Passage of the Day - Patton's speech to 3rd Army on the eve of D-Day, June 5th 1944 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Mephisto2 · 12-16-2003, 09:55 PM

A censored version of this speech was made famous by George C Scott as the opening scene in the movie Patton.

Below is an uncensored copy. More information on this can be found at http://www.warroom.com/patton.htm.

Quote:

"Be seated."

Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight, is a crock of bullshit. Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle.

You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight. When you, here, every one of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American.

You are not all going to die. Only two percent of you right here today would die in a major battle. Death must not be feared. Death, in time, comes to all men. Yes, every man is scared in his first battle. If he says he's not, he's a liar. Some men are cowards but they fight the same as the brave men or they get the hell slammed out of them watching men fight who are just as scared as they are. The real hero is the man who fights even though he is scared. Some men get over their fright in a minute under fire. For some, it takes an hour. For some, it takes days. But a real man will never let his fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood.

Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base. Americans pride themselves on being He Men and they ARE He Men. Remember that the enemy is just as frightened as you are, and probably more so. They are not supermen.

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. A man must be alert at all times if he expects to stay alive. If you're not alert, sometime, a German son-of-an-asshole-bitch is going to sneak up behind you and beat you to death with a sockful of shit! There are four hundred neatly marked graves somewhere in Sicily, all because one man went to sleep on the job. But they are German graves, because we caught the bastard asleep before they did.

An Army is a team. It lives, sleeps, eats, and fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is pure horse shit. The bilious bastards who write that kind of stuff for the Saturday Evening Post don't know any more about real fighting under fire than they know about fucking! We have the finest food, the finest equipment, the best spirit, and the best men in the world. Why, by God, I actually pity those poor sons-of-bitches we're going up against. By God, I do.

My men don't surrender, and I don't want to hear of any soldier under my command being captured unless he has been hit. Even if you are hit, you can still fight back. That's not just bull shit either. The kind of man that I want in my command is just like the lieutenant in Libya, who, with a Luger against his chest, jerked off his helmet, swept the gun aside with one hand, and busted the hell out of the Kraut with his helmet. Then he jumped on the gun and went out and killed another German before they knew what the hell was coming off. And, all of that time, this man had a bullet through a lung. There was a real man!

All of the real heroes are not storybook combat fighters, either. Every single man in this Army plays a vital role. Don't ever let up. Don't ever think that your job is unimportant. Every man has a job to do and he must do it. Every man is a vital link in the great chain. What if every truck driver suddenly decided that he didn't like the whine of those shells overhead, turned yellow, and jumped headlong into a ditch? The cowardly bastard could say, 'Hell, they won't miss me, just one man in thousands.' But, what if every man thought that way? Where in the hell would we be now? What would our country, our loved ones, our homes, even the world, be like? No, Goddamnit, Americans don't think like that. Every man does his job. Every man serves the whole. Every department, every unit, is important in the vast scheme of this war. The ordnance men are needed to supply the guns and machinery of war to keep us rolling. The Quartermaster is needed to bring up food and clothes because where we are going there isn't a hell of a lot to steal. Every last man on K.P. has a job to do, even the one who heats our water to keep us from getting the 'G.I. Shits.'

Each man must not think only of himself, but also of his buddy fighting beside him. We don't want yellow cowards in this Army. They should be killed off like rats. If not, they will go home after this war and breed more cowards. The brave men will breed more brave men. Kill off the Goddamned cowards and we will have a nation of brave men. One of the bravest men that I ever saw was a fellow on top of a telegraph pole in the midst of a furious fire fight in Tunisia. I stopped and asked what the hell he was doing up there at a time like that. He answered, 'Fixing the wire, Sir.' I asked, 'Isn't that a little unhealthy right about now?' He answered, 'Yes Sir, but the Goddamned wire has to be fixed.' I asked, 'Don't those planes strafing the road bother you?' And he answered, 'No, Sir, but you sure as hell do!' Now, there was a real man. A real soldier. There was a man who devoted all he had to his duty, no matter how seemingly insignificant his duty might appear at the time, no matter how great the odds.

And you should have seen those trucks on the rode to Tunisia. Those drivers were magnificent. All day and all night they rolled over those son-of-a-bitching roads, never stopping, never faltering from their course, with shells bursting all around them all of the time. We got through on good old American guts.

Many of those men drove for over forty consecutive hours. These men weren't combat men, but they were soldiers with a job to do. They did it, and in one hell of a way they did it. They were part of a team. Without team effort, without them, the fight would have been lost. All of the links in the chain pulled together and the chain became unbreakable.

Don't forget, you men don't know that I'm here. No mention of that fact is to be made in any letters. The world is not supposed to know what the hell happened to me. I'm not supposed to be commanding this Army. I'm not even supposed to be here in England. Let the first bastards to find out be the Goddamned Germans. Someday I want to see them raise up on their piss-soaked hind legs and howl, 'Jesus Christ, it's the Goddamned Third Army again and that son-of-a-fucking-bitch Patton.' We want to get the hell over there." The quicker we clean up this Goddamned mess, the quicker we can take a little jaunt against the purple pissing Japs and clean out their nest, too. Before the Goddamned Marines get all of the credit.

Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get the bastards who started it. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we can go home. The shortest way home is through Berlin and Tokyo. And when we get to Berlin, I am personally going to shoot that paper hanging son-of-a-bitch Hitler. Just like I'd shoot a snake!

When a man is lying in a shell hole, if he just stays there all day, a German will get to him eventually. The hell with that idea. The hell with taking it. My men don't dig foxholes. I don't want them to. Foxholes only slow up an offensive. Keep moving. And don't give the enemy time to dig one either. We'll win this war, but we'll win it only by fighting and by showing the Germans that we've got more guts than they have; or ever will have. We're not going to just shoot the sons-of-bitches, we're going to rip out their living Goddamned guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun cock suckers by the bushel-fucking-basket.

War is a bloody, killing business. You've got to spill their blood, or they will spill yours. Rip them up the belly. Shoot them in the guts. When shells are hitting all around you and you wipe the dirt off your face and realize that instead of dirt it's the blood and guts of what once was your best friend beside you, you'll know what to do!

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!

From time to time there will be some complaints that we are pushing our people too hard. I don't give a good Goddamn about such complaints. I believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder WE push, the more Germans we will kill. The more Germans we kill, the fewer of our men will be killed. Pushing means fewer casualties. I want you all to remember that.

There is one great thing that you men will all be able to say after this war is over and you are home once again. You may be thankful that twenty years from now when you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the great World War II, you WON'T have to cough, shift him to the other knee and say, 'Well, your Granddaddy shoveled shit in Louisiana.' No, Sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say, 'Son, your Granddaddy rode with the Great Third Army and a Son-of-a- Goddamned-Bitch named Georgie Patton!'

"That is all."

I want to add a personal note to any of our readers who may be offended by some of the sentiments in the above speech. It was a product of its time. Disparaging references made to Germans were the result of a terrible war that was raging. They should in no way be taken outside of their context.

For the record, I think Patton was a nut-case. But my personal opinion shouldn't colour the fact that I think the speech is note-worthy, if not a little provocative. I think that is what Patton would have wanted.

Mr Mephisto

analog · 12-16-2003, 10:54 PM

Quite the speaker, that guy. I'm not knowledgable at ALL in this field, so I can't even answer to it but to say that it's definitely very powerful, and I can see why he's a legend in his area.

Phaenx · 12-16-2003, 11:22 PM

Boy he'd be upset with the lot of crybaby pussies we've turned into.

I still like to fight, curse and say what I mean at least.

Sion · 12-16-2003, 11:23 PM

Patton may (or may not) have been a nut-case, that is not for me to decide. But there is no doubt that he was one of the greatest military leaders in all of modern warfare.

dragon2fire · 12-17-2003, 12:08 AM

Am i the only one that feels like killing a german

Phaenx · 12-17-2003, 01:38 AM

Mephisto2 · 12-17-2003, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sion
Patton may (or may not) have been a nut-case, that is not for me to decide. But there is no doubt that he was one of the greatest military leaders in all of modern warfare.

This is a bit of an over exaggeration.

Patton was a good tactician. But he was not, by no stretch of the imagination, one of the greatest military leaders of all time. Such accolades go to the likes of Napoleon, Grant, Shaka, Ho Chi Minh, Zhukov, Alexander the Great, Julius Caeser, Saladin, Hannibal Barca, Publius Cornelius Scipio and George Washington.

He was a great divisional general, but a world class military leader? I think not.

But "good" speech none the less... :-)

Mr Mephisto

Conclamo Ludus · 12-17-2003, 06:33 AM

Patton was great. Eccentric as all hell. Thanks for the post. Its a gripping speech. The movie was great, but I'm glad to see the whole speech here, instead of the abbreviated movie version of the speech.

Thanks Mephisto.

skysooner · 12-17-2003, 07:22 AM

The way in which he died has always been suspicious as well. Yeah, he was a great leader for his time. In terms of history, he isn't even in the top 10, but for that time and place he was great.

sailor · 12-17-2003, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Mephisto
This is a bit of an over exaggeration.

Patton was a good tactician. But he was not, by no stretch of the imagination, one of the greatest military leaders of all time. Such accolades go to the likes of Napoleon, Grant, Shaka, Ho Chi Minh, Zhukov, Alexander the Great, Julius Caeser, Saladin, Hannibal Barca, Publius Cornelius Scipio and George Washington.

He was a great divisional general, but a world class military leader? I think not.

But "good" speech none the less... :-)

Mr Mephisto

Exactly. He was good at what he did, but there is a reason he was never given more command than he had. He needed someone more sensible to slow him down. Being agressive is good, being rash is not.

Sparhawk · 12-17-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sailor420
Exactly. He was good at what he did, but there is a reason he was never given more command than he had. He needed someone more sensible to slow him down. Being agressive is good, being rash is not.

I was reading some history books suggesting that had we followed Patton's lead, we could have ended the War in Europe in '44. The plan: Blitzkrieg the germans. I don't have my facts straight right now (I wrote the paper a couple years ago), but we had a blitzkrieg-style offense going up through Rouen/Paris, and Eisenhower threw the breaks, and gave the Germans a chance to regroup for the 'Battle of the Bulge'.

Mr Mephisto, funny you should mention Hannibal, IIRC, Patton believed he was Hannibal reincarnated...

Mephisto2 · 12-17-2003, 06:31 PM

Like I said. He was a nut-case...

:-)

Mr Mephisto

sailor · 12-18-2003, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparhawk
I was reading some history books suggesting that had we followed Patton's lead, we could have ended the War in Europe in '44. The plan: Blitzkrieg the germans. I don't have my facts straight right now (I wrote the paper a couple years ago), but we had a blitzkrieg-style offense going up through Rouen/Paris, and Eisenhower threw the breaks, and gave the Germans a chance to regroup for the 'Battle of the Bulge'.

Mr Mephisto, funny you should mention Hannibal, IIRC, Patton believed he was Hannibal reincarnated...

Yes, we would have ended the war in Europe, and started World War 3 with Russia. Dont get me wrong, Patton was a military marvel, and we probably should have listened to him more when he wanted to keep on driving, but I dont think he was the man to lead the allied forces.

Sion · 12-18-2003, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Mephisto
This is a bit of an over exaggeration.

Patton was a good tactician. But he was not, by no stretch of the imagination, one of the greatest military leaders of all time. Such accolades go to the likes of Napoleon, Grant, Shaka, Ho Chi Minh, Zhukov, Alexander the Great, Julius Caeser, Saladin, Hannibal Barca, Publius Cornelius Scipio and George Washington.

He was a great divisional general, but a world class military leader? I think not.

not a whole lot of MODERN military minds in that list. I didnt say in all of history, just modern warfare, basically meaning since the first World War.

Mephisto2 · 12-18-2003, 10:12 PM

Well, since WWI we have Zhukov and Ho Chi Minh mentioned above. To them we could add Erwin Rommel, Heinz Guideran, Karl Doenitz, Vo Nguyen Giap, Mustafa Kemal or even George C Marshall.

Don't get me wrong. Patton was a good general, but over rash, insubordinate and best suited to divisional command.

Mr Mephisto

12-16-2003, 11:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Boy he'd be upset with the lot of crybaby pussies we've turned into. I still like to fight, curse and say what I mean at least. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

12-16-2003, 11:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	Patton may (or may not) have been a nut-case, that is not for me to decide. But there is no doubt that he was one of the greatest military leaders in all of modern warfare. __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...

12-17-2003, 01:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	No. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

12-17-2003, 06:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	Patton was great. Eccentric as all hell. Thanks for the post. Its a gripping speech. The movie was great, but I'm glad to see the whole speech here, instead of the abbreviated movie version of the speech. Thanks Mephisto. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

12-16-2003, 10:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
analog Banned	Quite the speaker, that guy. I'm not knowledgable at ALL in this field, so I can't even answer to it but to say that it's definitely very powerful, and I can see why he's a legend in his area.

12-17-2003, 12:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
dragon2fire Junkie	Am i the only one that feels like killing a german

12-17-2003, 07:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
skysooner Registered User Location: Oklahoma	The way in which he died has always been suspicious as well. Yeah, he was a great leader for his time. In terms of history, he isn't even in the top 10, but for that time and place he was great.

12-17-2003, 06:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Like I said. He was a nut-case... :-) Mr Mephisto

12-18-2003, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Well, since WWI we have Zhukov and Ho Chi Minh mentioned above. To them we could add Erwin Rommel, Heinz Guideran, Karl Doenitz, Vo Nguyen Giap, Mustafa Kemal or even George C Marshall. Don't get me wrong. Patton was a good general, but over rash, insubordinate and best suited to divisional command. Mr Mephisto