There are two kinds of mines; one is the personnel mine and the other is the vehicular mine. When we come to a mine field our infantry attacks exactly as if it were not there. The losses we get from personnel mines we consider only equal to those we would have gotten from machine guns and artillery if the Germans had chosen to defend that particular area with strong bodies of troops instead of with mine fields. The attacking infantry does not set off the vehicular mines, so after they have penetrated to the far side of the field they form a bridgehead, after which the engineers come up and dig out channels through which our vehicles can go.

Summary

This quote, attributed to General George S. Patton, explains a military strategy for approaching minefields during warfare. Patton distinguishes between personnel mines and vehicular mines, and emphasizes that infantry should attack a minefield with the same determination and force as they would attack a defended area. He suggests that the loss of life from personnel mines is considered acceptable, as it would be similar to the losses incurred from machine guns and artillery in a defended area. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of engineers clearing a path for vehicles to pass through the minefield once the infantry has established a bridgehead.