An aggressive commander of mobile warfare and military deception
In Fortitude South in 1944, Patton became the public face of a nonexistent First U.S. Army Group, staging a threat toward Calais.
George S. Patton was a U.S. Army general who emphasized armored mobility and aggressive offensive operations. He demonstrated strong battlefield leadership in North Africa and Sicily, yet repeated controversy over striking soldiers and inflammatory statements damaged his command standing. In Fortitude South in 1944, he was presented as commander of the fictitious First U.S. Army Group, helping persuade Germany that Calais was the real invasion target and keeping reserves away from Normandy after D-Day. He later led the Third Army across France and into Germany, but after the war was removed as military governor of Bavaria for anti-Soviet statements and criticism of denazification.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1909Second lieutenant, U.S. Army Cavalry
- 1916Served in the Pancho Villa Expedition and as Pershing's aide
- 1917–1918Organized and commanded the tank school in France; commanded the 304th Tank Brigade
- 1942Commanded the Western Task Force in Operation Torch, landing in North Africa
- 1943Commanded the U.S. Seventh Army in the Sicily campaign
- 1944Presented as commander of the fictitious First U.S. Army Group in Fortitude South
- 1944–1945Commanded the U.S. Third Army in the advance through France and Germany
- 1945Military governor of Bavaria; later commanded the U.S. Fifteenth Army
Related historical events
- 1914–1918First World WarU.S. tank brigade commanderHe commanded tank units at Saint-Mihiel and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
- 1941–1944The Second Front and the Normandy LandingsCommander of the fictitious army group, Fortitude SouthHe commanded the fictitious First Army Group, leading the deception that kept German forces pinned at Calais.
- 1943–1945The Italian Campaign and the Fall of MussoliniCommander in the Sicily campaignAs commander of the U.S. Seventh Army, he commanded in the Sicily campaign in 1943.
World War I Tank Command: The Langres Tank School and First Combat Command
After the United States entered World War I, Patton went to the Western Front on Pershing's staff but grew dissatisfied with staff duty and turned his attention to tanks. On 10 November 1917 he was assigned to establish the AEF Light Tank School, leaving Paris to train at the French Army tank school at Champlieu, where he drove a Renault FT light tank. Promoted to major in January 1918, he received the first ten tanks at the tank school at Bourg on 23 March 1918; as the only U.S. officer with tank-driving experience, he personally backed seven of them off the train. He trained tank crews to operate in support of infantry and persuaded reluctant infantry officers to accept the new arm.
In August 1918 he took charge of the 1st Provisional Tank Brigade (redesignated the 304th Tank Brigade), joining the first combat use of U.S. tanks. At the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, which began on 12 September, he led American-crewed Renault FT tanks from the front for much of the attack, walking ahead of the tanks into the German-held village of Essey and riding on top of a tank during the attack into Pannes to inspire his men. In the Meuse-Argonne offensive that opened on 26 September, he led a troop of tanks through thick fog about 5 miles (8 km) into German lines; around 09:00 he was wounded leading an attack on German machine guns near the town of Cheppy. His orderly, Private First Class Joe Angelo, saved him and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while Patton continued to direct the battle from a shell hole for another hour before being evacuated. For these actions he received the Distinguished Service Cross, and on 17 October he was promoted to temporary colonel in the Tank Corps. The armistice of 11 November 1918 ended the war.