Who was cooler: Patton or MacArthur?

[Starred109]

Just wanted to ask a question here, who do y'all think was the more badass American general? Douglas Macarthur or George Patton? I'm going with Patton.

[Root]

Just reading the topic headline made me think for a moment if it was the M60 Patton vs the USS MacArthur.

[MaDeuce]

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

Originalmente postado por Starred109:

Just wanted to ask a question here, who do y'all think was the more badass American general? Douglas Macarthur or George Patton? I'm going with Patton.

When Americans flood the forums and compliment each other on how amazing their generals and country is.............THIS is usually the moment when I know it's getting late and time for bed. lol

So sad.

Like, I am not here to fight you or troll you or something. It's just that this is an international forum with players from all around the world, to ask specifically for American generals automatically excludes everyone who is not American as it is rather unlikely that someone from Italy, Japan, Russia, France, Norway, Germany and so on and on will have much of an opinion (or maybe a negative one) on Patton and MacArthur.

Whining about Americans and their discussion of things that apparently don't interest you, and then claiming that you're not here to fight or troll is amusing. Like you said, it's an international forum, you don't have to feel like you should be included in every topic.

[shadain597]

Originalmente postado por Silent:

As for Erwin Rommel, I still can't fathom why people actually like him, considering he was a complete piece of ♥♥♥♥. He got to where he was because he turned a blind eye to the atrocities Germany committed. Every action he took regardless of if he believed it or not lead to more atrocities.

I think pretty much everyone can agree that he was working for an evil regime and his actions helped expand that regime. The vast majority of people impressed by him are only considering his record as an impressive tactician. Nobody is claiming he was a humanitarian or should be considered for sainthood.

Also, the nickname "Desert Fox" is pretty darn catchy.

[Silent]

Originalmente postado por shadain597:

Originalmente postado por Silent:

As for Erwin Rommel, I still can't fathom why people actually like him, considering he was a complete piece of ♥♥♥♥. He got to where he was because he turned a blind eye to the atrocities Germany committed. Every action he took regardless of if he believed it or not lead to more atrocities.

I think pretty much everyone can agree that he was working for an evil regime and his actions helped expand that regime. The vast majority of people impressed by him are only considering his record as an impressive tactician. Nobody is claiming he was a humanitarian or should be considered for sainthood.

Also, the nickname "Desert Fox" is pretty darn catchy.

If we're talking about him as a tactician, then that's fine, but I've run across a lot of people, especially on WW2 game forums, that like to paint him as a victim of the Nazi party.

[flyboymb]

I have two indirect connections with Patton.

The first was my late godfather, who served under Patton in WWII. One of the few souveniers he kept aside from his dress uniform was a citation for $2 signed by Patton himself for his hair being out of regs.

The second was a (fortunately) brief stint in the 180th Infantry battalion (now styling themselves as cav). During WWII, Patton gave a fiery speech extoling to brutally fight and take no prisoners. A few of the 180th took that to heart and used Thompsons to mow down Italians who had already surrendered. Patton's response was something along the line of 'bruh, that wasn't supposed to be literal'. The 180th... hasn't changed much since the 1940's.

I will say this of Patton. He had a unique way of firing up his troops because he was not a gentleman nor did he speak like one as most officers did. He spoke on the grunt's level and was able to motivate them as few leaders could with a simple speech.

[OcGuy]

Patton, because he's a madlad

[ʥ]

"Patton was a hero, he dreamed of liberating Europe from the communists but little did he know the communists had already infiltrated DC and London, and in fact, were there all along. It is my opinion he was assassinated."

You are a real american hero, dude. Now, take your pills, plz.
This is not political forum, dude. Im sure u know. Let your conspiracies and the tin foil hat out.

[shadain597]

Originalmente postado por Silent:

Originalmente postado por shadain597:

I think pretty much everyone can agree that he was working for an evil regime and his actions helped expand that regime. The vast majority of people impressed by him are only considering his record as an impressive tactician. Nobody is claiming he was a humanitarian or should be considered for sainthood.

Also, the nickname "Desert Fox" is pretty darn catchy.

If we're talking about him as a tactician, then that's fine, but I've run across a lot of people, especially on WW2 game forums, that like to paint him as a victim of the Nazi party.

Well, the information I've seen regarding his opinions and the actions he actively participated in/condoned seems pretty contradictory. Some historians seem to paint him as a "chivalrous" soldier and others condemn him as just another Nazi eager to toe the party line.

IMO both of those options are a bit too black-and-white, but clearly he was willing to be an asset to the Third Reich and he HAD to have known about at least some of the atrocities going on.

[michaelthered]

gen pershing

[სულიკო]

i choose rasputin

[burg4401]

I hate to say it as an english man but I agree with Imperatus:, Napoleon.

Napoleon changed Europe and because of that the world,
he changed France (which is still a pain in our bums),
he changed the way we fight wars,
and more.

oh and he was French so of course he was cool.

bloody french......hehehe.

[Tiberius]

Originalmente postado por Silent:

Neither. They're both terrible people. Read up on their actions taken against the Bonus Army after WW1 during the Great Depression.

As for Erwin Rommel, I still can't fathom why people actually like him, considering he was a complete piece of ♥♥♥♥. He got to where he was because he turned a blind eye to the atrocities Germany committed. Every action he took regardless of if he believed it or not lead to more atrocities.

Favorite General: None.

Do you have any sources about what you say about Rommel? I honestly want to know about it as I have never heard that Rommel turned blind eyes on atrocities as he was eventually executed pretty much for NOT doing what Hitler says. So hard to believe just like that.

Originalmente postado por Starred109:

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

I am not frustrated at all, it is just that if you see certain types of a certain pattern of posts mostly created by U.S Americans, you just become fed up by reading it and eventually end up sharing your opinion, which usually does not change a thing anyway. LOL.

You could have just asked " What do you think, is the most badass general ?" This way everyone could add their fair share of opinion.

In regards to your topic question: I don't like Patton, because he was an anti-semite and believed the NSDAP to be a normal political party. About MacArthur, I dislike him because of various major mistakes during the Korea war and his attitude during WW2 in Japan.
I have to pass. My favourite general is Erwin Rommel, Stauffenberg (Although not a general) and Napoleon as he is just plain impressive and a strategic genius as well as a man of culture.

Unfortunately I am only allowed to choose between " two American heroes ". lmao.

Have a good day Sir.

I respect your opinion, neither general was perfect, but then again, nobody is truly perfect, all humans are born with a certain about of positive and negative traits about themselves.

Yes but Anti-Semitism and war crimes isn't something that can be overlooked or something we can talk down by saying " Everyone has something negative and positive ".

I did not commit war crimes nor am I hating against Jews or other groups, something negative I might have is that I am impatient or can sometimes be a bit of an a.....
But we are talking about atrocities here. I mean come on, by this statement even Hitler is kind of a nice guy in your eyes or what? These dudes pulled off some very bad stuff.

Neither Patton nor MacArthur are good guys, they are very bad men and just because they are hyped by American history books and hollywood does not make their acts and what they stand for any less negative, lol.

[shadain597]

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

Do you have any sources about what you say about Rommel? I honestly want to know about it as I have never heard that Rommel turned blind eyes on atrocities as he was eventually executed pretty much for NOT doing what Hitler says. So hard to believe just like that.

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

I did not commit war crimes nor am I hating against Jews or other groups, something negative I might have is that I am impatient or can sometimes be a bit of an a.....
But we are talking about atrocities here. I mean come on, by this statement even Hitler is kind of a nice guy in your eyes or what? These dudes pulled off some very bad stuff.

Neither Patton nor MacArthur are good guys, they are very bad men and just because they are hyped by American history books and hollywood does not make their acts and what they stand for any less negative, lol.

Wait, what? You give Rommel a free pass but Patton and MacArthur are "bad men?"

@Silent
Well, looks like you were right.

[Tiberius]

Originalmente postado por shadain597:

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

Do you have any sources about what you say about Rommel? I honestly want to know about it as I have never heard that Rommel turned blind eyes on atrocities as he was eventually executed pretty much for NOT doing what Hitler says. So hard to believe just like that.

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

I did not commit war crimes nor am I hating against Jews or other groups, something negative I might have is that I am impatient or can sometimes be a bit of an a.....
But we are talking about atrocities here. I mean come on, by this statement even Hitler is kind of a nice guy in your eyes or what? These dudes pulled off some very bad stuff.

Neither Patton nor MacArthur are good guys, they are very bad men and just because they are hyped by American history books and hollywood does not make their acts and what they stand for any less negative, lol.

Wait, what? You give Rommel a free pass but Patton and MacArthur are "bad men?"

@Silent
Well, looks like you were right.

There is nothing such as a free pass. I just don't know about any war crimes nor anti-semitism in regards to Rommel.

As I already said, come up with some sources that support this claim. Thanks.

[Silent]

Originalmente postado por Imperatus:

Originalmente postado por Silent:

Neither. They're both terrible people. Read up on their actions taken against the Bonus Army after WW1 during the Great Depression.

As for Erwin Rommel, I still can't fathom why people actually like him, considering he was a complete piece of ♥♥♥♥. He got to where he was because he turned a blind eye to the atrocities Germany committed. Every action he took regardless of if he believed it or not lead to more atrocities.

Favorite General: None.

Do you have any sources about what you say about Rommel? I honestly want to know about it as I have never heard that Rommel turned blind eyes on atrocities as he was eventually executed pretty much for NOT doing what Hitler says. So hard to believe just like that.

Originalmente postado por Starred109:

I respect your opinion, neither general was perfect, but then again, nobody is truly perfect, all humans are born with a certain about of positive and negative traits about themselves.

Yes but Anti-Semitism and war crimes isn't something that can be overlooked or something we can talk down by saying " Everyone has something negative and positive ".

I did not commit war crimes nor am I hating against Jews or other groups, something negative I might have is that I am impatient or can sometimes be a bit of an a.....
But we are talking about atrocities here. I mean come on, by this statement even Hitler is kind of a nice guy in your eyes or what? These dudes pulled off some very bad stuff.

Neither Patton nor MacArthur are good guys, they are very bad men and just because they are hyped by American history books and hollywood does not make their acts and what they stand for any less negative, lol.

First poster in this thread shows, with sources, how terrible of a person Erwin Rommel was.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4tuviz/is_it_true_that_erwin_rommel_was_kind_to_his/

One poster pointed out one inaccuracy in it, but there's more stuff if you search for yourself.