Patton Bradley and Ike, their heroes or glory whores?

Let me begin by presenting my personal bias. My grandfather was literally the first to the Rhine, and I mean him personally. This happened as he served in the 324th infantry regiment, 44th division, XV Corps, 7th Army, 6th Army Group. The were other (previous and later) assignments in ETO but for the bulk of his combat experience he fought under the much underrated and underappreciated General Jacob Devers. Politics, chiefly the friendship of Ike and Omar Bradley both West Point class of 1915. "The class the stars fell on", along with Dever's unassuming, modest leadership led to his deeds and those who served under him being largely forgotten.

My grandfather is mentioned by name in at least one historical book, and his company "E" of the 324 is mentioned several times. Yet none have ever received the credit they deserve. Strasbourg was liberated by elements of the 324, fighting with Leclerq's famous 2nd armor division. Sadly him and his fellows were doubly screwed, as the liberation of Strasbourg was highly symbolic to the French, (Alsace region is historically a "West Bank" between France and Germany) and De Gaulle pushed hard to make certain that the French Free Army would get credit and almost refused help in its liberation....except of course all the new Sherman tanks the French 2nd were tooling around in. A check of Wikipedia would tell you that FFA and Leclerq liberated Strasbourg, no mention of the 324th or 44th.

Of course, help was needed, and given, but the upshot was that Ike would never allow an abundance of glory to De Gaulle. So the political machinations started. Strasbourg was liberated and scouting parties crossed the river and into Nazi Germany. What they found was tantalizing...the Germans had expected the 6th Army group to take much longer to push through the Vosges, and expected Strasbourg to fall no sooner than spring 1945. The scouts reported no enemy activity in Rastatt, and a clear path to open a bridgehead, with zero resistance, and little resistance all the way to Karlsruhe. I have a photograph of my grandfather in Strasbourg on November, 23 1944.

Indeed, an offensive by the 6th Army Group could have ended the war much sooner, but Ike and his buddies were massed far away, wanting the Ruhr, and likewise German forces were paying much more attention to Bradley, Patton, and those knocking at the front door. A back door was opened, and just as quickly it was shut by Ike.

The sole reason... Dislike of Devers and an outright conspiracy to deny any real victory claim to De Gaulle. That was unthinkable to Ike, the idea that anyone could win the war but him and his buddies, hell certainly not the ungrateful De Gaulle.

So Dever's immediately submitted offensive into Germany was denied. Incidentally, when Devers was allowed move, resistance was much higher as the Germans used the American missed opportunity to their advantage and solidified all positions, the 44th fought againt the vaunted Panzer Lehr and 17 Panzergrenadiers "Gotz Von Berlichengen....rather than the previous cakewalk that laid before them. Indeed Fritz Bayerlein was given a special order detailing that "the fate of Alsace" depended on him.

But you must understand that Patton was already jokingly referring to Ike as "Our next President", and that was a script that Ike could not allow anyone to rewrite.

No matter how many thousands upon thousands of American, German and French lives were lost as a result. Just look at Pattons depression at the end of the war. Just think how sad he would have been had Devers plan been greenlighted.

As a side note, members of the 44th were also responsible for "capturing" Werner Von Braun...but not so you'd notice. I say "captured" because he and his V2 buddies were fleeing both soviets and SS at the time and we're looking for any Americans to surrender to.

Anyway just thought this was pertinent infoemotion, and would certainly be news to some. Our country it seems has always been built on conspiracy.