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Patton's Letter to Spaatz on November 19, 1944

Scott Manning
September 5, 2006

A relic was handed to me today. A copy of a copy of a letter from General Patton to General Spaatz written on November 19, 1944.

I cannot find a record of this letter in the 13 Patton books sitting on my shelf. Also, Patton's own memoirs cover November 18th and the 20th. This letter is a missing piece to Patton's story.

To give some context to the letter, Patton had just left Verny, France and was now in Mertz, France. The Battle of the Bulge would not take place until December 16, 1944.

In Patton's memoirs, he described the scene in Verny as "a very good example of heavy bombing." The description in the following letter gives more insight as to what Patton saw.

The full text is directly below. Afterwards, you can see the scanned copy of the letter.


Patton's Letter to General Spaatz
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HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
Office of the Commanding General
APO 403


19 November, 1944.

Dear Tooey:

This morning, I was in the Verny group of forts which, as you remember, was the No. 1 Priority in the bombing attack which you put over the 9th. One of the forts was completely removed--I have never see so many large chunks of concrete in my life.

Another fort, which we are now occupying as a Command Post for the 8th Division, was not hit but the people were so badly scared that they left, because we occupied it without firing a shot. Also, the No. 2 Priority fort, northeast of No. 1, received direct hits and was occupied without firing.

I would appreciate much if you would transmit this information to Jimmy Doolittle, and tell him also how much the 3rd Army appreciates the magnificent support rendered.

We are now in Metz. About half the forts have been taken or found unoccupied; the other half are contained. There is a limited amount of street fighting now taking place.

With renewed wishes, I am, as ever

Devotedly yours,

/s/ George

G. S. PATTON, JR.

Lieutenant General Carl A. Spaatz,
Hq, U.S. Strategic AF Europe,
APO 633, U. S. Army.

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Scan of the Letter
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