Patton Pissing in the Rhine?

George S. Patton crossed the Rhine in March 1945 at Oppenheim, south of Frankfurt. While still on the pontoon bridge, the irrepressible American general heard the call of nature – and answered it.

And he was supposedly photographed doing so.

“Time out for a short halt to take a piss in the Rhine” was how Patton proclaimed his intentions, according to military historian and biographer Carlo D’Este. And the general then did what he said he would do.

D’Este notes that only “a single (unpublished) photograph exists of Patton urinating in the Rhine.”

This photograph, with Patton, left, apparently in classical army-approved urinating position, is often reproduced in contexts suggesting that the supposedly unpublished photograph (D’Este’s biography of Patton was published in 1995) has since been published. But it leaves open the question, as the British would say, ‘Where’s Willie?’

Better than a fire hydrant

Willie with some of his master’s belongings after Patton was killed in a road accident in December, 1945.

Willie is, of course, Patton’s beloved terrier whom the General described as his “second in command.”

And this Willie’s willie also used urination to make a personal statement. Patton had given Willie a bust of Hitler expressly for the dog to pee on.

As for Patton on the pontoon bridge, maybe my eyesight is declining, but if the dog has been there on the pontoon, I think I would be seeing only one Willie.

And why is the soldier with the camera turned away from the main event? Did Patton do a Churchill and give a no-pictures order?

19 thoughts on “Patton Pis

    1. Marilyn Pratt

      Obviously stories abound. My dad was Photo Lab Chief of 10th photographic Recon and also was a WWII photographer, one of Patton’s many photographers during his “stay” in Germany, Have dozens more pictures of the period including signed. Would love to know who your great uncle was….- I’m reachable at marhazen[at]gmail.com

      Reply
  1. Andrew Urquhart

    My grandfather Howard E. Lee told me that there was a “Pissing in the Rhine” club in the US Army in that location at the time. The rule of membership was that you to join you had to show your (dis)respect to Germany by urinating in the Rhine. Even the female nurses were joining. General Patton wanted his membership card. My grandfather was apparently in charge of the membership cards that day and insisted that the General had to earn his membership just like everyone else. So General Patton decided he would earn his membership but in style from the middle of the bridge and not just from the river bank. General Patton then got his membership card.

    Reply
  2. J R Carmichael

    I saw this picture back in the mid 70’s before Al Gore invented the internet. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Matt

      It’s not – I was hoping as well. It’s been kept in a safe so I only looked at the back once . He wouldn’t have put ‘general’ if he wrote it. I’m guessing the vet noted it

      Reply
  3. Matt

    You guys are correct – I believe the ‘general Patton’ on the back was written by the vet. Either way it’s very cool and pics are coming . It is not a print – that I know for a fact . Anymore info you can give me once the pics are posted would be great . I know lots of prints were given but how about these? Etc

    Reply
  4. Geo

    Signed by Patton? Sounds fake because thousands of these were produced. If it can be authenticated that’s another story. But the ones with the army signal corps are the ones that have some value.
    I don’t know much at all about these, you would have to speak with a war memorabilia person. Good luck.

    Reply
    1. Matt

      Yes- it’s been authenticated by PSA DNA out of California . Can I post photos on here ? [note from editor – we are working on posting Matt’s photos]

      Reply
  5. Matt

    I have an original certified copy of this photo- one of the originals given to the troops. Any idea of the worth?

    Reply
  6. G. E. A.

    My understanding is the ones with the stamp on the back are more valuable to collectors. Mine does not have the stamp.
    GEA

    Reply
  7. George Alexandre

    I ACTUALLY HAVE THIS PHOTO, THOUGH IT IS BLACK & WHITE, NOT COLOR. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN MULTIPLES DISTRIBUTED, MY ONLY GUESS IS THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOME TYPE OF MORALE THING FOR THE TROOPS. MY DAD, WHO WAS IN THE NAVY DURING WWII, SAID HE WAS GIVEN A COPY BY A SAILOR OR SOLDIER. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS??

    Reply
    1. Ron

      Regarding Patton pissing in the Rhein.
      I had a friend who was in the Heavy Bridge Engineer outfit (Michigan & Indiana guys, if I recall correctly) that put up that bridge.
      He kept an original photo in his vehicle, and loved to show it off.
      Always said he was right there at the time. He also said the next day the publicity guys came by with
      thousands of copies (Actually he said 10,000) all red rubber stamped on the back (Not for Distribution)
      and passed them out to the soldiers. Ha!
      I was stationed right near there in the Combat Engineers 21 years later, and know the place.

      Reply
  8. Ken Brenner

    My Uncle Arthur Cottrell is the man standing behind Gen. Patton.
    His hand is on his right hip.
    Before he died, Uncle Art confirmed this happened.
    He also told me the photographer looked him up after the war and gave him a copy of the picture.

    Reply
      1. Homer klotkowski

        My 2nd unc GEORGE BUNIACH WAS ALSO A PARTY DAY PISSING FOR THIS ONE AND PATTON I HAVE BEEN TOLD AGREED THAT THE SAME SISSY PISTOL WAS IF YOU KNOW PATTON,LOL BUT I WISH I WAS ABLE TO GET PICS OF 10,15ish, DEVILS Nz baggy pants that was my grandpa at Edward Klotkowski,as we’re told terrified named the group and I am proud of.homedizz

        Reply

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