Table of Contents
PRAISE FOR TARGET: PATTON
Robert Wilcoxs Target: Patton has enough twists and turns to satisfy the most demanding murder-mystery fan with the added bonus of historical possibility. Populated with legendary real-life characters, Wilcox introduces the world to Douglas Bazata: a man of action as improbably true as Lawrence of Arabia. With a screenwriters gift for picture images and a military historians discipline for detail, Wilcox peels back the decades to the chaotic final chords of World War II and the opening act of the Cold War by asking the heretofore unanswered question: was General George S. Patton murdered?
DOUG MCINTYRE, KABC Radio/Los Angeles Daily News
Target: Patton is a terrific book investigating the mysterious death of one of Americas greatest military heroes: General George S. Patton, Jr. Reporter Robert Wilcox takes the reader into the mystery: from Pattons suspicious car crash in Occupied Germany in 1945 to his unexpected death two weeks later, bringing to light new evidence and raising serious questions, all of which makes for a fascinating read.
PAUL E. VALLELY, Major General, U.S. Army (Ret.),
Chairman, Stand Up America USA
Co-author of Endgame: The Blueprint for Victory in the War on Terror
I am most surprised to learn in Robert Wilcoxs highly readable book that there is a reasonable doubt and more that George Pattons death in Germany in December 1945 was not the result of a car crash but possibly foul play by hired assassins. Certainly there was motive and opportunity, but was there method? Over the years, I had heard a version of this tale based upon German villainy, but never with the detail and matter-of-fact persuasion in Target: Patton. I dont know if he was murdered, but I am no longer sure he wasnt. Exhume the corpse. End the debate.
JOHN BATCHELOR, host WABC, WMAL, KSFO, KFI
To Bego
INTRODUCTION
Almost since the day General George S. Patton, Jr. died, there have been persistent rumors that he was murdered. Not just murdered, thoughassassinated. It has been repeated relentlessly that he was killed because he was hated by his superior officers due to jealousy and fear. Jealousy of him because he was, in fact, the best general in the United States Army. Fear of him because they thought he was going to expose many of the cowardly, incompetent, and corrupt things done by the Allied High Command during World War II. If that were not enough, there have been persistent claims that the Russians were also trying to assassinate him because Stalin hated him.
Robert K. Wilcox has taken on a major story in his quest for the truth of the matter. One thing is for certain in Mr. Wilcoxs book: he has obviously worked for years on this project and has done a great deal of homework concerning this issue. His research and story are highly detailed and comprehensive. The book is thoroughly researched and well written. It is a story of intrigue, deceit, obfuscations, and politics (both civil and military).
Does Mr. Wilcox find the trail to the truth? Does he prove his assertions? Well, the thing is... if I tell that, I will be giving away the entire story, and I certainly cant do that. It will be up to the reader to decide for himself once he has read this worthwhile book. It is, indeed, a good read.
Charles M. Province
The George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society
17010 S. Potter Road
Oregon City OR 97045
http://www.pattonhq.com
CAST OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS AND SOURCES
ALLEN, Colonel Robert S.World War II Patton aide, author, and journalist
ANDREW, Christopherprofessor, author who has written on Soviet assassination
ANGELApseudonym for Joe Scruces (aka Spruce) daughter
AYER, Fred, Jr.Pattons nephew and FBI agent in charge of the bureaus European operations during World War II
BABALAS, Lieutenant Peter K.Military policeman who was one of the first at the scene of Pattons accident on December 9, 1945
BALL, Colonel Lawrence C.commander of 130th Station Hospital, Heidelberg, where General Patton was taken after his December 9, 1945 accident on December 9, 1945
BANDERA, StepanUkrainian nationalist leader and one of three important sources who informed Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent Stephen Skubik that General Patton was on a Soviet hit list
BAZATA, Douglas deWittformer OSS Jedburgh agent who claimed involvement in a plot to assassinate General Patton
BAZATA, Marie-PierreDouglas Bazatas wife
BENTLEY, ElizabethU.S.-born NKVD spy who first blew the whistle to the FBI about extensive Soviet spying during World War II in America
BILLINGTON, JoyWashington, D.C. journalist who wrote about Bazata
BLUMENSON, Martinauthor, Patton historian
BRADLEY, General OmarGeneral Pattons contemporary and immediate boss as Patton commanded the Third Army in France and Germany
BREINDEL, Ericauthor, journalist who has written on Soviet espionage
CAIRNS, Brigadier HughBritish neurosurgeon who first attended General Patton at the 130th Station Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
CAVE-BROWN, Anthonyauthor, Donovan biographer
CHURCHILL, WinstonPrime minister of Britain and one of the Allied Big Three leaders
CICCounter Intelligence Corps, an army intelligence agency in World War II
COBB, General Nicholas B.mentioned by General Gay as arriving at the scene of the December 9, 1945 accident and helping out
COLBY, William Billformer OSS Jedburgh agent and Bazata friend who later became head of the CIA
CURRAN, Majorsoldier mentioned by General Gay as being one of the first on the scene of Pattons accident
DAVIDOV, General Alexander M (aka Davidow, Davidoff)Soviet chief of repatriation in post-war Germany and Soviet spymaster believed by CICs Stephen Skubik to have been involved in General Pattons death
DESTE, Carloauthor, historian, Patton biographer
DECRESCENZO, Sergeant Armandosaid to have arrived at the accident scene with three other soldiers
DONOVAN, General William J. Wild Billhead of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the U.S.s World War II spy agency, forerunner to the CIA
DUGGAN, LaurenceState Department official who spied for the NKVD
EISENHOWER, General Dwight D.Supreme Allied Commander in Europe later to become president of the United States
FARAGO, LadislasHungarian-born former U.S. naval intelligence officer, author, and historian who was the first to write on Pattons accident using interviews extensively with eyewitnesses and visiting the site
FITIN, General Pavel M.
