Description:

Patton Jr. George 1885 - 1945 George Patton writes a World War II dated letter reminiscing about WW I "The French and ourselves are very intimate and on as good relations as we were at Langres in 1918"



Single page TLS on tissue paper, 8" x 10.5", on Headquarters I Armored Corps letterhead. Boldly signed by George S. Patton, Jr as "G S Patton Jr", Major General, U.S. Army, Commanding and dated " 23 January, 1943". Expected folds with light wrinkling and toning, else near fine.

A wonderful boldly signed TLS by George Patton to a personal friend whom he most likely met during his commission at Langres, France. Patton effervesces a warm reference about the French (unique in and of itself as warm references were not his strong point), noting "I am sure you will be happy to know that the French and ourselves are very intimate and on as good relations as we were at Langres in 1918, except I have not met here any girls as charming as you and your sister"

Patton was at Langress early in his career when he was promoted to major. And as the only soldier at the time with experience driving a tank, he personally backed seven of the tanks off a transport train, in addition to training tank crews in support of the infantry. By mid 1918 he was already promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and attended the Command and General Staff College in Langres.

But this letter was written many years later, when Patton was Major General. He had rapidly moved through the ranks commanding the 2nd Armored Division at the time of the American entry into World War II. The letter written during WWII would have been written shortly after the invasion of Casablanca during Operation Torch in 1942, and perhaps while strategizing for the Allied invasion of Sicily, code named Operation Husky, where he was the first Allied commander to reach Messina in July 1943.Strategically, Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners; the Allies drove Axis air, land and naval forces from the island and sea lanes were opened for Allied merchant ships for the first time since 1941. The Italian leader, Mussolini, was toppled from power in Italy and the way was opened for the Allied invasion of Italy.

Patton's bristly personality would become his albatross just 7 months after the writing of this warm, gentle, flirtatious letter to Suzanne complimenting her "I have not met here any girls as charming as you and your sister". By August 1943, Patton's severe gruffness and intolerance towards his men became a world stage when he became embroiled in controversy after he slapped two shell shocked soldiers under his command which led to his temporary removal from battle.

It would appear that the charms of the opposite sex can certainly bring most anyone to their knees ...

A fantastic letter of polar opposite characterization found in one of the most well known and effective American Generals in our history

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