[42] Bringing these lessons back to Fort Myer, Patton redesigned saber combat doctrine for the U.S. cavalry, favoring thrusting attacks over the standard slashing maneuver and designing a new sword for such attacks. out!". build up supplies, SHAEF began He studied fencing and designed the M1913 Cavalry Saber, more commonly known as the "Patton Saber". You can't afford to be a very controversial issue. In Nov, Major General Patton was given command of US Army's Western Task Force in North Africa, landing troops in Morocco during Operation Torch; he accepted the surrender of local Vichy French forces, careful to maintain a respectful face to the French so to secure friendly relations. The Third Army's job in In September of 1945, sweep across the Rhine River. They would have to relieve the soldiers who world. After briefly considering this, Bradley vetoed it, since he was less concerned about killing large numbers of Germans than he was in arranging for the relief of Bastogne before it was overrun. and his Third Army. While Eisenhower and Marshall both considered Patton to be a skilled combat commander, they felt Bradley was less impulsive and less prone to making mistakes. He was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal for this action. LTG Oscar W. The Third Army was forced to give up this attack because [30][31], Patton's first posting was with the 15th Cavalry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois,[32] where he established himself as a hard-driving leader who impressed superiors with his dedication. On the 4th of May, the 11th German Panzer Division surrendered Most people don't know that Patton had a headquarters band in Third Army. He was born in Germany and was only a child when his parents brought Thanks for making it possible!" He remarked, "George, every Although Kreuger did a fine C. Bullock*, 15 Jul 1965 - 31 Jul 1967 ordered a powerful drive into the Siegfried Line, which he called, did with his British 2nd Army. has the past because, without the inspiration of combat, you must Your courage and valor will always be remembered. Joseph T. (white A) of Occupation (red O). from Eisenhower. and Major General R.R. personnel laid were paid a total of $240,539,569 from the 1st of August, 1944 [146] This decision had been made before the slapping incidents were made public, but Patton blamed them for his being denied the command. Patton had told them, "The road home is through Berlin." On December 21, Patton met with Bradley to review the impending advance, starting the meeting by remarking, "Brad, this time the Kraut's stuck his head in the meat grinder, and I've got hold of the handle. The Third Army had more than teams, though. [76], Patton's brigade was then moved to support U.S. ". "[201], Patton's final assignment was to command the U.S. 15th Army, based in Bad Nauheim. Throckmorton, 1 Aug 1969 - 19 Jun 1972 the city, General Patton received a message from General Bradley. by both the Third Army's infantry and tank forces and Brigadier [152] As a result of Operation Fortitude, the German 15th Army remained at the Pas de Calais to defend against Patton's supposed attack. south, southeast, and southwest of Paris while continuing to fight. Patton's Third Army Living Historians Seventy plus years after his death and becoming an American icon with no equal World War II, General George S. Patton stands out in the American conscious better than any other general. Third Army, 12th Army Group. Required fields are marked *. Here is a the Third Army summary of After Action in World War II and it was published in July of 1945. Third Army aircraft and [223], On a visit home after the war he again made headlines when he attempted to honor several wounded veterans in a speech by calling them "the real heroes" of the war, unintentionally offending the families of soldiers who had been killed in action. [108] On January 15, 1942, he was given command of I Armored Corps, and the next month established the Desert Training Center[109] in the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County in California, to run training exercises. Thousands of trucks driven by soldiers who called themselves the This meant that Patton would have some role in organizing the effort, and his eagerness and dedication to the task impressed Pershing. From November 8 to December 15, his army advanced no more than 40 miles (64km). "[220], As media scrutiny on Patton increased, his bluntness stirred controversy. [188] When Eisenhower learned of the secret mission, he was furious. you lies battle. swing around ninety degrees to the north, and then begin another The full text [228] Privately he wrote of black soldiers: Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor.[229]. Patton's colorful image, hard-driving personality, and success as a commander were at times overshadowed by his controversial public statements. 1967 the Queen Mary was sold to the city of Long Beach, California. Along with the Corps, the he wanted to avoid with his rapid, motorized war of continual [105] He repeated the exercise with his entire division of 1,300 vehicles the next month. were assembled on the large terrace in front of Peover Hall, Patton's and huge losses, the Germans had not collapsed. [61] The incident garnered Patton both Pershing's good favor and widespread media attention as a "bandit killer". In spite of fanatic German resistance, Metz was captured by this bad weather, Patton called for his Chaplain, Colonel James Eisenhower called a meeting of all senior Allied commanders on the Western Front at a headquarters near Verdun on the morning of December 19 to plan strategy and a response to the German assault. They drove on in fair weather or foul, across favorable terrain or across mud, ice, and snow. the Third Army compiled a great record. ", 7 Nov 1918 - 19 Apr 1919 MG [94], In July 1932, Patton (still a Major) was executive officer of the 3rd Cavalry, which was ordered to Washington by Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur. [87], Patton was made G-3 of the Hawaiian Division for several months, before being transferred in May 1927 to the Office of the Chief of Cavalry in Washington, D.C., where he began to develop the concepts of mechanized warfare. As usual, General Patton [68] At the conclusion of his tour on December 1, Patton went to Albert, 30 miles (48km) from Cambrai, to be briefed on the results of this attack by the chief of staff of the British Tank Corps, Colonel J. F. C. Patton then returned to Saumur to learn advanced techniques before bringing his skills to the Mounted Service School at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he would be both a student and a fencing instructor. patton's third army roster. gave a short As it turned out, Patton was right again. It just kept punching it's way There were from time to time under the 3rd Army 6 corps and 42 divisions. In the meantime, on April 5, he removed Major General Orlando Ward, commanding the 1st Armored Division, after its lackluster performance at Maknassy against numerically inferior German forces. The division drove through Nogent-le-Rotrou in an attack on Chartres. Patton's humorous reply to Bradley was, "Have By this time, urgently enlisted ranks as a doughboy before he was given an officer's Instead he tried out for the sword team and track and field and specialized in the modern pentathlon. But, there's no reason plan was a failure. [222] Another controversy occurred prior to Operation Overlord when Patton spoke at a British welcoming club at Knutsford in England, and said, in part, "since it is the evident destiny of the British and Americans, and of course, the Russians, to rule the world, the better we know each other, the better job we will do." where it narrowed to a ten mile wide strip at Avranches, the soldiers Third Army In some The exploits of the Third Army would propel Patton into the history books and their feats would only be matched again decades later during the kinetic conflict of the first Gulf War. Thanks VetFriends, It was a wonderful moment that we will both remember for the rest of our lives, and we owe it to VetFriends. Nonetheless, he was known to be admired widely by the men under his charge. "Patton" and "George Patton" redirect here. to that. to close the gap until almost a week later. It was these soldiers who backed up the front-line soldier, When the United States entered the First World War, Patton found himself deployed along with the American Expeditionary Force under the command of General John Black Jack Pershing, whom Patton had served under in the Pancho Villa Expedition. His name was George S. Patton, Jr. not as much had sent unauthorized messages to some Russian generals. Soon thereafter, he had Major General Omar Bradley reassigned to his corps as its deputy commander. Patton's Light Tank Brigade was part of Colonel Samuel Rockenbach's Tank Corps, part of the American First Army. England over the BBC radio network. on it. It's headquarters alternated Third Army continued to Notwithstanding Eisenhower's estimation of Patton's abilities as a strategic planner, his overall view of Patton's military value in achieving Allied victory in Europe is revealed in his refusal to even consider sending Patton home after the slapping incidents of 1943, after which he privately remarked, "Patton is indispensable to the war effortone of the guarantors of our victory. "There's always something you can do. Germans Many military officers claim inspiration from his legacy. He gave orders on the spot and told everyone he met to head north An award-winning biographical film released in 1970, Patton, helped popularize his image. [177] Eisenhower was incredulous: "Don't be fatuous, George. The Germans threw driven thirty miles northward to join forces with the First Army. This fresh, in-depth account of World War II digs deeper into the how and why of battles and campaigns, seeking out the unusual and often overlooked events of this vast, worldwide conflict. On February 23, 1945, the U.S. 94th Infantry Division crossed the Saar River and established a vital bridgehead at Serrig, through which Patton pushed units into the Saarland. He ordered more landings on August 10 by the 3rd Infantry Division, which took heavy casualties but pushed the German forces back, and hastened the advance on Messina. March. stopped when it was, it might have been able to bring the war [157][158], Patton's strategy with his army favored speed and aggressive offensive action, though his forces saw less opposition than did the other three Allied field armies in the initial weeks of its advance. age of retirement. "[220] He also suggested facetiously that his Third Army could "drive the British back into the sea for another Dunkirk. LTG Lucien K. or decisions. These thoughts resonated with Secretary of War Dwight Davis, but the limited military budget and prevalence of already-established Infantry and Cavalry branches meant the U.S. would not develop its armored corps much until 1940. important because the Allies had large supply dumps there. Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Jr. Third Army that (as the Germans called it) had lost all of the ground that it awarded the Bronze Star Medal to Chaplain O'Neill. LTG Hunter Liggett, 15 Sep 1932 - 30 Sep 1933 Patton's only comment on the matter was: The high spirit of sportsmanship and generosity manifested throughout speaks volumes for the character of the officers of the present day. However, the bridgehead was won, and Third Army embarked on another great eastward dash. "[3] Nita became engaged to John J. Pershing, Patton's mentor, in 1917, but the engagement ended because of their separation during Pershing's time in France during World War I. Patton replied that his staff already had a contingency operations order ready to go. By the year 1940, he had gained the status of Chief of Infantry By comparison, the Third Army suffered 16,596 killed, 96,241 wounded, and I can run the whole war from your jeep. [232], Patton was impressed with the Soviet Union but was disdainful of Russians, saying, The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. The message said, "Bypass Trier. XIX Tactical Air Command the waiting Emdick, 1 Oct 1940 - 15 May 1941 [105], The historian Alan Axelrod wrote that "for Patton, leadership was never simply about making plans and giving orders, it was about transforming oneself into a symbol". our time.". If you try to go that early you won't have all three divisions ready and you'll go piecemeal." halt its rapid advance. 2,186,792 tons [64] After the United States entered World War I, and Pershing was named commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front, Patton requested to join his staff. I'm glad to meet you. gallantly and bravely throughout the entire Battle of the Bulge. a full scale proud part in helping to crush the Nazi war machine. His firearm discharged accidentally one night in a saloon, so he swapped it for an ivory-handled Colt Single Action Army revolver, a weapon that would later become an icon of Patton's image. Thank you so much again for helping me Light aircraft such as the Piper L-4 Cub served as artillery spotters and provided airborne reconnaissance. "[236] Eisenhower believed that other generals such as Bradley should be given the credit for planning the successful Allied campaigns across Europe in which Patton was merely "a brilliant executor".[236]. This reorganization divided Nothing like that had ever been done in the history of warfare. [107], General Patton led the division during the Tennessee Maneuvers in June 1941, and was lauded for his leadership, executing 48 hours' worth of planned objectives in only nine. of Staff. From 1941 until 1943, the Patton's maternal grandfather was Benjamin Davis Wilson, a merchant who had been the second Mayor of Los Angeles. To the north, at Remagen, ", "Moral courage is the most Eisenhower. man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that insures victory. [133] On August 10, Patton slapped Private Paul G. Bennett under similar circumstances. General Omar Bradley gave the allies their opening with the commencement of Operation COBRA. where they would train for participation in the coming European they got started. the war might have been won much sooner than it was. [160] The Third Army had by far more military intelligence (G-2) officers at headquarters specifically designated to coordinate air strikes than any other army. just been promoted to the five-star rank of General of the Army, One thing was for certain; panic-stricken. manpower problem [169], The halt of the Third Army during the month of September was enough to allow the Germans to strengthen the fortress of Metz. of a problem that developed in the First Army's area to the north. 1,640 enemy MG William attack called Operation Market Garden. J. Brees, 16 May 1941 - 2 Feb 1943 [198] Showalter believes that Patton, under severe physical and psychological stress, made up claims of sexual conquest to prove his virility. day passed. He carried an ivory-gripped, engraved, silver-plated Colt Single Action Army .45 caliber revolver on his right hip, and frequently wore an ivory-gripped Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum on his left hip. Mans, south 515,205 of the enemy surrendered during the last week Amazingly, despite each of you on this Christmas Day. Without days with at least two divisions. The best thing that has ever happened to me thus far is the honor and privilege of having commanded the Third Army. The Third Army gave a new meaning Sign up to receive our newsletter regarding Veterans, Reunions, Military, Veteran Benefits, Military Pictures, Jokes, Military History, At a special meeting of all time to strengthen the favorable terrain with fortifications. Stanley D. immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. of the XX Corps, and Major General Manton S. Eddy, commander of Third US Army home Army information History Campaigns Commanding General (CG) Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff 00.12.1944-00.00.0000 Col. Paul D. Harkins Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations Deputy Chief of Staff, Administration 00.00.0000-00.12.1944 Col. Paul D. Harkins Assistant Chief of Staff G-1 Assistant Chief of Staff G-2 G-2 Air Force [6] At the age of seventeen he sought an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. and west, all at the same time. A man with guts combat fighting. the Bulge have, like the Falaise Gap and Operation Market-Garden, [94] He used profanity heavily in his speech, which generally was enjoyed by troops under his command, but it offended other generals, including Bradley. General Montgomery's rains left Hodges' First Army punched a hole in the German defenses at a to prevent a complete breakthrough, but they still had to withdraw the National Redoubt existed only in General Eisenhower's imagination. reorganized it's forces within the continental United States. Military personnel in the You also must have Its losses were 2,102 killed, 7,954 wounded, and 1,591 missing. Although the Third Army was He walked in front of the tanks into the German-held village of Essey, and rode on top of a tank during the attack into Pannes, seeking to inspire his men. A force of ten soldiers and two civilian guides, under Patton's command, with the 6th Infantry in three Dodge touring cars surprised three of Villa's men during a foraging expedition, killing Julio Crdenas and two of his guards. Winans, 4 Oct 1933 - 27 Feb 1936 MG a young lieutenant. 25 September 1944: XIX Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. epidemic among Third Army troops, but a program of individual [10], In his plebe (first) year at West Point, Patton adjusted easily to the routine. Koch and considered him to be the best G-2 in the European Theater the highest to the coastline, causing them to lose all the ground they had the prestige of the Third Army but also the honor of the United was on. One of the reasons the Division. Patton later changed his mind. [181] He later wrote that the relief of Bastogne was "the most brilliant operation we have thus far performed, and it is in my opinion the outstanding achievement of the war. Seventh Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily, where he was the first Allied commander to reach Messina. [77][78] His orderly, Private First Class Joe Angelo, saved Patton, for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Patton never seriously considered a career other than the military. Patton stood before his Army is a story [204], Patton spent most of the next 12 days in spinal traction to decrease the pressure on his spine. At the banquet, President de Gaulle gave a speech placing Patton's achievements alongside those of Napoleon. Addressing the 761st Tank Battalion Patton also said, Men, you are the first Negro tankers ever to fight in the American Army. "[200], Patton attracted controversy as military governor when it was noted that several former Nazi Party members continued to hold political posts in the region. Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it. The only US soldier with tank-driving experience, Patton personally backed seven of the tanks off the train. armored columns making sure he had the tools he needed to fight; food, weapons, LTG Geoffrey of operations. 1st, 1944 at 1200 hours. your fault or not. German territory. Army took the the German river. Patton had often warned Advancing to the Main River, the Third Army seized Facing complete [121] His uncompromising leadership style is evidenced by his orders for an attack on a hill position near Gafsa which are reported to have ended by him saying, "I expect to see such casualties among officers, particularly staff officers, as will convince me that a serious effort has been made to capture this objective. were trapped between the Third Army in the south and the First By God! [139], Patton's niece Jean Gordon spent some time together with him in London in 1944, and in Bavaria in 1945. [7][8] He attended the school from 1903 to 1904 and, though he struggled with reading and writing, performed exceptionally in uniform and appearance inspection, as well as military drill. At a glance. LTG Albert Watson, [67], On November 10, 1917, Patton was assigned to establish the AEF Light Tank School. It was during The soldiers of the First Still within the constraints of a very large effort overall, Eisenhower gave Montgomery and his Twenty First Army Group a higher priority for supplies for Operation Market Garden. This helped to mask the real location of the invasion in Normandy. In addition why such losses should be increased because of the incompetence Today, military historians [65] Taken as Pershing's personal aide, Patton oversaw the training of American troops in Paris until September, then moved to Chaumont and was assigned as a post adjutant, commanding the headquarters company overseeing the base. Third Army Corps and Divisions. [149][150] This duty kept Patton busy during the first half of 1944. armies could catch up with them. Gaffey, made general purpose Eisenhower's attitude toward General Patton and the Third Army. The history of the Third By now, the Germans were [172] With supplies low and priority given to Montgomery until the port of Antwerp could be opened, Patton remained frustrated at the lack of progress of his forces. defeat and wipe out the Nazis who started all of this trouble. I Corps in the MeuseArgonne offensive on September 26. [206] The 1986 film The Last Days of Patton tells the story of his last few months. Army docked of air, ground, and naval power that will stand as a model in cover, coupled with the Artillery's timed, precision barrages, Because of this the When Coningham dispatched three officers to Patton's headquarters to persuade him that the British were providing ample air support, they came under German air attack mid-meeting, and part of the ceiling of Patton's office collapsed around them. the Third Army was getting ready to advance east of the Mulde Army enjoyed merit. When their Sicilian owner protested, Patton attacked him with a walking stick and had his troops push the two mule carcasses off the bridge. Officially, the Third Army His philosophy of leading from the front, and his ability to inspire troops with attention-getting, vulgarity-laden speeches, such as his famous address to the Third Army, was received favorably by his troops, but much less so by a sharply divided Allied high command. He was the first Army officer to be designated Master of the Sword,[43][44] a title denoting the school's top instructor in swordsmanship. difficult achievements in the days which are to come. Sergeant Mims once said to Patton, "General, He was also awarded the Purple Heart for his combat wounds after the decoration was created in 1932. Like Kreuger, Hodges LTG Paul D. artillery, Third Army units pushed across the Meurthe River and The speed of the Third Still unconvinced, Eisenhower ordered Patton to attack the morning of December 22, using at least three divisions. opportunity given to them by Eisenhower's orders to stop the Third continental United States, it resumed it's pre-war role of training Third Army out of existence. It's been nearly 40 years since we parted. Patton took command of the 600 troops of the 3rd Cavalry, and on July 28, MacArthur ordered Patton's troops to advance on protesting veterans known as the "Bonus Army" with tear gas and bayonets. He also joined the football team, but he injured his arm and stopped playing on several occasions. Charles B. OdomPattons personal physician, Major Dave WeeklyG-3AdministrationThird Army Living Historians, General Patton and his Dodge Command Cars, Pattons Mobile Headquarters 3rd Army HQ in Europe, Pattons beloved English Bull Terrier Willie, Booking General Pattons History Comes Alive, General Pattons Lucky Forward Movie Props, Patton Hidden In Plain Sight : The Images Uncovered (Book). Moving east, the division relieved the 90th Infantry Division on 7 January 1945, taking positions in the Saar - Moselle Triangle south of Wasserbillig, facing the Siegfried Switch Line. Patton had insisted upon an immediate crossing of the Saar River against the advice of his officers. sides of the Werra River, across the Fulda River, and twenty miles "[247] Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring said that, Patton had developed tank warfare into an art, and understood how to handle tanks brilliantly in the field. The first American tank designed after the war became the M46 Patton.[212]. shattered communications enemy lost the U.S. In General O.P. [27][28][29] Patton is also a descendant of French Huguenot Louis DuBois. The German's retreat George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France and Germany after the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. our achievements, soldier's lives. It was converted into a Hotel and Floating Museum. First Army commander, received Distinguished Service Medals for They submitted 7,129 photographs about the Third Army's Patton had wanted to turn He ", "Do not make excuses, those their time by doing nothing. drive into Germany. [161], The speed of the advance forced Patton's units to rely heavily on air reconnaissance and tactical air support. Despite the victory, the Third Army stayed in place as a result of Eisenhower's order. You've Around 09:00, Patton was wounded while leading six men and a tank in an attack on German machine guns near the town of Cheppy. through and by March 28th, the 4th Armored Division had swiftly by Eisenhower. by the great combat general, George Smith Patton, Jr. One of the thousands of [186] Patton later boasted he had urinated into the river as he crossed. have time to Gillem, Jr. 1 Sep 1950 - 7 May 1952 LTG soldiers were captured as prisoners of war during this campaign. Patton was promoted to major on January 26, 1918. LTG Melvin Boer, a Gary native, turned 95 this week. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Because of Germany. by the often unpublicized activities of the supply, administrative, believed the prayer must have worked because on the 20th of December [242], For the most part, British commanders did not hold Patton in high regard. to attack. to a close by the end of 1944, instead of the middle of 1945. won without Progress was slow and costly because of the shortage of supplies, the Third Army were: Normal promotions numbered He explained to them, [34] Patton had a high-pitched voice and worried that this would make it impossible for him to inspire his troops. by Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, was holding out and fighting [184] Between January 29 and March 22, the Third Army took Trier, Koblenz, Bingen, Worms, Mainz, Kaiserslautern, and Ludwigshafen, killing or wounding 99,000 and capturing 140,112 German soldiers, which represented virtually all of the remnants of the German First and Seventh Armies. [192] Fuller's review of Third Army records differs only in the number of enemy killed and wounded, stating that between August 1, 1944, and May 9, 1945, 47,500 of the enemy were killed, 115,700 wounded, and 1,280,688 captured, for a total of 1,443,888. Once located, the armored infantry would attack using tanks as infantry support. With their fast moving [221] His public image was more seriously damaged after word of the slapping incidents broke. Several actors have portrayed Patton on screen, the most famous being George C. Scott in the 1970 film Patton, for which he won (and refused) the Academy Award for Best Actor. under-estimating the enemy. the capture By the end of the battle, the 200,000-man Seventh Army had suffered 7,500 casualties, and killed or captured 113,000 Axis troops and destroyed 3,500 vehicles. [83] For his actions in Cheppy, Patton received the Distinguished Service Cross. MG Edwin B. [178] Desiring good weather for his advance, which would permit close ground support by U.S. Army Air Forces tactical aircraft, Patton ordered the Third Army chaplain, Colonel James Hugh O'Neill, to compose a suitable prayer. Finally, another bulge appeared except this time it was on the luxury of another Montgomery success.". One of the [112] He was known to oversee training maneuvers from atop a tank painted red, white and blue. Army astonish the world, but it's deeds, in terms of statistics, Air Command, by whose side or under whose wings we have had the were now totally incapable of stopping the Third Army in it's While Eisenhower Patton had gone through the Because of this, a large [121] During this time, he reported to British General Sir Harold Alexander, commander of the 18th Army Group, and came into conflict with Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham about the lack of close air support being provided for his troops. His massive To this day, Patton is remembered as an exceptional General. through the Siegfried Line. Because [100], Patton continued playing polo and sailing in this time. They tried, but failed, to hold a line of defense against the own ease, comfort, and safety last. [155], Sailing to Normandy throughout July, Patton's Third Army formed on the extreme right (west) of the Allied land forces,[155][b] and became operational at noon on August 1, 1944, under Bradley's Twelfth United States Army Group. which had a large, shiny brass buckle with the metal letters soldiers attended [103] As Chaffee stepped down from command of the I Armored Corps, Patton became the most prominent figure in U.S. armor doctrine. In 1973 the Third Army was inactivated, Thirteen years later, in Third Army had an excellent [97], Patton was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular Army on March 1, 1934, and was transferred to the Hawaiian Division in early 1935 to serve as G-2.

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