Description:

PATTON CALLS JEWS 'SUB-HUMAN'
(1885 - 1945) 'Old Blood and Guts' was one of the finest tank commanders in history, rolling his forces through Tunisia, Sicily, France and Germany until halted at the Rhine. PATTON CHARACTERIZES LIBERATED AND DISPLACED JEWS AS 'SUB-HUMAN' Absolutely the most incredible Patton letter ever seen, two typed pages of vitriol directed at European Jews, Russians, the 'non-Aryan' press, and the army itself. Patton's letter is 2pp. 4to. on 'Headquarters Third United States Army' letterhead, [n.p.], Oct. 4, 1945, and written to 'Charlie', his friend Lt. Col. Charles R. Codman (1893-1956) in Boston. Codman met Patton in the latter stages of the North African Campaign, and was soon asked by the general to serve as his aide-de-camp, which Codman did for the rest of the war. A bitter Patton writes six days after being sacked as military governor, after he had repeatedly compared Nazi administrators to Democrats and Republicans. Patton's very angry letter reads, in part: '...Your letter of September 24 Just reached me. I presume...you have since that date been considerably perturbed by the scurrilous attacks made on me by the non-Aryan press. As a matter of fact the quotations came just as near being lies as they could without laying the perpetrators open to suit. However, that too will pass and I think probably the reaction will be as beneficial as was that following our friend Drew Pearson's asseverations. I am glad you like 'War As I Knew It'. Bea has given me hell for making it too short and concise...it can always be expanded. Anyhow to have you appreciate it is very pleasing because I consider you a great writer...Today I am performing with my usual efficiency my duties as undertaker at my own funeral and am at the moment sitting at a perfectly cleaned up desk awaiting the arrival of Lucian Truscott. Actually, while I regret being relieved for what amounts to cause or rather, perhaps, to lack of guts not on my part though from the Third Army, it may all work out for the best because various rules and regulations imposed on us from Washington and elsewhere, chiefly at the behest of the press, are practically unsolvable particularly this redeployment stuff. So far as the Jews are concerned, they do not want to be placed in comfortable buildings. They actually prefer to live as many to a room as possible. They have no conception of sanitation, hygiene or decency and are, as you know, the same sub-human type that we saw in the internment camps. At the present moment your boy is on duty at the Visitors' Bureau in Paris. It is my opinion that if he does not intend to make the Army his career he should get out because I see no use in hanging around now. I am really very fearful of repercussions which will occur this winter and I am certain we are being completely hood-winked by the degenerate descendants of Ghengis Khan [the Russians]. People who talk about peace should visit Europe where, as I believe the Lord said, I bring you not peace but the sword. The envy, hatred, malice and uncharitableness in Europe passes belief. I could say a good many more things but even yet fear censoring, though it is not supposed to exist, so shall refrain until I see you. My new job in the Fifteenth Army is really literary rather than military and furthermore has the advantage of getting me out of the limelight...' Fine condition, in a custom brown cloth slipcase. Two weeks earlier, Patton was blamed at a press conference for the appalling living conditions at Displaced Persons camps, largely occupied by Jews. As a result of this press conference, Eisenhower reportedly ordered Patton to improve the camps under his command and to attend a Yom Kippur service. Only three days after writing this letter, the embarrassment caused to Eisenhower by Patton's attitude, behavior, and political outspokenness would force his dismissal from the command of the Third Army.

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January 25, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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