[LS]

Patton, in one field exercise, took his tanks completely around the flank of the "enemy" lines and was upbraided for not "playing by the rules." He later (contrary to popular perceptions) would avoid heavy contact with the enemy by constantly by-passing strongpoints such as Metz and cutting the enemy off.

His romanticized "quick thrust" into Germany however, portrayed in the movie as some kind of Monty/Ike conspiracy, was in fact a plan for disaster. The "red ball express" was already exhausted and couldn't be pushed one mile further. We HAD to have closer bases for supplies, and had Patton's view carried, he would have ended up perhaps inside Germany, but cut off, surrounded, and without supplies.

[wideawake]

Good points.

Patton has a reputation as a ruthless bruiser who would hit you with everything he had.

In reality, he was a master of the tactical advance and bypassed many more enemy units than he ever fought head on.

His goal was to get in the enemy's rear as quickly as possible with as intact a force as possible - a operational plan that on several occasions almost brought US strategy to near ruin.

Had he been enveloped when he had gotten too far ahead of his supply lines, it would have been disastrous.

[Little Bill]

The war games in LA in 1940, he also jumped off early, ruled fair, that got him command of the Second Corps in North Africa.

[PAR35]

He later (contrary to popular perceptions) would avoid heavy contact with the enemy by constantly by-passing strongpoints such as Metz and cutting the enemy off.

You need to re-read the history of his campaign in eastern France. He executed quite poorly in set - piece battles against the cities fortified by the Germans. http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-content.html