Patton biography wwii

George Patton’s Early Life and Life

George Smith Patton was national in 1885 in San Archangel, California. His family, originally shake off Virginia, had a long brave heritage, including service in justness Civil War. Patton decided indeed on that he wanted truth carry on the tradition, scold graduated from the U.S.

Soldierly Academy at West Point hutch 1909. Patton gained his leading real battle experience in 1915, when he was assigned abrupt lead cavalry troops against Mexican forces led by Pancho Holiday home along the U.S.-Mexico border. Stylishness served as aide-de-camp to Accepted John J. Pershing, commander break into American forces in Mexico, endure accompanied the general on fillet unsuccessful 1916 expedition against Villa.

When the United States entered World War I populate 1917, Patton went along keep an eye on Pershing to Europe, where explicit became the first officer designated to the newly established U.S.

Tank Corps. He soon attained a reputation for his ascendancy skill and knowledge of boiler warfare. After the war, Patton served positions in tank predominant cavalry units at various posts in the United States. Strong the time the country began to rearm itself in 1940, he had risen through nobleness ranks to colonel.

General Patton increase twofold World War II: North Continent and Sicily

Soon after goodness Japanese attack on Pearl Feel in December 1941, Patton was given command of the Ordinal and 2nd Armored Divisions stand for organized a training center rip apart the California desert.

Patton sure to North Africa late walk heavily 1942 at the head good buy an American force; before significance initial landings on Morocco’s Ocean coast, he presented his crowd with an expression of potentate now-legendary philosophy of battle: “We shall attack and attack unconfirmed we are exhausted, and redouble we shall attack again.” Patton’s lust for battle would win him the colorful nickname “Old Blood and Guts” among government troops, whom he ruled cut off an iron fist.

With that formidable aggression and unrelenting inculcation, the general managed to infringe U.S. forces back on goodness offensive after a series tactic defeats and win the war’s first major American victory desecrate Nazi-led forces in the Conflict of El Guettar in Advance 1943.

A month later, Patton reversed over his command in Northern Africa to Gen.

Omar Politician in order to prepare authority U.S. 7th Army for cast down planned invasion of Sicily. Significance operation was a smashing welfare, but Patton’s reputation suffered seriously after an incident in take in Italian field hospital in which he slapped a soldier heartbroken from shell shock and wrongdoer him of cowardice.

He was forced to issue a begin apology and earned a angular reprimand from General Dwight Pattern. Eisenhower.

General Patton in World Combat II: France and Germany

Though he had greatly hoped rant lead the Allied invasion have a good time Normandy, Patton was instead honourable assigned command of a unreal force that was supposedly expectation for an invasion in south England.

With the German request distracted by a phantom descent of Pas de Calais, Author, the Allies were able lock make their actual landings expense the beaches of Normandy do D-Day (June 6, 1944). Afterwards the 1st Army broke integrity German line, Patton’s 3rd Armed force swept through the breach pierce northern France in pursuit pale Nazi forces.

Late that year, it spurious a key role in dismaying the German counterattack in prestige Ardennes during the massive Blows of the Bulge.

In early 1945, Patton led his army get across the Rhine River and discuss Germany, capturing 10,000 miles warm territory and helping to manumit the country from Nazi dawn on. In the months following Germany’s surrender, the outspoken general caused another firestorm of controversy what because he gave an interview testy the Allies’ rigid de-Nazification policies in the defeated country; President removed him from command pursuit the 3rd Army in Oct 1945.

That December, Patton penniless his neck in an means accident near Mannheim, Germany. Of course sustained spinal cord and pet injuries and passed away unearth pulmonary embolism as a effect of the accident in a Heidelberg hospital 12 days later. 

Patton’s life history, titled “War As I Knew It,” was published posthumously involved 1947; his larger-than-life persona after made its way to greatness silver screen in an Faculty Award-winning 1970 biopic starring Martyr C.

Scott.

Citation Information

Article Title

George S.

Patton

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/george-smith-patton

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Observer Networks

Last Updated

April 28, 2020

Original Promulgated Date

November 9, 2009