ORIGINAL: EricGuitarJames
Still quoting from Farago, that noted journalist and author of works on conspiracy theories I see. But I won't quote from that distinguished historian Charles Whiting in deference to your feelings.
All you've proved is that there is reasonable doubt as to whether Patton was actually in Austria at the time of Dietrich's surrender. In any case, the German army was surrendering in droves to whatever Allied unit was closest (unless it was Soviet). Donitz (Hitler's successer) surrendered to Montgomery on Luneberg Heath on May 4th. Around 300,000 German troops surrendered to Gerow in the Ruhr following Model's suicide on April 21st. It just happens that these generals were at these locations when the surrenders occured, there is no credit to be taken apart from being part of the victorious alliance.
Still quoting from Farago, that noted journalist and author of works on conspiracy theories I see. But I won't quote from that distinguished historian Charles Whiting in deference to your feelings.
Sorry, but you have been greatly misinformed.
BTW, I have more definitions on what hearsay means, if you need them. Just trying to be helpful.
Ladislas Farago's Credentials:
Mr. Farago is very qualified to write books on military history and intelligence.
He is internationally known as a writer, military historian, biographer, and as an expert in espionage and intelligence.
He served in WWII as Chief of Research and Planning, Special Warfare Branch, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy.
He is the author of 18 books on intelligence and military history, and has edited Corps Diplomatique and United Nations World.
He wrote The War of Wits which is a classic of military and political intelligence.
He also wrote The Tenth Fleet which has been heralded as the classic study of US anti-submarine action in WWII.
He also authored a number of works which are still classified, such as History of Propaganda in World War II and Morale and Its Maintenance in the German Army.
Both his books on Patton: Patton: Ordeal and Triumph (which took 12 years to research and write) as well as The Last Days of Patton were made into movies. And both books have stood the test of time for their content.
The screenplay for the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! was written by Ladislas Farago, Larry Forrester, Ryuzo Kikushima, and Hideo Oguni.
All you've proved is that there is reasonable doubt as to whether Patton was actually in Austria at the time of Dietrich's surrender. In any case, the German army was surrendering in droves to whatever Allied unit was closest (unless it was Soviet). Donitz (Hitler's successer) surrendered to Montgomery on Luneberg Heath on May 4th. Around 300,000 German troops surrendered to Gerow in the Ruhr following Model's suicide on April 21st. It just happens that these generals were at these locations when the surrenders occured, there is no credit to be taken apart from being part of the victorious alliance.
So, what's your point?
Ike just happened to be Supreme Commander.
Marshall just happened to be Chief of Staff.
Allied Armies just happened to invade Normandy on D-Day. . .
Rommel just happened to be in North Africa. . .
I'm amazed the ends some of you will go to, to deny the facts of history, especially when it relates to Third Army [;)]
History and circumstances often hinge on being in the right place at the right time. . .
The interesting thing is that D'Este completely leaves out the fact that Patton was even in Austria on May 7, 1945.
I have at least done my homework and shown that Patton was in Austria at this time.
In addition, there is Irrefutable Proof that Dietrich's 6th SS Panzer Army DID surrender to Third Army. So Patton did not even have to be in Austria to receive credit for this. Yet again, D'Este and other historians completely leave this fact out of their books.
I realize this information may trouble you.
But history can sometimes be uncomfortable.
1) Patton was in Austria on May 7, 1945. This is when many important German army units and Nazis surrendered. Patton, along with Patterson, the Under Secretary of War, flew to XX Corps HQ at St. Martin/Innkreis, Austria on May 7, 1945 (Martin Blumenson & George S. Patton, The Patton Papers 1940-1945; Da Capo Press; (October 1, 1996); p. 697).
2) Units of Third Army (the 80th Division) moved into Austria in May, 1945 and accepted the surrender of units of 6th SS Panzer Army:
On 7 May, 1945, SS Brigade Keitel, under the command of SS Major Keitel [Author's note: This was the son of General Keitel, Hitler's right hand.], surrendered to our forces. Brigade Keitel, strength 3,000 was an element of the 6th SS Panzer Army. Keitel's report that Sepp Dietrich still commanded the 6th SS Panzer Army was the first knowledge of the Allies that Dietrich still lived. He had previously been reported dead by the Russians.
http://www.thetroubleshooters.com/history156.html
3) "Dietrich. . . on his own initiative, ordered the Hohenenstaufen [9th SS Pz Div] and Hitlerjugend [12th SS Pz Div] to withdraw to the River Ybbs, where they surrendered to Patton's troops" (Messenger, Charles, Hitler's Gladiator, Brassey's defence Publishers, p.171).
All of this conclusively proves those websites were correct.
