Explanation: As seen here, racism was rampant amongst the American brass (and rank-and-file, for that matter) during WW2. Despite African-American soldiers having repeatedly proven themselves in prior US wars, there was a strange notion in WW2 that Black people were in some way ‘incapable’ of combat equal to the White Man™.
For that matter, Patton himself, who was not much more than a fascist born on the non-fascist side of the national borders of the period, was deeply racist in private, both against Black people and Jews, but he, at least, knew enough to play the leader to troops under his command instead of attempting to demoralize his own fucking forces.
So he was first a soldier and then a fucking racist pig second. The dude on the left is the other way.
It’s a low bar, but some men still manage to limbo under it, it would seem.
Patton, typical US lib, Almond typical white rust belt dude.
edit: goddamn autocorrect
there was a strange notion in WW2 that Black people were in some way ‘incapable’ of combat equal to the White Man™.
That notion was not exclusive to WW2. Blacks fought in every American war, and faced this prejudice in every instance.
Yeah, but it was unusually strong in WW2 considering the history. The most recent previous time Black American troops entered a war explicitly forbidden from combat positions was the US Civil War.
Reminds me of the time Hitler, and the Nazi regime in general, treated black US athletes better in the 1936 Olympics than their own country. He was famously racist obviously, yet somehow managed to keep up the appearance of not being a madman (which he definitely was) for long enough to milk the obvious PR benefits of hosting the Olympic games. We’d call it “sportswashing” nowadays.
Though it seems contemporary accounts are divided on whether he snubbed black medalists or not, and how much; he apparently didn’t shake hands, but e.g. Jesse Owens said that wasn’t actually a big deal, and that Hitler waived at him in a friendly manner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens#1936_Berlin_Summer_Olympics). Though either way, we have to remember that “better than the US at the time” was a really low bar. Owens never met the US president, got invited into the White House or anything like that, despite being a multi-gold medalist.
The man may have been a piece of shit too often, but damn did he know how to talk to his troops.
I think the piece of shit view of Patton is over rated a touch.
He didn’t acknowledge mental health and that manifested in his treatment of soldiers he deemed as cowards but within the context of his time it was pretty acceptable.
He certainly was no statesman and had the diplomatic skills of a brick through a window however he was effective as a general and had the respect of many of his troops. As a leader he was effective.
From an imperialism perspective he has nothing on MacArthur.
TL;DR most people wish they were Patton when they should really want to be Bradley.
I think the piece of shit view of Patton is over rated a touch.
Considering his statements on race and Jews even after seeing the concentration camps firsthand, I’m gonna have to press X to doubt
Ok but from an imperialism perspective Douglas “trail of cobalt between Korea and China” MacArthur was worse than many supervillains. MacArthur was completely insane by the standards of American generals in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
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This was WW2, so uh, they were literally fighting against the Nazis.
It’s definitely interesting, America fighting nazis means America bad. Alrighty then.
ATIFA Libz
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I don’t buy your american propaganda. Save it for your friends.
American propaganda about… Nazis being evil?
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What the fuck
But you see, America is bad so the Allies were secretely propping up the Nazis and forcing them to commit unspeakable atrocities in order to make America (all of America, no one cares about just the US) look good some 80 years in the future so that a nation that was founded largely because of these unspeakable atrocities could commit more atrocities later and continue receiving support.
It’s all linked together, don’t you see? (big, BIG /s obviously)
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“whatever they did”
Fucking hell man, how are you even capable of writing sentences with such a poor education?
And why are you in history memes complaining about history?
I have no idea what Nazis were.
The fuck mate?
Are you stupid?
You ever been in a fist fight? That you didn’t start? To protect someone else?
Anyone lecture you on hitting back? Stfu Nazi sympathizer
Nazis are the worst. No one likes, uh, no one admitted to liking nazis, until recently. They are patently scapegoating vulnerable people for broad problems of society, and mass killing those scapegoated groups, while grabbing absolute power for the worst madmen, destroying freedom, life, decency. There is nothing to like about them, only a real piece of shit and or someone with a very incorrect view of history could not hate them with a passion.
Maybe it’s because I’m drowning in corporate BS, platitudes, and just all around mistrust of anybody trying to motivate me.
But I kinda would trust the guy on the left a bit more. You hate me, sure fine, but hey you’re gonna risk us all equally. Blunt but I at least appreciate the honesty.
Patton is saying exactly what you would say when you want the group you care about the least to charge in the front… You know what I mean?
but hey you’re gonna risk us all equally.
Going out on a limb here, but I don’t think he wanted them to see an ‘equal’ share of causalities - the implication being that he is going to throw them into the grinder.
Is that why so many black people voted for trump?
“I don’t care that you are worth less than us good white folks, as long as you die for me!”
Gee thanks.
Patton wasn’t such a great man as you paint him to be. Look up some of his other takes.
Patton wasn’t such a great man as you paint him to be.
The title is clearly implying that Patton is not progressive and the explanation further solidifies it. I was not painting him as a ‘great man’.
Are you guys actually judging people from 1944 with the standards of 2026?
Patton was a piece of shit even by the standards of 1944. The man saw the fucking Nazi death camps and responded with a metaphorical shrug and a fresh load of antisemitism.
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Do you generally struggle with reading comprehension?
yes
Username checks out.
