[PAR35]

Patton would have done better to bypass Metz and let it starve.

Patton couldn't bypass Metz. Ike had given the gasoline to Monte for Market Garden. Patton could have either held his position, or put his troops to use attacking the fortress cities, which he did.

Patton wasn't at his best at set-piece battles, as Monte wasn't at his best at dynamic battles. Ike should have give the fuel to Patton to drive to the Rhine, and told Monte to clear the Scheldt. But Ike let politics outweigh military judgment.

[fso301]

Ike should have give the fuel to Patton to drive to the Rhine, and told Monte to clear the Scheldt. But Ike let politics outweigh military judgment.

The difference is that two years earlier, Ike first heard shots fired in anger. Patton on the other hand fired shots in anger 28 years earlier.

[alfa6]

Ike should have give the fuel to Patton to drive to the Rhine, and told Monte to clear the Scheldt.

No argument with that, had Monty taken care of the Scheldt right off the bat there was a fair chance that the supply crisis would have been greatly minimized.

Good seeing you again

Regards

alfa6 ;>}