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Details
PATTON, George (1885-1945), U.S. General. Typed memorandum signed (“G. S. Patton, Jr.”), as Commander, Third Army, to Commanding General, XII Army Corps, Headquarters Third Army, 24 November 1944. 1 page, 4to, two punch holes at top. Matted and framed.
PATTON'S AND MARSHALL'S CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CAPTURE OF METZ
Patton sends his XII Corps commander the text of the radiogram he received from Chief of Staff George C. Marshall. “Congratulations,” Marshall wrote, “on the capture of Metz and the splendid advance your Corps are making in spite of floods and mud and bitter enemy resistance.” Marshall sends “personal congratulations to Eddy and Walker on the grand show their troops are putting on towards bringing this war to a triumphant conclusion.” Patton echoes this sentiment, saying, “I personally wish to add my commendation and congratulations…With such troops, the triumphant conclusion of the war is inevitably near.” Fighting at Metz lasted from late September until mid-December, when the final pockets of resistance were destroyed. Eddy refers to Lt. Gen. Manton S. Eddy (1892-1969), commander of XII Corps and Major General Walton H. Walker, commander of the XX Corps, the two principal forces behind the protracted, but ultimately successful American attack. The words of both Marshal and Patton have a tragic irony, however, as the German surrender at Metz on 22 November was followed three weeks later by the massive Ardennes offensive. The war that Americans hoped might be over by Christmas 1944 lasted another bitter six months.
PATTON'S AND MARSHALL'S CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CAPTURE OF METZ
Patton sends his XII Corps commander the text of the radiogram he received from Chief of Staff George C. Marshall. “Congratulations,” Marshall wrote, “on the capture of Metz and the splendid advance your Corps are making in spite of floods and mud and bitter enemy resistance.” Marshall sends “personal congratulations to Eddy and Walker on the grand show their troops are putting on towards bringing this war to a triumphant conclusion.” Patton echoes this sentiment, saying, “I personally wish to add my commendation and congratulations…With such troops, the triumphant conclusion of the war is inevitably near.” Fighting at Metz lasted from late September until mid-December, when the final pockets of resistance were destroyed. Eddy refers to Lt. Gen. Manton S. Eddy (1892-1969), commander of XII Corps and Major General Walton H. Walker, commander of the XX Corps, the two principal forces behind the protracted, but ultimately successful American attack. The words of both Marshal and Patton have a tragic irony, however, as the German surrender at Metz on 22 November was followed three weeks later by the massive Ardennes offensive. The war that Americans hoped might be over by Christmas 1944 lasted another bitter six months.