General George S. Patton's Legacy

General George S. Patton Jr.’s military life, career and achievements will forever be known as an incredible legacy in American history. Patton was known as the most flamboyant Allied leader of World War II. Patton was very skilled with tank warfare. He was known for carrying around pistols with ivory handles, and is said to be one of the most successful commanders of all time. He continually trained his troops to the highest standard of excellence while giving speeches to motivate them to fight. His contributions to military technology and the outcomes of both World Wars have brought us to the world we know today.

​During Patton’s childhood he decided that his life goal was to become a hero. His ancestors fought in the Revolutionary

War, the Mexican War and the Civil War. He attended the Virginia Military Institute for one year and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was then commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 15th Cavalry Regiment (generalpatton.com).
​In 1912, Patton represented the United States at the Stockholm Olympics in the first Modern Pentathlon.

Open only to military officers, it was considered a rigorous test of the skills a soldier should possess. Patton did very well in the multi-event sport, consisting of pistol shooting, sword fencing, a 300 meter free style swim, 800 meters on horse back riding and a four kilometer cross country run. 26 year old Patton placed fifth overall (generalpatton.com).

​Patton kept busy after the Olympics, taking lessons at the French Cavalry School and studying French sword drills. In 1913, Patton received orders to report to the command of the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas, where he became the school’s first Master of the Sword. He designed and taught a course in swordsmanship while attending the school as a student (generalpatton.com)

Patton’s first battle experience was in 1915. He led cavalry patrols against Pancho Villa at Fort Bliss along the Mexican border. He was selected to aide John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Mexico, in 1916. Patton personally shot Mexican leader Julio Cardenas during the Battle of Columbus. This impressed Pershing who promoted Patton to captain and invited him to lead Pershing’s Headquarters Troop once they left Mexico (George

Patton).
​With the onset of World War I in 1914, tanks were not being widely used. Patton became the first member of the newly established United States Tank Corps in 1917. He
served until the Corps was abolished in 1920. He took full command of the Corps where he directed ideas, procedures and even the design of their uniforms. He and his men, along with British tankers, achieved victory at Cambrai, France, during the world’s first major tank battle in 1917 (generalpatton.com).
​Using his knowledge of tanks, he organized the American tank school in Bourg, France, and trained the first 500 American tankers.

Patton had 345 tanks by the time he took the brigade into the Meuse-Argonne Operation in September 1918. When they entered into battle, Patton had worked out a plan where he could be in the front lines maintaining communications with his rear command post by means of pigeons and a group of runners. Patton exposed himself to gunfire and was shot in the leg while directing the tanks. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for Heroism for his actions during that battle

(generalpatton.com).
​Patton saw tanks as the future of modern combat, but Congress was not willing to appropriate funds to build a large armored force. Even so, Patton studied, wrote extensively and conducted experiments to improve radio communications between tanks. He helped invent the co-axial tank mount for cannons and machine guns (generalpatton.com).
​After World War I, he held a variety of staff jobs in Hawaii and Washington D.C. He graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1924, and completed his military schooling as a distinguished graduate of the Army War College in 1932 (generalpatton.com).
​When German Blitzkrieg began in Europe, Patton convinced Congress that the United States needed a more powerful armored striking force. With the formation of the Armored Force in 1940, he was transferred to the Second Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia and named Commanding General on April 11, 1941. Patton began giving his famous “Blood and Guts” speeches around this time (generalpatton.com).
​In December 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Patton was given command of the 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions and organized a training center in the California desert. In late 1942 Patton headed to North Africa at the head of an American force. Before landing in Morocco, he presented his troops with an expression of his legendary philosophy of battle. Patton got the nickname “Old Blood and Guts” because of his lust for battle. His aggression and unrelenting discipline managed to put the U.S. forces back on the offensive after a series of defeats. Patton led his troops to the first major American victory against Nazi-led forces in the Battle of El Guettar in March 1943 (history.com).
​A month after the win, Patton turned over his command in North Africa to General Omar Bradley in order to prepare the U.S. 7th Army for a planned invasion of Sicily (history.com).
​This attack on Sicily was a huge achievement. During the battle, Patton sent a reconnaissance force towards the island’s capital, Palermo. The British General radioed to the Americans to stop their advance, but Patton claimed that the orders were “garbled in transmission” and continued the advance. The fall of Palermo helped induce the overthrow of Benito Mussolini (Hickman).
Patton’s reputation suffered greatly after an incident in an Italian field hospital. Patton slapped a soldier who was suffering from shell shock and accused him of being a coward. Patton was forced to apologize publicly and he earned a sharp reprimand from President Eisenhower (history.com).
​The Allies had come up with a plan to trick Hitler into thinking they were going to invade the southeastern region of England. Patton was put in charge of an army of inflatable tanks, trucks, and fake radio talk. Patton was put in charge of the mission because of his credibility, so that the Germans would take the bait knowing that someone such as Patton was in charge of the operation (americainwwii.com).
On July 28, 1944, Patton was given control of the troops of the Third Army on the continent of Europe. The First Army had begun its push into St. Lo on July 26, 1944. The Third Army gained momentum in the days to follow, and came to its climax when Patton exploded his Third Army onto the Brittany Peninsula on August 1st. In two weeks, Patton’s Third Army had driven the fleeing Germans on the peninsula into the ports of Lorient and Brest (Patton 87).
​Patton’s Third Army continued to sweep through northern France in pursuit of Nazi forces. This played a key role in frustrating the German counterattack in the Ardennes during the massive Battle of the Bulge (history.com).
In early 1945, Patton led his army across the Rhine River and into Germany. Patton captured 10,000 miles of territory and helped to liberate the country from Nazi Rule (history.com)
When Patton liberated Buchenwald, he was so angry that he ordered the Military Police to go to Weimar, four miles away and bring back 1,000 civilians to see what their leaders had done. The Military Police were so angry that they brought back 2,000. Patton showed the civilians what their leaders had done, and to show what some human beings could do to others (jewishvirtuallibrary.org).
After Germany’s surrender, Patton caused a firestorm of controversy when he gave an interview criticizing the Allies’ rigid de-Nazification policies in the defeated country. President Eisenhower removed him from command of the 3rd Army in October 1945 (history.com).
In the December following the controversy, Patton broke his neck in an automobile accident near Mannheim Germany. He died 12 days later in a Heidelberg hospital (history.com).
In 1970, the film “Patton” brought renewed interest in Patton. The movie was a big hit and won seven awards. It immortalized Patton as one of the world’s most intriguing military men (history.com).
George Patton dedicated his life to the military. He was one of the greatest military leaders of all time. His contributions to military technology have forever changed how wars are fought. His devotion and hard work earned him high rankings and great credibility. His actions in both World Wars contributed greatly to their outcomes. He saved many lives by liberating concentration camps and exposing Nazi cruelty. The world would not be the same if General George Patton had not shown the courage and bravery that he did.