Why Patton Wanted to Attack the Soviets in 1945 – The Warning Eisenhower Refused to Hear

On May 7, 1945, a pivotal moment unfolded in the aftermath of World War II, as General George S. Patton sat across from Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower in a commandeered German mansion just outside Frankfurt. Germany had surrendered only hours earlier, and American soldiers celebrated their hard-won victory in the streets. However, amidst the jubilation, Patton was not in a celebratory mood. Instead, he had come to convey a message that would not only strain his relationship with Eisenhower but also jeopardize his command in the months to come—an assertion that would be dismissed as insane by many in Washington and the media.

Patton leaned forward, his expression serious, and stated, “We’re going to have to fight them eventually. Let’s do it now while our army is intact and we can win.” His words were directed not at the Germans, who had just been defeated, but at the Soviet Union. Eisenhower, taken aback, stared at Patton in disbelief. He had spent three years building an alliance with the Soviets to defeat Hitler, and now Patton was suggesting an immediate attack on their ally. The American public adored Joseph Stalin, often referred to as “Uncle Joe,” and the media portrayed the Red Army as heroic liberators of Eastern Europe.

“George, you don’t understand politics,” Eisenhower replied, emphasizing that the war was over and they were going home. In that moment, Patton realized a grim truth: Eisenhower understood the validity of his concerns but was unwilling to act on them. What followed was one of the most significant silences in American military history, marking a turning point in the relationship between the two generals.

Patton had identified the Soviet threat long before it was acknowledged by anyone in Washington. He proposed a military solution while the Red Army was exhausted and American forces were at their peak strength. However, his warnings were ignored by politicians and military leaders who prioritized public opinion over strategic realities. Patton’s Third Army had advanced deeper into Germany than any other Allied force, with his tanks reaching Czechoslovakia and his advance units perilously close to Berlin. Everywhere he looked, he was confronted by a terrifying sight: the Red Army.

Soviet forces were occupying Eastern Europe with a brutality that shocked even the most hardened American combat veterans. Patton’s intelligence officers reported horrific accounts of mass rapes, systematic looting, and summary executions of civilians suspected of holding anti-communist sympathies. Entire populations were being forcibly relocated to Soviet labor camps, creating a climate of fear and suffering that filled Patton with dread and anger.

In April 1945, Patton expressed his growing concerns in a letter to his wife, Beatrice. He described the situation in Eastern Europe as dire and emphasized the urgent need for the United States to take decisive action against the Soviet Union before it solidified its control over the region. Patton believed that the Allies had a unique opportunity to strike while they still had the upper hand, arguing that delaying action would only embolden the Soviets further.

Despite Patton’s fervent warnings and his understanding of the geopolitical landscape, Eisenhower remained firm in his position. The political climate in the United States was shifting; the focus was on demobilization and rebuilding after the war. Engaging the Soviets was politically unpalatable, especially given the public’s perception of the Red Army as liberators. Eisenhower’s commitment to maintaining the fragile alliance with the Soviets outweighed Patton’s military perspective.

As the months passed, Patton’s warnings continued to go unheeded, and the Soviet grip on Eastern Europe tightened. The division of Europe into spheres of influence became increasingly evident, and Patton’s vision of a united Europe free from Soviet domination began to fade. His insistence on confronting the Soviets was viewed as an outlier perspective in a rapidly changing political environment.

Ultimately, Patton’s desire to attack the Soviets in 1945 stemmed from his understanding of military strategy and the realities of the emerging Cold War. He recognized the potential dangers posed by a powerful Soviet Union and believed that the time to act was now, while the United States still had the strength to make a difference. However, his warnings fell on deaf ears, and the political climate dictated a different course of action.

The confrontation between Patton and Eisenhower in the wake of Germany’s surrender marked a crucial moment in American military history. Patton’s foresight regarding the Soviet threat and his call for immediate action were overshadowed by the prevailing political sentiments of the time. As the world transitioned into the post-war era, the consequences of ignoring Patton’s warnings would become increasingly apparent, shaping the geopolitical landscape for decades to come.

In the years following the war, the divide between East and West solidified, leading to the onset of the Cold War. Patton’s insights into the Soviet threat and his belief in the necessity of confronting it would resonate in military and political discussions for years. His legacy as a military strategist remains, but his warnings serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities of leadership and the importance of heeding foresight in times of uncertainty. Patton’s tragic fate, marked by his untimely death in a car accident in December 1945, left many to wonder what might have been had his warnings been taken seriously.