Pls point me to a good read on Patton turning the Third Army

[bushmaster1313]

I just read that Patton considered the disengagement and turning of the Third Army to be able to relieve the Siege of Bastonge during the Battle of The Bulge was his Army's finest logistical achievement.

Could the Forum please point me to an Internet read explaining why the maneuver was so difficult and how it was accomplished

Thank you

 

[Inusuit]

Don't know much about the internet sources. There's a decent series on YouTube called Patton 360. Google should get you there, but I haven't watched the episode that would cover The Bulge. Guess I'm old school, but I like a couple of hard copy books on Patton. Carlo D'Este's Patton A Genius for War is excellent. Eisenhower thought Patton was blowing smoke when he (Patton) said he could turn the Third Army and relieve the troops at the Bulge, but he did it. Father of a friend of mine served under Patton in Europe and thought he was an amazing officer.

I Googled "Patton Battle of the Bulge" and lots of sources crop up. Good luck. Patton is a fascinating character, one of my favorite generals in WWII.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Every "Pattonite" should read the Patton Papers. It's his personal writings. Tells about personal and military thoughts, to friends, family, and others.

 

[bushmaster1313]

First I need to learn what it means to "turn an army"

Then why it's hard

Then what Patton did with the Third

 

[M1A]

"Patton, A Genius for War". Carlo D'Este

 

[Snapping Twig]

First I need to learn what it means to "turn an army"

Then why it's hard

Then what Patton did with the Third

Logistics.

He disengaged from a fight that he had won IIRC, then marched his army a crazy distance - thought impossible in that short amount of time - and engaged the nazi's to their dismay.

 

[Inusuit]

Try this link:

George S. Patton - Wikipedia

Unless you have some basic background and understanding of the logistics of modern warfare as Snapping Twig posts, it's difficult to answer your questions in a short or even lengthy post.

In order to relieve the Allied troops threatened by the German breakthrough, Patton had to disengage six full divisions that had been engaged in heavy fighting eastward near Saarbrücken and re-route them north to Bastogne. This involved more than 133,000 Third Army vehicles and re-routing some 62,000 long tons of supplies. This in December, 1944 in the depth of German winter.

Eisenhower ordered Patton to begin the "turn" on December 19.

"On December 26, 1944, the first spearhead units of the Third Army's 4th Armored Division reached Bastogne, opening a corridor for relief and resupply of the besieged forces. Patton's ability to disengage six divisions from front line combat during the middle of winter, then wheel north to relieve Bastogne was one of his most remarkable achievements during the war." (from the Wiki link posted above)

 

[Muss Muggins]

I learned everything I needed to know from the movie, "Patton", which I've been told is pretty accurate . . .