I loved this theme in Patton! I wonder if the gov't fostered this or simply allowed it to manifest because, for the most part, it gave extra motivation to the generals to succeed and succeed well.
stoneman24
Every war needs Heroes.
Gotta sell those war bonds!
Boost favourable public opinion and control the positive narrative.
I believe that Stalin set 2 field marshals (Georgy Zhukov and Ivan Konev) on a race to Berlin in the last weeks of WW2 in Europe. Don’t think Stalin cared who won.