1944/01-1945/12

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Header Record

Title: to Stockdales re: Italian & German campaigns, Patton's death [decimalized]

Collection of materials written to Rene and Frank Stockdale, with a signed and dated 3-star general's flag (54 x 72.4 cm). The letters, written to two personal friends in Britain during the last eighteen months of World War II, chronicle Patton as his Third Army swept through Italy, France and Germany. The earliest letter dates just twenty days before Patton was appointed commander of the Third Army. The correspondence ends with a hopeful letter (18 Dec 1945) written by Major General Hugh J. Gaffey just three days before Patton's death from an automobile accident. Also includes as…

GLC06760

1944/07/04

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Renee & Frank Stockdale re: thanks for "the many courtesies"

Thanking the Stockdales for "the many courtesies which you two have rendered me and... the Third Army."

GLC06760.01

1944/01/02

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Renee Stockdale re: a battle involving 15 US Divisions

Written twenty days before being appointed commander of the Third Army. He notes concerning that battle, involving 15 United States Army Divisions "all but two attacking. Tonight... we may lick him."

GLC06760.02

1944/07/15

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to [Renee & Frank Stockdale] re: thanks for letter, secrecy in correspondence

Thanking Renee Stockdale for her letter received, and stating that "owing to the requirements of secrecy," he is "unable to write more."

GLC06760.03

1944/09/19

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Renee Stockdale re: asking her to send his three stars

GLC06760.04

1944/10/11

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Renee Stockdale re: sending piece of parachute silk

Sending Renee Stockdale a souvenir piece of parachute silk "given to me by a member of a crew of one of our bombers which was forced down"

GLC06760.05

[1944]/10/18

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Renee & Frank Stockdale re: frustration at not being able to fight the enemy

"Just a note... to say that the Third Army is not dead just sleeping.... We are fed up with not fighting."

GLC06760.06

1944/11/30

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: beginning of major assault on the Seigfried line

"We have just started an assault on the Seigfried line this minute...." The "Seigfried line" protected the German homeland from the west. With written postscript.

GLC06760.07

1945/01/03

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: battle of the Bulge, expecting German withdrawal

A prophetic note, preceding by one day the German withdrawal of the 6th SS Panzer Division from the Battle of the Bulge. Patton writes in part: "We have been attacking him and I believe that we now have him on the run."

GLC06760.08

1945/03/29

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: latest operation, liberating towns and capturing Germans

Patton writes in part: "Our last operation has been the best... we have taken 6000 odd square miles of Germany, liberated or captured 3000 towns... captured over 140,000 prisoners and killed or wounded over 90,000 Germans, for the complete destruction of the 7th and 1st German Armies...."

GLC06760.09

1945/05/04

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: progress of 3d Army, now at the Danube

Patton writes in part: "As usual, the 3rd Army has been wiggling around like a snake.... Whoever said the Danube was blue is a damn liar." He notes that a "whole division surrendered to us this morning." With envelope signed by Patton.

GLC06760.10

1945/08/08

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: dull peace; his request for transfer to Pacific rejected

Written shortly after the rejection of his request for transfer to the Pacific war (now that Germany had surrendered), Patton finds "Life here is very fatiguing, but not very exciting. I am going to... reviews and inspections... which takes a lot of walking and flying."

GLC06760.11

1944/08/06

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: campaigning

(Out of order.) Patton writes that he cannot say where he is (due to confidentiality): "While it is impossible for me to give details... if you look carefully at a map you can guess damn well where it is." With envelope signed by Patton. With written postscript.

GLC06760.12

1945/12/18

Gaffey, Hugh J., 1895-1946

Typed letter signed

Title: to Renee Stockdale re: news that Patton will be crippled from car accident

Conveying a surgeon's opinion that Patton would survive the injuries suffered in a car accident, although without the ability to walk. Gaffey writes in part "It seems unfair that a man who had gone through as much as he had during the war should be crippled by a silly automobile accident." Patton died three days after the date of this letter. Signed "Hap"

GLC06760.13

1944/08/28

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: thanks for gift

Expressing his gratitude for a gift from the Stockdales and wishing Renee a "speedy recovery." With envelope signed by Patton.

GLC06760.14

1944/11/07

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: tedium of waiting

Patton complains "this waiting has been tedious, but now we are about tot try to carry the ball some more." With envelope signed by Patton.

GLC06760.15

1945/01/26

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: unable to visit

Patton promises to come visit, but must delay because "something happened the other day which means that we will keep on fighting violently." With envelope signed by Patton.

GLC06760.16

1945/02/27

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: sending razor blades, looks forward to seeing

Sending extra razor blades (another item rationed) and says he is "looking forward to the times when we can again have our old-time evenings together...."

GLC06760.17

1945/05/18

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: missed visit, business

Patton writes, slightly jocularly, "you nearly saw me yesterday as I was planning a surprise invasion..., then the last minite some things occurred in Germany and I had to come back at once."

GLC06760.18

1945/10/02

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: rumor of his being knighted by the King

Patton mentions "a rumor that his Majesty the King may ask for my presence shortly to give me the KBE." Patton was not knighted.

GLC06760.19

1945/12/06

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Frank Stockdale re: wishing a merry Christmas

Patton wishes the Stockdales "a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year." With envelope signed.

GLC06760.20

[1944 ca.]

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank & Renee Stockdale re: thanks for last visit

Undated. Thanking the Stockdales for "a very nice time"

GLC06760.21

1944/12/25 ca.

Patton, George S. (George Smith), 1885-1945

Autograph note signed

Title: to Frank & Renee Stockdale re: Christmas card, 3rd US Army, "Season's Greetings"

A two-color printed Christmas card reading "Season's Greetings. Third United States Army," showing a tank zipping over an image of France towards an arrow reading "Nach Berlin" (To Berlin). Red arrows spread across the northern France from Normandy. In the foreground, appearing underneath the map, people walk through the snow towards a church. The picture has been signed "Pvt. Petroff" at lower right.

GLC06760.22

1944 ca.

Photograph

Title: [General George Patton]

Patton standing beside his war map mobile caravan "which went over D. Day and through all the fighting." Taken at Pecver[?] Hall, Cheshire, where Gen P [commanded] the 3rd U.S. Army.

GLC06760.23

1945 May 29

Kemsley Newspapers Ltd.

Photograph

Title: [General Patton at Fern Hill]

Photograph of Patton posing at Fern Hill. Copyright stamp on verso.

GLC06760.24