Description:

George Patton
n.p. [near Metz, France], October 4, 1944
George Patton TLS During Battle of Metz Amid "vicious fighting" & Weather Making It "hard to use tanks"
TLS

A typed letter signed by George S. Patton Jr. as Commanding General of the Third U.S. Army, addressed to his former comrade Beverly F. Browne (1880-1974). 1p on Third Army letterhead, measuring 8" x 10", [near Metz, France], October 4, 1944. Signed at conclusion as "G.S. Patton", he discusses the ongoing Battle of Metz which commenced in September and how combat has been affected by the weather. Exhibits light creasing and expected letter folds throughout, with negligible soiling near upper left. Two areas of isolated repair present at top right margin. Else, very good with fantastic contents.

In full:

"Thanks for your air-mail letter. As you surmise, we are right in the middle of our old fighting places and I have been through Varennes, Cheppy, Chaumont and all the other places so dear to our memories.
I trust that your hope that we finish this thing before winter comes turns out to be right, but we are now having really vicious fighting.
This morning we are assaulting one of the forts at Metz and are inside of it, having gotten about a third of it-- perhaps half about now-- but it is very tough going. The weather is very much against us as it rains every day and the ground is so slippery that it is hard to use tanks."

The city of Metz was annexed by Nazi Germany following the fall of France in 1940. Its nationalistic connection as the birthplace of many Nazi army officers, as well as its numerous fortifications and observation posts, made it an ideal location for German forces. Patton's Third Army reached the city on September 5, 1944, which initiated an over two month long battle. His reference to "vicious fighting" were met with strong German resistance resulting in heavy casualties on both sides before its end on November 21st. Indeed, Patton's decision to take the city is often debated, with military critics noting that moving north toward Luxembourg would have been more effective in cutting of Germany's 7th Army.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: TLS

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