No Patton

[Panzermacher]

Ok let's kick some life into this area!

Here is an alternate History idea....say George S. Patton was "Removed" from the WW2 equation. Say, for example, he was killed in a car accident in 1940, never leading in the war in anyway. What would have been different? What impact would this have had on the whole European Front? Would it have been different? Your thoughts. . . . .


An alternate question would be "What if Patton was in the Pacific Theater?" With the same questions...what do you guys think would have happened there?

[TRDG]

Good question, I'm usually not to fast when I first see a new topic if nothing comes to me right after I read it, but.....

Africa and on, who would Monty "fight" with/against from the U.S. side, maybe giving him a bit less fo a push to do certain battle plans and trying to show Patton "up", so to speak. That was right off the top of my head, so don't be to harsh please.....

Patton in the Pacific

Not sure he would have done as well there, as to his tactics and personel style, with no real tanks battles, then you have the different terrain and smaller areas of battle, he seemed to do best with lots of open ground to cover, with his forces in the Western front, as well as others.

Cheers, I'm no expert in this area, just my thoughts at the moment, right after reading your topic here.

Tom

[MAGNA]

Must agree with Pacific theatre theory. It probably wouldn't have suited him at all.

As for Europe, perhaps Collins would have taken over. I don't know who else may have been chosen but the result would still have been the same in the end.

[Wolster]

I don't honestly think it would have made to much difference, Patton was a character which brought him to prominance but that is it. I also think the same of Monty, different character but i'm sure other Generals could have replaced both of them. To be honest I have more respect for Bradley than other of them two. I think Pattons main job was to keep Monty in check and vice-a-versa. The real what if is if there was no Patton, what would Monty have done, for better or worse!

[Freightshaker]

Originally Posted by Panzermacher

Ok let's kick some life into this area!

Here is an alternate History idea....say George S. Patton was "Removed" from the WW2 equation. Say, for example, he was killed in a car accident in 1940, never leading in the war in anyway. What would have been different? What impact would this have had on the whole European Front? Would it have been different? Your thoughts. . . . .


An alternate question would be "What if Patton was in the Pacific Theater?" With the same questions...what do you guys think would have happened there?

Someone else would've stepped into his spot, probably Walker. Patton brought nothing revolutionary or new to the war. He was not a visionary, just a good pursuit commander.

[TRDG]

Now that I think about it a bit more, was'nt the most critical decision Patton made was swinging his forces around at the perfect time in the Ardennes battle to help out the trapped forces?

To me, that might have saved lives and maybe might have shortened the German drive a lot more than other generals could, leaving air power out of the picture for now.
I'm not saying the Germans would have been "the winner" here, but they might have held on longer maybe........ If Patton was'nt there to make that call.

Cheers

Tom

[MAGNA]

Is there any more info you could give us about Walker please Freight ?

I don't know much about him at all. Quick summary would be good.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by MAGNA

Is there any more info you could give us about Walker please Freight ?

I don't know much about him at all. Quick summary would be good.

Besides being involved in racist activity in the segregated US south, referring to Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others as communists, and being arrested on a couple of occasions for public lewdness including once where he fondled an undercover Dallas police officer, he was a good General who was involved in the Anzio landings and the invasion of the south of France. He led a unit of a joint Canadian-US commando force (the Devil's Brigade) and was extremely successful in routing German positions.

Other little bits of trivia include the fact that he survived an assassination attempt by none other than Lee Harvey Oswald and he sued multiple media outlets including the Associated Press for "defaming" him and his views.

[Freightshaker]

Originally Posted by Jim O

Besides being involved in racist activity in the segregated US south, referring to Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others as communists, and being arrested on a couple of occasions for public lewdness including once where he fondled an undercover Dallas police officer, he was a good General who was involved in the Anzio landings and the invasion of the south of France. He led a unit of a joint Canadian-US commando force (the Devil's Brigade) and was extremely successful in routing German positions.

Other little bits of trivia include the fact that he survived an assassination attempt by none other than Lee Harvey Oswald and he sued multiple media outlets including the Associated Press for "defaming" him and his views.

I told you he would make a good Patton replacement!!
Walton Walker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Panzermacher]

Hmmm, interesting. Seems the majority just think the void would not be great with Patton not around. TRDG brings up the point I myself was thinking of....the relief of Bastogne. And what about the breakneck Drive to Messina on Sicily? OR the Dash Across France? All of this did nothing to shorten the war? Who else could of Stepped up to the plate and forced Monty to really General? Walker, who is a colorful character, sure didn't have the charisma, or the drive George S. did. And what about the Pas de Calaise ruse that IKE used PAtton for? That didn't help the Allies get into Europe? Come one people THINK!!! George may have not been the BEST military mind we had....but he had something the other Generals of the time didn't have, Street Cred and a Heavy Rep! HE had a Press Train that followed his every move like he was Britney Spears.(This probably started soon after his Famous/Infamous "Slapping Incident" Infamity sells papers back home.... And Bradley very well could have been right when he told George, "Slapping that soldier done more for the war effort....") They made him out to be the American Napoleon...and the Germans bought it. (Otherwise, surely they would have moved the Divisions from Calaise to the real landing beaches?)

Patton...just his name done more to win the war than any other General. I await the onslaught!