve.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to son George, February 24, 1945
Remember this: no set piece of tactics is of any merit in itself, unless it is executed by heroic and disciplined troops who have self-confidence and who have leaders who take care of them.
At the moment, the Third Army is on a sort of defensive job – or at least any other Army would be – but we are still managing to keep pushing and have captured or buried about 20,000 Germans in the last three weeks.
Diary, February 24
The Ninth Army seems to be doing all right, but the Second British has not done a thing, nor probably will it.
I sent Gay to see what is the matter with the XX Corps. Either we must get going in that sector or we will have to quit, and I will get in a jam with SHAEF for holding on to the 10th Armored Division.
Diary, February 25
Had Middleton, Walker, and Gaffey in for lunch. Bradley called and asked if he could also come . . . and we were delighted. I coached all three corps commanders and also Weyland what to say in order to sell the idea of continuing the attack to take Trier . . .
I personally pointed out that we have a chance of taking this town and that it will be criminal not to do so just in order to comply with the dictum of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, 4,000 miles away [in Washington], who insist on a certain number of inactive divisions in a so-called reserve.
We argued hard and at last Bradley said we could keep on till dark of the 27th, provided Ike let us call the 90th Division, at the moment out of action, a SHAEF reserve unit.
I wonder if ever before in the history of war, a winning general had to plead to be allowed to keep on winning.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, February 25, 1945,
We just finished a very strange meeting. The tent maker felt that we should stop attacking, and it took me and all three corps commanders half a day to get permission to continue the attack for another 48 hours, at which time if we have not taken a certain town [Trier] we will have to stop. What a war.
Well we will do it any how. I have never been stopped either by orders or the enemy yet . . .
I wish fools in congress would stop trying to get me promoted. I fear that GCM [Marshall] Will think I am back of it – I am not. They must promote Omar first or relieve him. We will all get four stars some day, and I never cared to be like the others.
I will stop now and take a walk.
Diary, February 26
Got a lot of clippings from home. A Congressman Brooks from Louisiana has made a move in Congress to get me four stars, and other people are writing about me as a potential political character. This is very bad publicity and might be hurtful.
The current operation for the encirclement of Trier is the result of the ability to change plans to meet opportunities developed by combat or as Napoleon said, “I attack and then I look”
The XX Corps started to take the triangle chiefly as a means of training the relatively green 94th Division. When things developed satisfactorily, Walker asked for and got the 10th Armored . . . The success of this operation was better than anticipated, so I determined to have a try at Trier . . .
When Trier is taken, I am planning to resume the attack to the east and secure the bridges over the Kyll and then attack Coblenz . . .
It may be of interest to future generals to realize that one makes plans to fit circumstances and does not try to create circumstances to fit plans. That way danger lies.
Diary, February 27
I called General Bradley because we were supposed to stop at dark today if we had not taken Trier. He said to keep on going . . . until higher authority steps in. He also said he would not listen for the telephone.
“Bill Morris and the 10th Armored are within 4.8 miles of Trier,” he wrote Beatrice, “and I think I have won my bet.”
Diary, March 1
Walker called . . . to announce that the 10th Armored was in Trier . . . It has been a very fine operation and has netted us over 7,000 prisoners. When he crossed at Saarbourg, the Germans thought he was going south . . . so his quick turn to the north took them completely by surprise.
Tried to get Eisenhower and Bradley on the wire to notify them, but was unable to do so and called Smith. Later Bradley called me from the Ninth Army and was very much pleased, and both Beedle and Brad were complimentary. Ike was in the room with Bradley; I heard his voice – but he did not take the trouble to speak to me.
I certainly again proved my military ideas are correct and have put them over in spite of opposition from the Americans.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 1, 1945
Fooled them again . . . and I had to beg, lie, and steal to get a chance to take [Trier]. Inspite of being fat, Walker is good . . .
B. [Bradley] actually congratulated me!
I was in Saarbourg yesterday. It was the home of John the blind, king of Bohemia and Duke of Luxembourg who was killed at Crecy. The Prince of Wailes uses his crest.
Yesterday while I was sight seeing, a shell came quite close. Also they shelled hell out of a town at the time I was supposed to be there – I was late – I think they tap our [telephone] wires.
In a radio broadcast to the American people, Vincent Sheean talked about Patton and generalship. Because most reporters were interested only in the common soldier, he said, civilians had a hazy notion of how the military worked. The mainspring of all action was the commander, who, at every echelon, whether junior or senior, planned operations, directed his men, and imparted confidence to all under him. The most important place where command was exercised was at the head of an Army, “the highest strictly operational field unit,” the point where strategy – the ideas emanating from Washington, London, and, say, Yalta – became translated into tactics, activity on the battlefield.
During the past six weeks Sheean had been moving around in the Third Army, which had raced across France in August and had hurled itself toward Bastogne in December. The Army commander was without question the mainspring of “these phenomenal moves.” Quickly apparent to any visitor was the extent to which the Army was imbued with pride and confidence in Patton. Part of that identification between the men and their commander came from the frequency with which Patton showed himself to his troops; some of it arose from stories, myths that ascribed superhuman qualities to Patton; but the most important element was the knowledge of “his masterly decisions.”
A great commander, Sheean said, was made by his great accomplishments. If Patton’s career were to end at once, his performance in Sicily, in France, and at Bastogne would be enough to place him among the greatest generals in history.
Well, what did he do as a general? It was difficult to be exact. Very often what a general did was of less consequence than what he was. His character and personality, sometimes his showmanship, made him real to his troops, who absorbed the confidence that he had in himself.
A general, whether great or merely good, had first to be master of the technical or professional matters of warfare. Beyond that, he had to be right in his critical decisions. And he had to animate the mind, imagination, and spirit of his men. Patton’s impact on his troops came from the vigor of his unique personality, his talent for language, his exuberance and self-assurance. To call these qualities mere swashbuckling was to underrate and misunderstand Patton’s genius. Everyone knew of Patton’s familiarity with military history, theory, and literature, with Napoleon, Clausewitz, and others, with the command of units at every level of the Army. The combination of practical experience and theoretical preparation gave Patton the solid base, the stage, on which he played his role as a spectacular, yet sound leader.
Patton’s qualities, Sheean continued, occasionally startled and outraged the public, which sometimes objected to what were irrelevant details in his makeup. Too much unfavorable talk had minimized Patton’s generalship, when in fact his Army had moved faster than any other in history. The American soldiers were good and well-equipped. But they needed to be led by a bold and skillful man who had, more than most, a sharp military instinct. By his speed of action and reaction, Patton had already shortened the war and saved innumerable lives. To Sheean he seemed “the most original, the boldest, and the most modern talent” in field operations that America had produced.
Diary, March 2
Walker . . . told me that . . . the corps of the Third Army did better than in the other Armies because the corps commanders have had confidence that if they made a mistake, they would still be backed up.
Bradley called to ask when I can relieve the 10th Armored. He is simply hipped on the subject . . .
Drove to Bitburg . . . It was the first time I have seen the Dragon’s teeth [of the Siegfried Line], a useless form of amusement.
Diary, March 3
All three corps are fighting to secure bridgeheads through which we can launch a combined armor and infantry attack.
Middleton called me last night to say that the 11th Armored Division would not be in position to attack this morning as planned, but would attack tomorrow. I told him that it must attack by noon today.
The Ninth Army, after a brilliant offensive, having reached the Rhine, Patton telegraphed Simpson “on your magnificent achievement.”
“We are all delighted,” he wrote Stimson, “with the wonderful success that the Ninth Army has achieved, and a little envious for fear they will steal our reputation.”
He persuaded Bradley “with considerable difficulty to let me attack with all three corps.”
To Beatrice: “I won a decisive battle just now against the tent maker, so I can now continue my ‘passive defense’ with renewed ardor.”
To Hodges: “Please accept my hearty personal congratulations . . . for your recent magnificent successes and the capture of Cologne.”
All the Armies had reached the Rhine except the Third, which had a longer distance to go, which faced massed German forces trying to keep escape routes open across the river, and which operated in awful terrain.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 6, 1945
I have never had any pearl handled pistols except one Hughes brought me. Also I never carry pearl. It is unluckey . . . I want ivory . . .
It looks as if Hugh has broken through. He took 2,000 PW yesterday, including a corps commander and staff complete and advanced about 24. miles.
We are in a horse race with Courtney. If he beats me [across the Rhine], I shall be ashamed.
Diary, March 6
Bradley called . . . and was pleased at what we were doing. I told him that now was the time to use everything, and the [newly-arrived] 89th and 65th should be used on our lines of communication. He said that would keep them from getting [combat] trained. He just fails to see war as a struggle, not as an educational course.
Patton interviewed Major General Ernst George Edwin Graf von Rothkirch und Trach, a captured corps commander, and asked why, in spite of Allied superiority in men and materiel, the German army continued to fight even though the soldiers recognized the futility of hoping to win the war. Rothkirch answered that they were under orders and would have to carry on as soldiers in spite of personal opinions and beliefs. Patton thought they were “great people but fools”
Diary, March 7
Bradley called . . . to congratulate us – he is learning . . .
We are making contact with the First Army . . . 4th Armored Division . . . reached the Rhine north of Coblenz, making 65 miles in about 36 hours – a very remarkable performance . . .
I feel that Kilburn is no good. He simply lacks drive. I should have relieved him after Bastogne. I am really not mean enough.
The big news that day was in the First Army.
9th Armored Division of the III Corps . . . got a bridge intact over the Rhine at Remagen. This may have a fine influence on our future movements. I hope we get one also.
By a stroke of luck, by the perspicacity and drive of William Hoge and his combat command, and by the high courage of the men who stormed across the Remagen bridge, Hodges got over the Rhine River first. Pat-ton’s admiration was unbounded and sincere.
“We got to the Rhine last night,” he wrote Beatrice, “but as yet have no bridge and are again waiting for some one to decide what next to do.”
Diary, March 9
All the Rhine bridges in my sector are out, and it will take too much time to build one. I shall not wait for the Seventh Army [to cross the river] . . .
It is essential to get the First and Third Armies so deeply involved in their present plans that they cannot be moved north to play second fiddle to the British-instilled idea of attacking with 60 divisions on the Ruhr plain.
Bradley was anxious for me to coordinate my plan with Patch, but since he cannot jump [the Rhine] until the 15th, I am going to attack as soon as possible, because at this stage of the war, time is more important than coordination . . .
The 11th Armored has reached the Rhine River at Andernach . . . We have got about 8,000 prisoners – and I had to beg to do it.
When Bradley phoned, Patton apologized for being off the front pages of the newspapers, which were giving Hodges and the First Army lots of space on the Remagen bridge. Bradley said, “Well, even you have to regroup once in a while.”
Diary, March 12
Kilburn came in . . . at his request and talked to me for 35 minutes trying to explain his actions.
I told him that it was a considered opinion, and separate opinions of both Middleton and myself, arrived at on different occasions, that he was not suitable due to lack of offensive spirit, to the command of an armored division; but that I was willing to let him be a combat commander under Gaffey, who had expressed his willingness to take him.
He asked me for 48 hours to consider this.
I told him that was too long. The very fact that he asked for 48 hours is the index to his inability to command. I told him he would have to let the chief of staff know his decision by 5:00 o’clock.
He asked if he could call up Bedell Smith on the telephone and get another job, and I said yes.
Everyone is wrong but him. I should have relieved him in January.
A captured officer, Lieutenant Colonel Freiherr von Wangenheim, was interrogated and said:
The greatest threat . . . was the whereabouts of the feared U.S. Third Army. General Patton is always the main topic of military discussion. Where is he? When will he attack? Where . . ? How? With what? Those are the questions which raced through the head of every German general since the famous German counteroffensive last December. The location of the U.S. First and Ninth Armies was well known, but one was not sure where the U.S. Third was . . .
General Patton is the most feared general on all fronts. The successes of the U.S. Third Army are still overshadowing all other events of the war, including the campaigns in Russia . . . The tactics of General Patton are daring and unpredictable . . . He is the most modern general and the best commander of armored and infantry troops combined.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Marshall, March 13, 1945
When the operations against Germany are brought to a successful conclusion, I should like to be considered for any type of combat command from a division up against the Japanese.
I am sure that my method of fighting would be successful.
I also am of such an age that this is my last war, and I would therefore like to see it through to the end.
Please pardon my bothering you with personal matters.
About this time Cosmopolitan magazine purchased one of Patton’s poems – “Fear” – and paid him $250 for it.
Eisenhower now intended to capture or destroy all the enemy forces still west of the Rhine. He expected this “breaking through the fortified lines” to be “a nasty business,” but success would “multiply the advantage” of having the Remagen bridge.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 14, 1945
XX Corps attacked . . . yesterday and is doing well but the going is terrible, just woods and mountains. Still they made about 4 miles. When we get a hole [in the enemy defenses], I will send Morris . . . through for a drive on Mainz ...
We have taken 89,000 [prisoners] since Feb 1, and got 9,000 plus yesterday, the biggest single bag we have had.
When someone said that Patton’s instructions were always “in a layman’s language . . . easily read and understood” Patton replied:
We can never get anything across unless we talk the language of the people we are trying to instruct. Perhaps that is why I curse.
Diary, March 14
Visited Trier . . . So did Caesar . . . whose Gallic wars I am now reading. It is interesting to view in imagination the Roman legions marching down that same road. One of the few things undestroyed in Trier is the entrance to the old Roman amphitheater which still stands in its sturdy magnificence.
Driving into Trier, he followed Caesar’s old road and “could smell the sweat of the legions.”
The Seventh Army attacks in the morning . . . I certainly hope we beat them to Mainz . . .
Called Walker and told him to turn on the heat as I feel we are not going fast enough.
Radio news broadcasts announced the promotions of nine officers to full – four-star – general rank. On the list were Bradley, Devers, and Clark, all Army Group commanders, as well as Handy, Kenney, Krueger, McNarney, Somervell, and Spaatz. Patton phoned Bradley his congratulations and sent telegrams to Devers and Clark.
He told Beatrice that the mayor of Metz gave him a large bronze medallion, Prince Felix of Luxembourg presented him the Croix de Guerre, the French made him Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, and he was sure that additional promotions would be announced. “I hope they dont make Courtney and I on the same list. I think I would refuse.”
Marshall and Eisenhower had discussed including Patton and Hodges on the list of promotions, but to have done so would have been a slight to Bradley and Devers. Eisenhower seemed to imply regret that Patton did not command the 6th Army Group, which would have made him eligible for promotion, and he had put Patton ahead of Devers in his recommendations. Marshall replied that promoting Patton ahead of Devers would compromise the latter’s usefulness.
Had Patton remained at the head of the Seventh Army and brought it ashore in southern France, he might well have moved up to command the Army Group despite the slapping incident. But Eisenhower was right to have wanted him for his own invasion, Overlord. Who else would have swept across France so swiftly and turned against the Bulge so rapidly?
Patton must surely have thought about this, perhaps discussed it with Hughes, who had sponsored Patton’s retention for southern France. Yet how could mere promotion equal the fame and glory he had achieved in France and Luxembourg?
As Patton told Beatrice,
Ike was quite apologetic about the 4-star business, but has, however, good reasons – that is, you must maintain the hierarchy of command or else relieve them, and he had no reason for relieving them. He said that George [Marshall] had promised that I would be number one Army commander on the [next] list. At the moment I am having so much fun fighting that I don’t care what the rank is.
Bradley telephoned Patton around 11 o’clock on March 16, to say that Eisenhower’s plane was unable to land at Bradley’s headquarters and would come down at Luxembourg. Patton drove to the airfield and arrived there just in time to meet Eisenhower and Bedell Smith as they were leaving in a borrowed car. He took them to his headquarters, showed them into his map room, and discussed the situation. Eisenhower “was quite enthusiastic and complimentary, as was Smith.”
After lunch Patton had a guard of honor for Smith,
Eisenhower declining . . . on the grounds that it originally had been planned for Smith, and Smith never had had one. Smith was very much pleased and drove away immediately afterward to visit Bradley.
Patton and Eisenhower drove to Trier and found the generals there “not pushing hard enough in our opinion.”
Four Red Cross girls came to dinner, and Eisenhower seemed to have a good time. He and Patton sat up talking until 2:30 in the morning.
At the morning briefing on the following day, Eisenhower spoke and paid me the first compliment he has ever vouchsafed. He stated that we of the Third Army were such veterans that we did not appreciate our own greatness and should be more cocky and boastful . . . [Eisenhower was] extremely complimentary and stated that not only was I a good general but also a lucky general and that Napoleon preferred luck to greatness.
They then flew to Seventh Army headquarters at Luneville, where they lunched with Devers and Patch, who “were extremely nice.”
Eisenhower left for Reims, and Patton returned to Luxembourg.
Walker called me up . . . and stated that he was not at all satisfied with Morris and recommended that he be relieved. I told him that I was not satisfied either, but that I could think of no one better that I could get in his place . . .
I also called Eddy . . . and told him I was very much disgusted with the slowness of the nth Armored and that they must get moving.
I then called Middleton and told him he was the only corps commander whom I had not cussed out, and congratulated him on the good work he had done in securing Coblenz.
GSP, Jr., Press Conference, Luxembourg, March 17, 1945
Patton: The Marines go to town by reporting the number [they have had] killed. I always try to fight without getting [our] people killed. . .
Do you know – you can put it out today – the Third Army will have been operational 230 days and we have 230,000 prisoners – that is a thousand a day. We are going to have a picture of it [the 230,000th man captured]. They wouldn’t let us turn out the last picture [the 200,000th prisoner] because it was humiliating a prisoner of war by showing his face. This time we will take a picture of his ass . . .
Another bit of publicity I’m asking which is not for me – God knows I’ve got enough – I could go to heaven and St. Peter would recognize me right away – but it is for the officers and men. You can release any damn division in this Army. I want the Germans to know we have four armored divisions jumping on them – the 4th, 10th, nth, and 12th. The 12th goes tomorrow morning. Of course you needn’t say where . . .
Don’t say that the Marines advertise casualties. I was merely trying to emphasize my point.
Question: What is more important, a bridge across the Rhine or the fighting down here?
Patton: A bridge across the Rhine.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 19, 1945
The Third Army is realy going to town to day in the greatest operation we have ever put on.
The 4 AD is six miles from Worms and will get there to night . . .
We are the eighth wonder of the world. And I had to beg, lie, and steal to get started – now every one says “that is what we always wanted to do.”
I hope things keep smooth. It seems too good to be true.
Diary, March 19
The VIII Corps is holding Coblenz . . . The XII Corps is nearing Worms. The XX Corps is nearing Bad Durkeim. This is a great show.
Bradley and Hodges came to visit. Explaining that Hodges would advance to Kassel, Bradley suggested that Patton cross the Rhine, not near Coblenz, but in the Mainz-Worms area, then head for Kassel too. The result would be to close a First and Third Army pincers at Kassel.
Unless we get a crossing over the Rhine and start north on Kassel before the British jump off [across the Rhine], we may lose ten divisions to the British.
In his diary, Patton marveled once again at the “difficulties I had in getting” the past operations started.
They did not want me to take Trier nor go to the Rhine nor to cross the Moselle southwest of Coblenz, and now, if we don’t cross the Rhine, we may be halted again. We have got by due to persistence and on ability to make plans fit circumstances. The other Armies try to make circumstances fit plans.
Telegram, Marshall to Eisenhower, March 21, 1945
Please pass on my personal and enthusiastic congratulations to Patton. I will deal more formally later with the entire effort [to get to the Rhine], Bradley, Hodges, Patton, Devers, and Patch, not to mention air.
[In longhand:] Dear George: To this I add that I continue to have reason to cheer that you came with me to this war. Always, Ike.
Diary, March 21
The operations in the Palatinate, namely in the Rhine and Moselle triangle, are practically completed and have been most successful; really a historic accomplishment . . .
I really believe this operation is one of the outstanding operations in the history of war. We have put on a great show, but I think we will eclipse it when we get across the Rhine.
He had already told Eddy to cross the Rhine at Oppenheim, Middleton at Boppard or near Lorch.
Diary, March 22
Ever since we closed on the Rhine, I have been using my utmost endeavors to get at least one battalion of infantry across the river. Eddy is going to make the attempt tonight . . . There is a strong chance that the operation will be very successful because the Germans are so used to build-ups prior to attempts to cross rivers that they will not think it feasible.
Middleton will make a crossing in his area Saturday night.
The 5th Division started across at 10 P.M.
Diary, March 23
The 5th Division is over the Rhine. God be praised. It was a . . . fitting climax to the preceding ten days . . .
Patch himself was very complimentary but he told me Devers was rather sore at the fact that the Third Army had stolen the thunder of the Seventh Army . . .
I am sure that the thing to do is to get as many troops across on as wide a front as possible and keep on attacking.
For reasons unknown to me, the First Army, which has seven or eight divisions across [near Remagen] is unable to continue its attack for two more days . . .
I am very grateful to the Lord for the great blessings he has heaped on me and the Third Army, not only in the success which He has granted us, but in the weather which He is now providing.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 23, 1945
I am realy scared by my good luck. This operation is stupendous . . .
Last night in a surprise crossing, I got a whole division . . . over the Rhine [near] . . . Oppenheim.
Jake [Devers] was supposed to cross at our right south of Worms but he was waiting for an air blitz which could not be put on for ten days. We did not wait and caught most of the 15 Panzer [Division] in bed.
The displaced persons is a problem. They are streaming back utterly forlorn. I saw one woman with a perambulator full of her worldly goods sitting by it on a hill crying. An old man with a wheel barrow and three little children wringing his hands. A woman with five children and a tin cup crying. In hundreds of villages there is not a living thing, not even a chicken. Most of the houses are heaps of stones. They brought it on them selves, but these poor pesants are not responsible.
I am getting soft? I did most of it.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to son George, October 22, 1945
I did not know until you told me that Napoleon crossed near Oppenheim. I had picked this when I was still in England as the place to cross the Rhine because the terrain on my side dominated that on the other side, as the former was far enough away from the Frankfurt hills to prevent direct fire on the bridges, and because, above everything else, there was a barge harbor there from which we could launch the boats unseen.
Third Army General Orders 70, March 23, 1945
To the officers and men of the Third Army and to our comrades ofthe XIX TAC:
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 . . . Trier, Coblenz, Bingen, Worms, Mainz, Kaiserslautern, and Ludwigshafen ...
You have captured 140,112 enemy soldiers and have killed or wounded an additional 99,000, thereby eliminating practically all of the German Seventh and First Armies. History records no greater achievement in so limited a time . . .
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 . . . assures you of even greater glory to come.
Diary, March 24
Drove to the river and went across on the pontoon bridge, stopping in the middle to take a piss in the Rhine, and then pick up some dirt on the far side . . . in emulation of William the Conqueror.
The operation in crossing the Rhine was most remarkable in that the total casualties in killed and wounded were only 28. This does not mean that it was no fight. It means that the 5th Division, making its 23d river crossing, was very skillful, and the operation was very daringly performed. Maj. Stiller, at his own request, went in the first boat . . .
Tomorrow . . . a crossing at St. Goar, near the fabled home of the Lorelei. It would seem rather pathetic that a crossing should be made at the very site of the home of one of the heroines of German mythology . . .
I must construct the railway bridge [near Mainz] as that should be the main supply line . . .
I told each corps commander that I was betting on him to get there [to Giessen] first, so as to produce a little friendly rivalry . . .
Today the Third Army will process the 300,000 prisoner of war taken since August 1, which puts the take of this Army ahead of the First Army by over 1,000 prisoners, although he had a 59-day handicap in starting . . .
I do not see how they [the Germans] can keep it up much longer.
Montgomery’s forces crossed the Rhine at 4 A.M., after a tremendous artillery bombardment of 70,000 rounds, an air bombardment, smoke screens, and an airborne landing in support – quite in contrast with Patton’s virtually ad hoc crossings.
Diary, March 25
I decided that we should cross at Mainz north of the Main River and directed Walker to do it as soon as practicable.
It was all tremendously exciting. The German resistance was crumbling, the weather was improving, and roads were dry and good, and Patton looked ahead to the same kind of exhilarating advance through Germany that characterized his mobile operations across France.
Letter, GSP, Jr., to Beatrice, March 25, 1945
We are through again and are on the edge of Frankfurt right now.
The good news and the marvelous outlook were marred by an unfortunate event:
Diary, March 26
Col. Jack Hines, son of my old friend, Major General John L. Hines [who succeeded Pershing as U.S. Army Chief of Staff], was struck in the face by an 88 armor-piercing shell, which removed his eyes, his nose, and upper jaw, and also took off his left hand.
Apparently his wounds had a bad efiect on Grow, as the division was very logey today . . . I told Grow if he did not get into Frankfurt tonight, I would relieve him . . .
I then flew to Bad Kreuznach to see Colonel Hines. When I arrived, he was on the operating table and unconscious. At least if he dies, I can tell his father I saw him.
He lived and returned to the United States, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross – an award made personally by his father at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington at Patton’s suggestion – recovered and rehabilitated himself in miraculous and courageous fashion.
Letter, Eisenhower to GSP, Jr., March 26, 1945
I have frequently had occasion to state, publicly, my appreciation of the great accomplishments of this Allied force during the past nine months. The purpose of this note is to express to you personally my deep appreciation of the splendid way in which you have conducted Third Army operations from the moment it entered battle last August 1. You have made your Army a fighting force that is not excelled in effectiveness by any other of equal size in the world, and I am very proud of the fact that you, as one of the fighting commanders who has been with me from the beginning of the African campaign, have performed so brilliantly throughout.
We are now fairly started on that phase of the campaign which I hope will be the final one. I know that Third Army will be in at the finish in the same decisive way that it has perfomed in all the preliminary battles.
Eisenhower wrote Marshall that Bradley and Patton were “extraordinarily proud” of the messages Marshall had sent them. He himself was sending each of the four Army commanders letters of “short personal commendation.” Patton was
a particularly warm friend of mine and has been so over a period of 25 years. Moreover, I think I can claim almost a proprietary interest in him because of the stand I took in several instances . . . In certain situations he has no equal, but by and large it would be difficult indeed to choose between him, Hodges, and Simpson . . . while Patch is little, if any, behind the others.
Yet at that moment, at the very time when things were going so well for Patton, another incident was about to develop, another event was to threaten his career.