An Analysis of Misrepresentations in Historical War Movies
War movies, while often thrilling and engaging, frequently misrepresent historical events. This article explores notable inaccuracies in two pivotal movies: 'The Longest Day' and 'Patton'. The focus is on misrepresentations surrounding the Omaha Beach invasion and General Patton's portrayal.
Omaha Beach: Misleading Tank Losses
The battle of Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, is perhaps most famously depicted in movies like 'The Longest Day' and 'Saving Private Ryan', where it is inaccurately shown that the Americans lost 90 of their DD (Duplex Drive) tanks in the surf. However, upon closer examination, this claim is significantly overstated. In reality, only about 50 Sherman tanks, part of the 741st Tank Battalion, engaged in battle on the beach.
The presence of these tanks was significant and would have been a crucial detail in any accurate depiction of the assault. Yet, in the aforementioned films, the focus is largely on soldiers running in chaotic scenes, with no indication of the organized tank attacks. What this overlooks is that these armoured vehicles were indeed playing a crucial role in weakening German defenses along the shore.
Robert Capa's Photography
The events on D-Day were captured by renowned war photographer Robert Capa, who documented the event through his dual lenses. One of his notable pictures depicts two Deep Water fording Shermans and one DD-drive Sherman. These photographs challenge the common portrayal of a total loss of tanks in the surf, showing that many Shermans did make it to the beach and engage in combat. Moreover, his work provides evidence that the presence of tanks was indeed a significant part of the battle.
Patton Movie: Dramatic License in Portrayal
What truthful portrayal, particularly in cinema, could be without some creative liberties? However, the extent to which these liberties are taken in 'Patton' significantly deviates from the historical facts. In the film, there is a scene where George S. Patton, General of the Armies, is shown arriving on a beach scene filled with dead American soldiers and abandoned equipment. However, in actuality, the Americans were initially pushed back, but they soon regrouped and held their ground, subsequently driving the Germans out.
Tank Depiction in 'Patton'
'Patton' also erroneously portrays the tanks as being made from different fuel types, with the American tanks supposedly combusting while the German tanks did not. This is historically inaccurate. Both American and German tanks used gasoline, and fires were predominantly caused by ammunition stored in the hulls igniting. The German Panzer IV tanks shared the same fire risk as American Sherman tanks.
Patton's Timelines and Strategies
A prominent scene in 'Patton' shows Patton reacting to a message from his superior, General Alexander, instructing him to halt operations and not advance past Agrigento. While this scene introduces dramatic tension, in reality, Patton's staff may have deliberately delayed informing him of the message, exploiting its ambiguity as a motivational tool. Similar to this, when Patton arrives in France, he is not yet under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery. The tension in the relationship is a crucial element of the academic narrative but simplistically portrayed for cinematic effect.
Conclusion
Both 'The Longest Day' and 'Patton' have taken some creative liberties with the historical facts to enhance storytelling and dramatic impact. While this can be expected in the entertainment industry, viewers should be aware that these depictions are often romanticized and do not reflect the full complexity of the actual events. Understanding these distortions is important for appreciating the accuracy and the compromises underlying historical depictions in cinema.
Additional References
[1] - D-Day Normandy
[2] Patton (1970 film) - Wikipedia
[3] Robert Capa - Biography and Photographs
[4] Montgomery, Bernard - Biography and Contributions