General Patton

A portrait of the complex Third Army general draws on previously untapped archival materials as well as government and family records to discuss such topics as his military maneuvers, belief in a soldier's Valhalla, connection to a labor strike, relief from command, and controversial decisions. Reprint. 40,000 first printing.

“Of all the World War II generals, “Blood and Guts Patton” was the most controversial and remains so to this day, hated by some and loved by others.”

Autorentext

Stanley P. Hirshson was professor of history at Queens College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is the author of biographies of Brigham Young, Gen. William T. Sherman, and Gen. George Patton, and died in 2003.

Klappentext

General George S. Patton Jr, an inspirational leader and outstanding tactician, has intrigued and confounded his biographers. Utilising untapped archival materials in both the USA and UK, government documents, family papers, and oral histories, Hirshson creates the most balanced portrait of Patton ever written. It reveals Patton as a complex soldier capable of brilliant military manoeuvres but also of inspiring his troops with fiery speeches that resulted in horrendous acts, such as the massacres of Italian civilians. It explains Patton′s belief in a soldier′s Valhalla, connects the family′s wealth to one of America′s bitterest labour strikes, and disputes the usual interpretation of Patton′s relief from command of the Third Army. In investigating this complex man, Hirshson has uncovered surprising material about a series of civilian massacres in Sicily, about the two slapping incidents, about attempts to exploit Patton′s diary after his death, and about Patton′s relations with top Allied generals. Patton emerges as a soldier of great imagination and courage, and his military campaigns make for edge-of-the-seat reading. All the drama of Patton′s life comes alive in this meticulously documented volume.

Zusammenfassung

“The most complete biography of [Patton] yet produced.” –Chicago Tribune

Utilizing untapped archival materials from the United States and England, Stanley P. Hirshson creates the most balanced portrait of Patton ever written.

General Patton: A Soldier’s Life reveals Patton as a complex soldier capable of brilliant military maneuvers but also of inspiring horrendous acts with fiery speeches. It explains Patton’s belief in a soldier’s Valhalla, connects the family’s wealth to one of America’s bitterest labor strikes, and disputes the usual interpretation of Patton’s relief from command of the Third Army.

While investigating this complex man, Hirshson has uncovered surprising material about a series of civilian and military massacres in Sicily, attempts to exploit Patton’s diary after his death, and Patton’s relations with top Allied generals. In this meticulously documented volume, Patton comes to life.