The Patton Papers: 1940-1945 [Paperback]

Martin Blumenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1996

One of World War II's most brilliant and controversial generals, George S. Patton (1885-1945) fought in North Africa and Sicily, as commander of the Third Army, spearheaded the Allies' spectacular 1944-1945 sweep through France, Belgium, and Germany. Martin Blumenson is the only historian to enjoy unlimited access to the vast Patton papers. his many books include Masters of the Art of Command (available from Da Capo Press) and Patton: The Man Behind the Legend.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Blumenson is the author of a dozen books on military subjects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 944 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; First Edition edition (August 22, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306807173
• ISBN-13: 978-0306807176
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #754,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Fast Paced Biography That Reads Like A Novel, April 24, 2003

By 

suetonius "seutonius" (Phoenix) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Patton Papers: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

Martin Blumenson's has created a fascinating and surprisingly readable biography of the World War II hero, General George Patton. Blumenson has taken the General's diaries, personal and official letters and combined them with letters written to him and newspaper articles written about him. These are arranged in chronological order.

The period covered by this book was the most active of Patton's lifetime. In the last three years of his life, Patton had adventures enough for several lifetimes. After playing a major part in the conquest of North Africa, then Sicily, Patton was sidelined for nearly a year after the slapping incidents. During this time a disinformation campaign was put forth to convince the Nazis that Patton would command a non-existent army group that was to invade the south of France. A month after D Day Patton took command of the recently formed Third Army and drove across Europe, playing a pivotal role in the Battle of the Bulge.

In this book, Blumenson splices together the actual documents written by and about Patton as the actual events unfolded. Despite being an amalgamation of material from so many different sources, the book reads like a novel. Blumenson very rarely adds his own editorial commentary. This is done in a way that enhances the flow of the narrrative. My only complaint is that it frequently is difficult to determine where these asides begin and end. This readability is what makes the book great and unique. Having read many other biographies that over-analyze and inject the authors' personal opinion into the narrative it is refreshing to simply have the facts laid out in front of you.

Patton had an amusing tendency to give sarcastic nicknames to his rivals and adversaries. Omar Bradley is "the tentmaker," both for his Arab name and his tendency towards caution, Eisenhower is "divine destiny" for his political ambitions. General W. Bedell Smith, Eisenhower's hated chief of staff, is variously referred to as Beadle and Beetle. At the same time he is privately mocking these people, Patton takes great pains to praise and flatter them publicly. He even admits to himself in his diary that he is a shameless bootlicker and rear-end kisser when necessary. Patton justifies his actions because he feels he must be a sycophant to fulfill his destiny of leading men in battle. Patton even advises his son (who was a West Point Cadet at the time) that the way to advancement at the Academy is to seek out the Commandant and Superintendent and suck-up to them and their wives as much as possible.

I had low expectations for this book. Every other collection of the letters of famous men I have read has been interesting in spots but unreadable as a whole.Even the famous collected letters of Pliny the Younger are mostly dreary reports to the emperor and uninteresting notes to friends. For Blumenson to have created such an entertaining and informative document from similar material is a remarkable achievement.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Insight to one of the Greatest Military Minds Ever, October 12, 2000

By 

Archie Mercer "Archie" (Yorba Linda, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Patton Papers: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

The Patton Papers (1940-1945) is actually part two of a two part series. While the first part covers the first 55 years of General George S. Patton's life this book details the period leading up to Americas involvement in WW II and takes the reader through all of Patton's ordeals. The Author, Martin Blumenson, has taken General Pattons own words from letters and diary entires to paint a wonderfully detailed portrait of Patton, not only as a military officer but as a human being. This book captures the true spirit of Patton. His ego-mania, his drive for success both on the battlefield and off, his sometimes paranoia about other officers, especially Montgomery. Patton was a very complex figure and no book that I have read really comes close to explaining his personality better than this one. Best of all, this book details his military genius, through all of World War II, including his end-run in France to liberate Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. What is also interesting is how Patton was unable to adapt to peace-time, leading to his dismissal as post-war occupational governor of Bavaria.

If you're interested in WWII and Patton intriques you as he does me, I would highly recommend this book. It truly gives you a great understanding of the man instead of the myth.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for a WWII historian or buff, November 6, 2000

By 

vince g. golla (San Ramon, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Patton Papers: 1940-1945 (Paperback)

Martin Blumenson probably doesn't enough credit for stitching together the diaries of this amazingly complex man and military mind. Then again, it seems few if any have gained the unparalleled access to GSP Jr.'s letters and diaries. Taken of course in conjunction with Volume 1 (1885-1940), one sees a vivid picture of a tremendously gifted military man, a person so deeply spiritual in one moment, yet ravenous for the destruction of his enemies the next. Three things Blumenson highlighted that I found most thoughtful and salient: (1) Patton's deep, exacting grasp of military history -- seemingly, all the way back to when the first caveman bashed the other with a club; (2) his all-encompassing mantra of a self-destiny that must be fulfilled, and (3) how completely wedded he was to the dictum that the most disciplined and principled troops will win the day. Blumenson's work takes the common, two-dimensional mainstream picture of Patton -- slash-and-dash tank commander with a penchant for being a martinet -- and produces instead a tremendously deep, textured portrait of one of the most intriguing military figures of the century. Lastly, Blumenson's exacting eye gives the reader a strong rendition of the men of "The Greatest Generation" -- before they were called that -- through Patton's eyes and the man's devotion to his troops.