This post thought that I learned a lot of things. But watching this video made me realize that really one of the most wondrous object of inquiry is the human being - it defies being captured in abstraction or theory. Though in this case the officers were clearly defeated, they were defiant and what persisted is their pride, tradition, and identity. During the flag ceremony they gave a Hitler salute. Patton thought this to be highly disrespectful They were vanquished and in effect they being in their HQ, they were in US territory
Therefore as a means to leverage and force the issue, Patton gave them a punishment. He lined them and up gave them a choice: remove their uniforms by themselves or the MPs will do it for them. And will be exposed to the cold and elements. Being in uniform gives a person dignity
You cant just talk and presumed that being vanquished in battle means that you have vanquished the spirit of man
They also found out that getting the enemies in concentration camp did not destroy the comman structure even of those outside the camps. The Allies found out later on. And of course the US intelligence has countermeasures
Patton gave the same threat to a nurse who refused to treat a Negro officer in a hospital because they were indoctrinated that only white people are superior race and dont deserve the care of white nurse. Patton, as shocking as theatrics it could be, threatened her to remove her uniform and clean latrines in the hospital.
That is why it is important to build culture and tradition in your group:
1. Uniform
2. Id
3. Rewards, ribbons, commendation
Then it becomes matic and more difficult to remove, deculture
