War as I Knew It

General Patton's book is excellent, with the one wish that more maps be included which would help the reader follow the military maneuvers more clearly. The other downfall of this "new" printing of the book is the "new" introduction by R. Atkinson. His mindset and writings are an insult to General Patton. The General goes into great detail explaining his viewpoint on numerous subjects (part of what make the book great reading), but in the introduction Atkinson says Patton is wrong, and goes further disagreeing with the opinion and pride Patton had for U.S. fighting forces. R.Atk evidently cannot comprehend the difference between a war of necessity and a political war 20 years later. I would suggest that readers buy an older version of Patton's book, with the original introduction. This older version is available thru Amazon.

Patton’s “War As I Knew It” is an impressive, posthumously published book (first published in 1947 after Patton's death in 1945). It's well worth the price just for Rick Atkinson’s insightful introduction (in the print book; Kindle intro by Douglas Southall Freeman) and Patton’s Letters of Instruction at the end. What follows are some quotes and commentary I gleaned from the book: Just as Lee had Stonewall Jackson, a strategist like Eisenhower had his work supplemented by a superb tactician like General George S. Patton. Patton had been a personal aide to General Pershing during WWI and had gone on to champion the use of tanks. During WWII, he was successful in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns, becoming much feared by the Germans. The Allies used Patton’s reputation to advantage during the Normandy invasion. They put Patton in charge of what amounted to a phantom army stationed near Dover, England, prompting the Germans to believe that the invasion was to come at Calais, the closest city on the other side of the Channel. This deception spread the German defense thinner at Normandy, the real target, than it otherwise would have been. Patton’s 3rd Army under General Bradley’s 12 US Army Group, became operational in Normandy on 1 August 1944 and simultaneously attacked west, east, and north, quickly trapping several hundred thousand German soldiers in an area called the Falaise (Normandy) Pocket. Aggressively employing speed, effective reconnaissance, and tactical air support, Patton’s Army moved east until it ran out of gas and halted in place. In December, the Germans took the offense with Battle of the Bulge. Resupplied and in response, Patton wheeled one part of his army north, relieved the 101st Airborne Division trapped at Bastogne, and then ran east through the frozen Ardennes, hitting the Germans in the flank. The other part of his army attacked east, with the two parts meeting to trap 60K German soldiers and 10K square miles of territory. By the time the war ended, Patton was camped in Czechoslovakia, requesting to attack Prague. Patton believed that, while there is no approved solution to any tactical situation, there is one, but only one, tactical principle which is not subject to change: “To so use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum time.” In battle, casualties are directly proportional to the time exposed to effective fire. One’s fire reduces the effectiveness of the enemy’s, while quickness of attack shortens the time of exposure. Battles are won by frightening the enemy, and this is best done by inflicting him with death and wounds. Fire from the rear is more deadly and three times more effective than fire from the front. To get fire behind the enemy, one must hold him by frontal fire and race around his flank. Frontal attacks against prepared positions should be avoided. One can never be too strong: one should get every man and gun possible, provided it does not unduly delay one’s attack. The larger the force and the more violence one uses in the attack, the smaller will be one’s losses. Never yield ground. Mortars and artillery are superb weapons when they are firing; when silent, they are junk – see that they keep firing! In mountain country or when forcing a pass, secure the heights first. In battle, small forces can do one of three things: go forward, halt, or run. Halting or running makes them an even easier target. There is a universal failure to repeat verbal orders back. This failure can result in grave errors. There is a tendency to overload junior officers by excessive and non-essential training and report requirements, which can be alleviated by eliminating non-essential demands. “While infantry must move to close with the enemy, it must shoot to move. When targets are not visible, infantry weapon fire must search enemy-occupied areas. Use marching fire to reduce the accuracy of enemy fire and increase one’s confidence. Shoot short. Ricochets make nastier sounds and wounds. The bayonet kills few men, but many are scared by it. Construct dummy batteries. In choosing sites for them, avoid places where fire directed at them will adversely affect other arms. The primary mission of armored units is attacking infantry and artillery. The enemy’s rear is the happy hunting ground for armor. Use every means to get it there. Against counter-attacks, the offensive use of armor striking the flank is decisive. Forward observers provide sixty-five to seventy-five percent of all artillery targets. Junior reconnaissance officers must be very inquisitive, setting an example, producing accurate reports, and not losing contact while on mission. An officer must be the last man to take shelter from fire, and the first to move forward. Similarly, he must be the last man to look after his comfort at the close of a march.” Letters of Instruction: There is only one sort of discipline – perfect discipline. Discipline can only be obtained when all officers are so imbued with the sense of their awful obligation to their men and their country that they cannot tolerate negligence. Officers who fail to correct errors or to praise excellence are valueless in peace and dangerous misfits in war. Officers must assert themselves by example and by voice. They must be pre-eminent in courage, deportment, and dress. One of the primary purposes of discipline is to produce alertness. ...ceremonies are a great help to give them that perfect discipline. Officers must possess self-confidence and the confidence of their men. Two of the best ways of producing this are meticulously conducted close-order drill, led by officers, and platoon marches...during which the platoon is wholly on its own. Combat principles: A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood! “Catch the enemy by the nose with fire and kick him in the pants with fire emplaced through movement.” Hit hard soon; you can never be too strong. Get every man and gun you can secure, provided it does not unduly delay your attack. Officers must possess self-confidence and the confidence of their men. German prisoners over forty talk more quickly than the younger ones. To halt under fire is folly. To halt under fire and not fire back is suicide. Move forward out of fire. Officers must set an example. If you cannot see the enemy, you can at least shoot at the place where he is apt to be. Bottom line, a fascinating read from the pen of one of history’s great captains!Check out some of William J. Bahr’s books:  Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation  and George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key – the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul , a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!”

Patton was of course one of the more successful generals of his time, and his Third Army was powerfully effective following the Normandy invasion. Don't read this book expecting a true autobiography. There is very little content about North Africa, and the ETO material, although detailed in terms of which units were assigned to which places, which divisions did a good job, those that needed better leadership, etc., lacks any sort of truly useful perspective. This diary-like rendition of Patton's part of the war was written with an arrogant, smirky attitude. The only general Patton truly approves of is himself and many of those who reported to him. Otherwise, as he sees it, just about every general, at just about every level, is described in extraordinarily judgmental terms. Patton didn't like the way that Eisenhower, Bradley and Montgomery conducted their work, and while a great deal of what he has to say about these people reads as accurate, it all is filtered through Patton's own narrow point f view. That POV, simply described, was "give me all the necessary resources, and I'll end the war, and any other use of those resources is a waste of time." After a while, that sort of analysis gets very old.

Fantastic! This is a book not only to read, carefully, but to re-read, over and over, and study even more carefully. This man's greatness is captured here, almost as if by Fate or accident, in the very last month's of his life. You can't miss the basic, strong backing philosophy and principles that shine through. For men of principle (and honor, for those who can understand that concept and Gen. Patton's living proof of it), this book is essentially a bible.Yes, the tactical and military details are excellent. But, thankfully, Patton includes MORE than that, too. To say that his directness and honesty are "refreshing" is an understatement.You don't get generals like this anymore, in the U.S. of today's PC media climate, political Pentagon, and Washington, D.C.

This is an interesting compendium of Patton's diary entries during WW2. The writings have been edited by Patton's widow and his former deputy chief of staff. The problem is that there is no indication what changes or omissions were made to Patton's writings by the editors. There are telltale tense changes that probably crept in during the work of the editors. The book provides a glimpse of General Patton's thinking and though process, but everything is from his point of view.The book is helpful read as an addition to an objective biography such as the one by Carlo D'Este.

I am VERY disappointed with this purchase. The spelling and formatting are terrible; There are gaps in sentences, extra numbers/letters included in various words, (possibly intended to be either subscript or superscript).Overall making it very hard to read with any confidence in the accuracy or completeness of the text.If you can, avoid this Amazon Kindle version!

I discovered this slightly battered, yellowing and a little musty smelling copy in one of this second-hand bookshops it is possible to while hours away just wandering.From the outset, I must admit Patton is one of my heroes - a man in the right place, at the right time and just right for what he had to do. Never far from trouble, usually caused by his mouth rather than his armies, he was a warrior from a warrior family, one who was completely unafraid to take decisions and send men into battle. Controversial and vain, highly intelligent, well-read and erudite, he had many faults but he also knew how to inspire men and how to win battles - battles rather than wars, perhaps.To have achieved what he did and kept a daily journal is amazing. He was a "hands-on" general, one unafraid to get down and dirty. Complete with maps, drawings, plans and other illustrations, e.g. a detailed plan of the army positions at the Battle of the Bulge early on 22nd December 1944 and another showing positions late on 22nd December, 1 January and 31st January, it is a rare insight into how he went about his war. One poignant feature for readers but essential logistics for Patton are the regular tables, e.g. 24th October - "Third Army - Killed-4,541, Wounded-22,718, Missing-4,548, Non-battle casualties-13,323 - Grand Total-45,130, Replacements-43,566 / Enemy - Killed-30,900, Wounded-89,600, Prisoners-95,600 - Total-216,100" (P 131). Reading these types and scales of figures requires a certain type of man."I complacently remembered that I had always 'Demanded the impossible,' that I had 'Dared extreme occasions' and that I had 'Not taken counsel of my fears'." P 158)The north African and Sicily campaigns are detailed in the early chapter and make fascinating reading, as does his view of the Bulge and sweep eastwards at the end of the war.He quotes poetry, his own and others and begins with the following dedication:"My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my skill and courage to him that cab get it. My works and scars I carry with me, to be my witness for me that I have fought His battle who know will be my rewarder." "Pilgrim's Progress.Worth a read for anyone interested in Patton, military history or the Second World War.

This man was indeed a genius in war!! His courage and strength and vitality to win campaigns were amazing, and his outspokenness were what made him so strong in opinion. He was America' s finest.

Arrived in good time and good condition. Great read and insight into a fascinating man.

Good historic read.

A1 product. Recommended.