"Patton": A Salute to a Rebel - Part Two Quiz

Answer: Crete

The first scene out of the Intermission shows Patton giving a speech to the French citizens on Corsica, with his aide, Lt. Colonel Charles Codman (Paul Stevens) translating the speech for reporters (and for us). The next time we see him, Patton is on Malta, giving a tour of the ruins there.

The Malta scene ends with Patton telling Codman "Let's get on to Cairo, see if the pyramids are still standing." Unknown to him at the time, Patton was being used as a decoy for the Germans to follow, while the Allied forces were making final preparations for Operation: Overlord (a.k.a. the Invasion of Normandy).

Answer: Yes

When the Germans get wind of Patton's trip to Malta, General Jodl immediately assumes that he is there to set up a base, and plan an invasion via southern Greece.
Then, when Patton heads to Cairo, Jodl is on the phone, urging for reinforcements along the Greek coast, because Patton must be there to hold a conference with the exiled rulers of Greece and Yugoslavia.
In other words, the decoy worked beautifully!

Answer: True

When Captain Steiger approaches Jodl with the news of the "slapping incident," adding that Patton may even be court-martialed, Jodl scoffs at him and says "You believe their newspapers? Would they sacrifice their best commander because he slapped a soldier?"

Answer: Yes

When Patton finally reaches London, General Smith arrives to discuss a plan "in connection with the Normandy invasion." When Patton reaches for his briefcase to go over what he felt were "flaws" in the plan, Smith stops him cold:
"Please, will you just listen, for a change? Remember, Ike stood by you when everyone, and I mean everyone, wanted Patton with a rope around his neck!"

Answer: Commander of a decoy unit

Patton is granted command of a fictional unit, comprised of 12 divisions, complete with dummy vehicles and fake radio traffic. General Smith then told Patton that he is "on probation" and that he'll be moved to Knutsford soon.
NOTE -- The dummy units that Patton "commanded" were highly effective. The Germans knew an invasion was coming, but, thanks to the Allies' disinformation regarding Patton, they incorrectly assumed it would be at Calais, the shortest distance across the English Channel from England.

Answer: He failed to mention the Russians

Though he had been promised that no reporters would be there, apparently at least one managed to slip in and take note of Patton's speech. While addressing the crowd, Patton says "it is the evident destiny of the British and Americans to rule the world." With this statement, Patton once again finds himself in hot water, as newsreels denounce him as hating the Russians (who were a member of a Allied Forces). By the way, Patton really did not like the Russians.

In the scene with General Smith following the newsreel, he says that if any Russians were there, he would've mentioned them out of politeness, but he still didn't like them.

Answer: Yes

En route to France in a cargo plane, Patton tells Col. Codman to remind him whenever he slips up and fails to "play the game." Later, as he and General Bradley go over some plans, Patton promises to behave himself. He then learns that Ike had kept him in suspense regarding his next assignment. Immediately, he says "Why that dirty son-- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I promised to keep my mouth shut."

Answer: Cobra

Operation: Cobra called for an end-run down the St. Lo-Pierre Road, complete with saturation bombing, while Monty kept the enemy at bay in Caen.
NOTE - On the DVD, the subtitles use "Cannes" instead of "Caen". Both have similar pronunciations, but Caen is located near the Normandy peninsula, while Cannes (home of the world-famous film festival) is on the southern coast of the country.

Answer: 30 miles

Now given command of 3rd Army, Patton begins his drive across France toward Germany. After reading the headline of a "Stars & Stripes" that says "Third Army Bags 20,000 Germans", Bradley commends Patton's command with this remark. Meanwhile, at the German bunker, the casutalties start to mount up.

Answer: Monty is to attack the V-2 bases

Bradley tells Patton that Monty needs the fuel and supplies to attack the V-2 rocket bases because the Germans have been killing more English civilians with the rockets than Allied soldiers in combat. Patton, noting the apparent lack of German resistance, tries to tell Bradley that, with enough fuel, he could stop the V-2 attacks by punching all the way to Berlin.

Unfortunately, there was nothing either one could do about it.

Answer: Americans

The next morning, Patton and Codman arrive to survey the battle site. Patton finds a captain, who tells him the fighting ended not too long ago. Toward the end, there was no ammunition left on either side, and the fighting became hand-to-hand.

Answer: True

Noting that their supplies were low, the weather was bad, and that the Germans hadn't launched a major winter offensive since the days of Frederick the Great, Patton felt a major winter attack was exactly what the Germans were planning to do.

Answer: St. Vith, to Malmedy

Patton: "All right, I want you to start making contingency plans for pulling out of our eastward attack, changing directions 90 degrees, moving up to Luxembourg. Don't look so stunned, gentlemen."
He then orders plans for pushing north from Dunkirk, Arlen, and Neufchatel. St. Vith and Malmedy are names of towns seen during the advance of the Germans.

Answer: 48 hours

Everyone thinks he is mad for making such a bold statement, but Patton calmly says his staff is already working the details and that he trained his men, so he knows they can do it.

Answer: Nuts

En route to Bastogne, a colonel walks up to Patton's jeep and relays the news about General McAuliffe to him. In response, Patton laughs and says "Keep them moving, Colonel. A man that eloquent has to be saved."
When Patton kept his word and relieved the 101st at Bastogne, it was the pinnacle in Patton's military campaign in Europe. In the movie, as he watches the men march, he expresses the pride he has in his men for pulling off this attack under such harsh conditions.

Answer: True

Patton does have the drink, but not because of Germany's surrender. Only when he and the Russian general come to (what I will politely call) a mutual understanding of each other do they drink together.

Answer: Having his portrait painted

The statement was taken completely out of context, but the press ate it up anyway. In truth, he was asked if it was true that most Germans joined the Nazi Party the same way Americans became Democrats and Republicans. Patton simply answered "Yes, that's about it." Apparently, it was enough to throw the good general back into trouble!

Answer: False

As Patton leaves 3rd Army, Monty has an audience with the King of England, who promotes him to Chief of the Imperial General Staff. These are certainly different endings for both Patton and Monty.

Answer: Yes

General Bradley: "George, I want to say thing. You've done a magnificent job here, in Europe." [Patton shies away slightly.] "That's right, George. I think that soldier you slapped back there in Sicily did more to win the war than any other private in the Army."

Answer: All glory is fleeting

As Patton walks his dog at the end of the movie, his voiceover recalls the return of a conquering warrior to Rome: "For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of a triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts, laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes, his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning, that all glory is fleeting."

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