General Patton
By: Kaden Kalton
Background information
General Patton's real name is George Patton. He was born in 1885 to a family with an extensive military background. He went to the Virginia Military institute and later moved on to the U.S. military Academy at West Point. He participated in the 1912 Olympic Modern Pentathlon and made the "Patton Saber." He saw his first combat during the Pancho Villa expedition in 1916. He joined the United States Tank corps and that led to him seeing time in World War 1. He was injured in France while leading tanks into combat during the end of the war. Patton was a central figure in the development of armored warfare doctrine in the U.S. army. He rose to the ranks all the way to commander. He commanded the U.S. 2nd armored division for the U.S. entrance into WW2.
General Patton at Westpoint
This picture is of young General Patton at West Point. Here he learned the tactics of war and how to be a the legendary general that he had became.
Significance
General Patton was one of the great general during World War 2. Patton was assigned to help plan the invasion of French North America as part of Operation Torch in the summer of 1942. He successfully completed this invasion and signed an armistice with France General Nouges. Soon after this Patton was promoted to lieutenant general. He pushed his soldiers really hard and molded a really well-trained, disciplined army. Patton's training was effective, and on March 17, the U.S. 1st Infantry division took Gafsa, winning the Battle of El Guettar. For operation Husky, Patton was to command the seventh United States Army. Patton had some very controversial actions during this operation including slapping one of his soldiers. Patton also led soldiers at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Lorraine campaign. During the Battle of the bulge Patton's ability to disengage six divisions from front line combat during the middle of winter, then wheel north to relieve Bastogne was one of his most remarkable achievements during the war.
Patton at the Battle of the Bulge
This is General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge instructing some soldiers.
General Patton In uniform
This picture was taken after the war, Patton is in full uniform with all his credentials.
Patton in front of a tank
General Patton often had the job of leading the Tank Corps. This is a picture from France where Patton is instructing a tank driver
Details
General Patton had one of the most Successful and controversial careers as a general ever. Between becoming operational in Normandy on August 1, 1944 and the end of hostilities on May 9, 1945, General Patton's Third Army was in continuous combat for 281 days. In that time, it crossed 24 major rivers and captured 81,500 square miles of territory, including more than 12,000 cities and towns. The Third Army claimed to have killed, wounded, or captured 1,811,388 German soldiers, six times its strength in personnel. Patton is considered arrogant, publicity seeking, and short-tempered but either way he is one of the best generals in the history of the U.S.
General Patton's Grave
This is a photo of General Patton's grave at Luxembourg National Cemetery. He died from head wounds in an automobile accident in 1945.