What I Know About War - Patton's Memoirs (Illustrated Treasure Edition)

Author: (American) Patton, translated by Zhuo Fu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The original title of this book is War As I Knew It, edited by Beatrice E. Patton (Patton's wife), with footnotes and quotations written by Colonel Paul D. Harkins, the former deputy chief of staff of Patton, and a preface written by the renowned military biographer Douglas S. Freeman. Published two years after Patton's death (1947). Freeman was called by Patton "the greatest military biographer of our time," while Freeman referred to Patton as "a gifted great American soldier" and "the ideal subject for a great biography." He was a humorous and witty person, with judgment, passion, and keen insight. He was equally interested in horses, rowing, archaeology, anthropology, and everything else. He was also a wise and strategic thinker, unafraid to win, and his bold and decisive military command style could rival that of "Stonewall" Jackson. He was a distinctive personality, unafraid to show his true colors, and around him, he could curse his soldiers, and his soldiers could curse him, creating a unique "argumentative style." He considered war to be "the most magnificent competition of humanity" and took great pleasure in winning the competition. He said, "Around here, it seems that only I truly enjoy the fun of this damn war!"
Researchers or enthusiasts of war history, researchers or enthusiasts of World War II, researchers or enthusiasts of Patton, researchers or enthusiasts of biographical literature, researchers or enthusiasts of "competitive strategy," as well as professionals and non-professionals in the workplace.
During World War II, General Patton fought across North Africa, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. During the intervals of combat or in the midst of intense battles, he wrote his own diaries. These diaries later became the "primary material" for him to write this book. From July 1942 to three days before his fatal accident on December 5, 1945, he maintained the habit of writing diaries, sometimes "harsh in language," sometimes "full of complaints." This is the only continuous record of Patton's "field conditions" during World War II, unaltered and unembellished, making it of extremely high historical and academic value.
When George Marshall took over Patton, he wrote three sentences in his notebook: "He can lead his troops through fire and water," "but he must be tightly controlled with a noose," and "hand over armored forces to him at the first opportunity." If the battlefield is a stage, then Patton was undoubtedly a top-tier "dancer." His entire life seemed to be dedicated to war. The mere thought of going to battle excited him, making him more eloquent and spirited. He was almost a fierce "bull." He possessed a "courage" and a "stratagem" that ordinary people did not have. The combination of these two qualities contributed to his later success. He said, "The best strategy to resist the strategic offensive of competitors is to change the rules of the game." He also said, "Those who cannot show their true colors cannot become great." This was his "stratagem," which he himself called "cunning courage."