2 more divas: Patton vs. Marlene Dietrich

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, June 17, 2010 - 10:48 AM Share

You'd think that two World War II divas like George S. Patton and Marlene Dietrich would get along, but I guess they suffered from irreconcilable similarities.  From the diary entry for November 5, 1944: "Had Marlene Dietrich and her troupe for lunch. Very low comedy, almost an insult to human intelligence."

Marlenedetrich.org.uk

EXPLORE:GENERAL PATTON, FUN STUFF, HISTORY
 

WHISKEYPAPA

3:18 PM ET

June 17, 2010

Diekirch

Patton was a snob, no doubt about that.

I read a couple of years ago a terrific book called "Alamo in the Ardennes" about the defense by 28th ID against the initial left wing German attack in the Battle of The Bulge.

Turns out that Marlene Dietrich was actually right behind the U.S. lines entertaining U.S. troops in Diekirch, Luxembourg the night 15 December, 1944.

Walt

 

TYRTAIOS

4:09 PM ET

June 17, 2010

and who rescued her?

. . . .and guess who organized and lead the rescue party Old Whiskey? Why David Niven of course!

 

JPWREL

3:35 PM ET

June 17, 2010

Playing doctor

As I understand it John Wayne personally gave her the required physical examination before she left on the USO tour!

 

TYRTAIOS

4:11 PM ET

June 17, 2010

The Duke or the Pop

You say it was the Duke eh JPWREL? I would have though it was the Pop. . . .Joe Kennedy.

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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