The "weak point" of the famous General Patton

Everyone has heard of the great and headstrong General George S. Patton, who was an excellent tactician and one of the best generals in the U.S. Army.

He took part in both world wars, but was particularly prominent in the fight against the Nazis. Because of his grumpiness and stubbornness, he would probably have ended his military career early had he not had the innate strategic instincts and abilities that allowed him to make great decisions at crucial moments. His career lasted just under 50 years.

Some hated him, some loved him, but despite his peculiarity he had an empathic temper. His love for the English Bull Terrier breed began after the First World War, when young Patton acquired his first bull. Read more about this penchant for this breed, especially one dog, in this article.

One widow and one superfluous dog!

He was literally “crazy” about this breed, and Willie in question today was the last in a series of his bulls. The dog originally belonged to a Royal Air Force pilot in England, who sometimes went on air missions with his owner. Fortunately, he did not take action from which his original master did not return. His widow decided to get rid of the dog, which was then bought by Patton’s staff. It was the general's and Willie's mutual love at first sight.

Adored dog!

Patton's headquarters were located in the southeast of England on the eve of a key movement towards the liberation of much of European territory, and then according to Patton it was appropriate to name the dog after William I the Conqueror, who conquered England in the 11th century.

The two of them slept in the same bed, ate together and spent their days at work and outside. On one occasion, Willi even got into a fight under the festive table with another dog, which was not convenient because this one was Patton's superior. But everything went well for both dogs, and then for Patton.

Willie was with Patton and his tank corps during the liberation of much of Europe. At the time of approaching Berlin, they say that Patton said that he would personally shoot Hitler, and that he hopes because of his dog Will that Hitler will "return" as a hydrant. For those who don’t know Patton had distinctive beliefs, so he believed in reincarnation.

Patton's death and Willie's apathy!

General Patton was killed in a car accident in which his neck was broken, although it was rumored that it was also a rigged accident, which occurred in Germany in 1945. After the general's death, Willie was extremely anxious and listless. Along with all of Patton's belongings, he was sent to the general's family on his farm in Green Meadows, Massachusetts. Widow Beatrice adored dogs like her husband, so the dog spent the rest of his long life as an equal member of the general's family.

He also outlived Patton's wife!

Illustrator and Army Sergeant Bill Mauldin once remarked after meeting Patton and Willie that he had just faced the two most vicious pairs of eyes he had ever seen. People obviously experienced them very differently. Willi "joined" Patton at the age of thirteen in 1955. He also outlived Patton's widow Beatrice, after whom he was cared for by their daughters, and after his death he was buried in their tomb of bulls on the family farm. The farm is still owned by the general's family.

I will end with an appropriate, and perhaps comforting, saying for the Croatian population about dogs that goes like this:

"No matter how poor you are, if you have a dog - you are actually rich,"