On Dec. 9, 1945 in Mannheim, Germany, a military truck collided with General George S. Patton's car and the seriously injured General was taken to Heidelberg Hospital where he died Dec. 21, 1945.
Mystery Surrounds Death of General George S. Patton
Rumors claimed that General Patton, the commander of the U.S. 7th Army during WWII, had been assassinated. Some even hinted that the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) was involved.
The General had his share of enemies. He was overly strict with his soldiers, couldn't stand it if they appeared weak or cried. He even slapped a soldier who was in "shell shock" in the hospital because he assumed the soldier was trying to slough off his responsibilities and accused him of being a coward.
Patton was brusque and critical of others, even those over him. He had several run-ins with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, his superior, and at one point, Eisenhower relieved him of his duty.
Rumors say that Patton was killed because he was going to tell the people back home that the U.S. leaders didn't treat the Nazis and German citizens appropriately.
Regardless of his lack of diplomacy, etc., Patton was a gifted warrior and strategist (evident in the Battle of the Bulge where he drove the Germans east across the Rhine River).
