George Patton citations
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George Smith Patton, Jr., né le 11 novembre 1885 à San Marino en Californie et mort le 21 décembre 1945 à Heidelberg en Allemagne, est un général « quatre étoiles » de l'Armée de terre américaine qui a notamment commandé la 7e puis la 3e armée américaine sur le théâtre européen des opérations de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Né en 1885 dans une famille aisée ayant une forte tradition militaire, Patton étudie à l'institut militaire de Virginie puis à l'académie militaire de West Point. Il fait partie de l'équipe américaine de pentathlon moderne aux Jeux olympiques de 1912 ; féru d’escrime, il conçoit ensuite un sabre de cavalerie de qualité — modèle 1913 — destiné à l'armée, mais qui s'est avéré peu utilisé par la suite car les méthodes de guerre ont évolué rapidement au cours de la période. En 1916, Patton participe aux combats de l'expédition punitive contre Pancho Villa au Mexique dans l'un des premiers exemples de guerre mécanisée. Il rejoint ensuite le corps blindé de la force expéditionnaire américaine qui participe aux combats sur le front de l'Ouest de la Première Guerre mondiale, après l'entrée en guerre des États-Unis en 1917. Entre les deux guerres mondiales, Patton est l'un des principaux partisans de l'introduction des techniques de la guerre mécanisée dans l'armée américaine et il exerce diverses fonctions administratives militaires sur le territoire américain. Ayant gravi les échelons de la hiérarchie, il est à la tête de la 2e division blindée au moment de l'entrée en guerre des États-Unis fin 1941.

Patton mène les troupes américaines lors de l'opération Torch au Maroc en 1942 et, sous son commandement efficace, le 2e corps d'armée démoralisé recouvre sa cohésion au cours de la campagne de Tunisie. Il commande la 7e armée lors de l'invasion de la Sicile et devance les troupes britanniques de Montgomery en arrivant le premier à Messine. Il est néanmoins impliqué dans une controverse après avoir giflé deux de ses hommes souffrant de stress post-traumatique et est temporairement relevé de son commandement. Comme il est craint de l’ennemi, Patton est utilisé pour une vaste opération de désinformation destinée à tromper les Allemands sur le lieu exact de l'attaque alliée qui doit avoir lieu en Normandie début juin 1944. À l'issue du débarquement, il est réaffecté en juillet à la tête de la 3e armée qui intervient dans la bataille de Normandie et il mène une offensive éclair jusqu'en Lorraine. Il se porte au secours des troupes américaines encerclées à Bastogne durant la bataille des Ardennes et entre en Allemagne au printemps 1945. À la fin de la guerre, il est nommé gouverneur militaire de Bavière avant d'être relevé de ses fonctions et affecté au commandement de la 15e armée stationnée dans l'Allemagne occupée. Il est victime d'un accident de la route alors qu'il est assis à l'arrière de sa berline qui heurte un camion militaire le 9 décembre 1945 : il succombe à ses blessures douze jours plus tard dans l'hôpital de Heidelberg.

Le caractère pittoresque et énergique de Patton ainsi que ses succès militaires ont parfois éclipsé ses déclarations maladroites à la presse. Sa philosophie de commander depuis le front et d'encourager ses hommes avec des discours comportant des grossièretés apparentes — « On ne vous demande pas de mourir pour votre pays, mais que le salaud d'en face meure pour le sien » — a néanmoins entraîné l'apparition de nouvelles méthodes de commandement au sein du corps des officiers de l'Armée américaine. De même, ses tactiques basées sur des offensives rapides et percutantes se sont traduites par le développement de nouvelles doctrines de combat dans le domaine de la guerre mécanisée. Si les opinions des commandants alliés à son sujet étaient souvent mitigées, il était tenu en haute estime par ses adversaires allemands. Le film Patton de 1970 a remporté sept oscars et a contribué à faire de lui un héros populaire américain. Wikipedia  

✵ 11. novembre 1885 – 21. décembre 1945   •   Autres noms Georg S. Patton, Джордж Смит Паттон
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George Patton: 77   citations 0   J'aime

George Patton: Citations en anglais

“I find that moral courage is the most valuable and most usually absent characteristic.”

In a letter to Beatrice (22 August 1943), published in The Patton Papers 1940-1945 (1996) edited by Martin Blumenson https://books.google.com/books?id=eV2pRL7arKkC&pg=PT239&dq=Moral+courage+is+the+most+valuable+and+usually+the+most+absent+characteristic+in+men.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPrbHtvsXVAhXBRyYKHUz6CAw4ChDoAQhCMAU#v=onepage&q=Moral%20courage%20is%20the%20most%20valuable%20and%20usually%20the%20most%20absent%20characteristic%20in%20men.&f=false

“Have taken Trier with two divisions. What do you want me to do? Give it back?”

Reply to a message from General Dwight Eisenhower to bypass the German city of Trier because it would take four divisions to capture it (2 March 1945), as quoted in the Introduction to War as I Knew it (1947) by George Smith Patton, Jr., with Paul Donal Harkins, p. 20

“A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.”

As quoted in The Unknown Patton (1983) by Charles M. Province, p. 165

“We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.”

As quoted in Pocket Patriot : Quotes from American Heroes (2005) edited by Kelly Nickell, p. 157

“The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinaman or a Japanese, and from what I have seen of them, I have no particular desire to understand them, except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. In addition to his other Asiatic characteristics, the Russian have no regard for human life and is an all out son of bitch, barbarian, and chronic drunk.”

Statement (8 August 1945), as quoted in General Patton : A Soldier's Life (2002) by Stanley P. Hirshson, p. 650
Source: [Charles M. Province, The unknown Patton, https://books.google.com/books?id=yXshAAAAMAAJ&q=The+difficulty+in+understanding+the+Russian+is+that+we+do+not+take+cognizance+of+the+fact+that+he+is+not+a+European,+but+an+Asiatic,+and+therefore+thinks+deviously.+We+can+no+more+understand+a+Russian+than+a+Chinese+or+a+Japanese,+and+from+what+I+have+seen+of+them,+I+have+no+particular+desire+to+understand+them+except+to+ascertain+how+much+lead+or+iron+it+takes+to+kill+them.+In+addition+to+his+other+amiable+characteristics,+the+Russian+has+no+regard+for+human+life+and+they+are+all+out+sons-of-bitches,+barbarians,+and+chronic+drunks.&dq=The+difficulty+in+understanding+the+Russian+is+that+we+do+not+take+cognizance+of+the+fact+that+he+is+not+a+European,+but+an+Asiatic,+and+therefore+thinks+deviously.+We+can+no+more+understand+a+Russian+than+a+Chinese+or+a+Japanese,+and+from+what+I+have+seen+of+them,+I+have+no+particular+desire+to+understand+them+except+to+ascertain+how+much+lead+or+iron+it+takes+to+kill+them.+In+addition+to+his+other+amiable+characteristics,+the+Russian+has+no+regard+for+human+life+and+they+are+all+out+sons-of-bitches,+barbarians,+and+chronic+drunks.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAmoVChMItdm-0viRyQIVyeQmCh2khgS9, 1983, Hippocrene Books, 978-0-88254-641-4, 99]
Source: [English Teacher X, Vodkaberg: Nine Years in Russia, https://books.google.com/books?id=ZR2TBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA2&dq=The+difficulty+in+understanding+the+Russian+is+that+we+do+not+take+cognizance+of+the+fact+that+he+is+not+a+European,+but+an+Asiatic,+and+therefore+thinks+deviously.+We+can+no+more+understand+a+Russian+than+a+Chinese+or+a+Japanese,+and+from+what+I+have+seen+of+them,+I+have+no+particular+desire+to+understand+them+except+to+ascertain+how+much+lead+or+iron+it+takes+to+kill+them.+In+addition+to+his+other+amiable+characteristics,+the+Russian+has+no+regard+for+human+life+and+they+are+all+out+sons-of-bitches,+barbarians,+and+chronic+drunks.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMItdm-0viRyQIVyeQmCh2khgS9#v=onepage&q=The%20difficulty%20in%20understanding%20the%20Russian%20is%20that%20we%20do%20not%20take%20cognizance%20of%20the%20fact%20that%20he%20is%20not%20a%20European%2C%20but%20an%20Asiatic%2C%20and%20therefore%20thinks%20deviously.%20We%20can%20no%20more%20understand%20a%20Russian%20than%20a%20Chinese%20or%20a%20Japanese%2C%20and%20from%20what%20I%20have%20seen%20of%20them%2C%20I%20have%20no%20particular%20desire%20to%20understand%20them%20except%20to%20ascertain%20how%20much%20lead%20or%20iron%20it%20takes%20to%20kill%20them.%20In%20addition%20to%20his%20other%20amiable%20characteristics%2C%20the%20Russian%20has%20no%20regard%20for%20human%20life%20and%20they%20are%20all%20out%20sons-of-bitches%2C%20barbarians%2C%20and%20chronic%20drunks.&f=false, English Teacher X, 2–, GGKEY:2DPNH0X04GB]
Source: [Evi Martyn, Captain Philip Markopoulos a Patton's Hero: An Incredible True Story When Fate and Destiny Outpower Weapons, https://books.google.com/books?id=IdkUq5EixE8C&pg=PA176&dq=The+difficulty+in+understanding+the+Russian+is+that+we+do+not+take+cognizance+of+the+fact+that+he+is+not+a+European,+but+an+Asiatic,+and+therefore+thinks+deviously.+We+can+no+more+understand+a+Russian+than+a+Chinese+or+a+Japanese,+and+from+what+I+have+seen+of+them,+I+have+no+particular+desire+to+understand+them+except+to+ascertain+how+much+lead+or+iron+it+takes+to+kill+them.+In+addition+to+his+other+amiable+characteristics,+the+Russian+has+no+regard+for+human+life+and+they+are+all+out+sons-of-bitches,+barbarians,+and+chronic+drunks.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAWoVChMItdm-0viRyQIVyeQmCh2khgS9#v=onepage&q=The%20difficulty%20in%20understanding%20the%20Russian%20is%20that%20we%20do%20not%20take%20cognizance%20of%20the%20fact%20that%20he%20is%20not%20a%20European%2C%20but%20an%20Asiatic%2C%20and%20therefore%20thinks%20deviously.%20We%20can%20no%20more%20understand%20a%20Russian%20than%20a%20Chinese%20or%20a%20Japanese%2C%20and%20from%20what%20I%20have%20seen%20of%20them%2C%20I%20have%20no%20particular%20desire%20to%20understand%20them%20except%20to%20ascertain%20how%20much%20lead%20or%20iron%20it%20takes%20to%20kill%20them.%20In%20addition%20to%20his%20other%20amiable%20characteristics%2C%20the%20Russian%20has%20no%20regard%20for%20human%20life%20and%20they%20are%20all%20out%20sons-of-bitches%2C%20barbarians%2C%20and%20chronic%20drunks.&f=false, 2009, AuthorHouse, 978-1-4389-8409-4, 176–]
Source: http://www.military-history.us/2014/03/now-would-be-a-good-time-for-a-bit-of-revisionism/

“We've defeated the wrong enemy”

It is unknown if Patton ever said these precise words. However, Anthony Cave Brown notes https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/36062/did-gen-patton-say-we-defeated-the-wrong-enemy/36063#36063 in Bodyguard of Lies Volume II that "Patton was relieved of command of the 3rd Army by Eisenhower just after the end of the war for stating publicly that America had been fighting the wrong enemy— Germany instead of Russia", so it is at least an accurate paraphrase. For further discussion, see relevant threads on skeptics.stackexchange.com https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/36062/did-gen-patton-say-we-defeated-the-wrong-enemy and /r/AskHistorians https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/640pg5/what_did_general_george_s_patton_mean_when_he/.
Disputed

“War is a bloody business, a killing business.”

Source: George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton%27s_speech_to_the_Third_Army

“Each man must think not only of himself, but think of his buddy fighting alongside him.”

Source: George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton%27s_speech_to_the_Third_Army

“The shortest way home is through Berlin and Tokyo.”

Source: George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton%27s_speech_to_the_Third_Army
Contexte: Sure, we all want to go home. We want to get this war over with. But you can't win a war lying down. The quickest way to get it over with is to get the bastards who started it. We want to get the hell over there and clean the goddamn thing up, and then get at those purple-pissing Japs. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we go home. The shortest way home is through Berlin and Tokyo. So keep moving. And when we get to Berlin, I am personally going to shoot that paper-hanging son-of-a-bitch Hitler.

“I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls.”

Source: George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_S._Patton%27s_speech_to_the_Third_Army
Contexte: I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls. We're going to hold him by his balls and we're going to kick him in the ass; twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all the time. Our plan of operation is to advance and keep on advancing. We're going to go through the enemy like shit through a tinhorn.

“I don't want to get any messages saying, "I am holding my position."”

We are not holding a Goddamned thing. Let the Germans do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding onto anything, except the enemy's balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all of the time. Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy. We are going to go through him like crap through a goose; like shit through a tin horn!
Speech to the Third Army (1944)

“All through your Army careers, you men have bitched about what you call "chicken shit drilling."”

That, like everything else in this Army, has a definite purpose. That purpose is alertness. Alertness must be bred into every soldier. I don't give a fuck for a man who's not always on his toes. You men are veterans or you wouldn't be here. You are ready for what's to come.
Speech to the Third Army (1944)

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