General Patton and Mission Command: The Battle of the Bulge

1636 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The philosphy of mission command

Operational leaders see how the individual components of an organization fit together and use those individuals work to make a larger outcome. When they focus on a problem, they think of what works best within the process and systems to make an impact on the situation. These types of leaders play a big part in making sure that things get done in an effective and functioning manner. According to the Army Doctrine ADP 6-0, the Army over time has strayed away from operational leaders and adapted Mission Command, which gives leaders the ability at the lowest level the capability to exercise disciplined initiative in an act of carrying out the larger mission . Mission Command is made up of the following six steps: Understanding, Visualize, Describe, Direct, Lead and Assess, in which a commander is responsible for. General Patton understood the intent of the Battle of the Bulge on different levels, he was able to form a mental image for the course of actions for the allies, enemies and lead his Army into combat while guiding his officers and soldiers to succeed in meeting his intent. The Battle of the Bulge is where General Patton gained one of his greatest military achievements by using his tactical leadership and logistical genius, which in return helped him turn around the main forces and forced the Germans to drive back in their final counter-offensive. General Patton strongly exercised Mission Command by understanding, visualizing, leading, and commanding what was known as the largest and bloodiest battle during World War II. In order to receive a victory in the Battle of the Bulge, General Patton used Mission Command Analysis in order to understand how he can be successful for this mission. The first thing of understanding t... ... middle of paper ... ...ouse.com/article/10498657/a-study-of-general-george-s-patton-jrs-leadership-style. Sanderson, Jefferey. "GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.” Last modified may 22, 1997. Accessed January 4, 2014. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a331356.pdf&ei=tYbHUtv3HcGs2gX2u4HAAQ&usg=AFQjCNFU5EzdWjKlt81w8gh_Bj2UEttaZw&sig2=aAz3jIZg7U6peDzL_i8w9w. Harkins, Paul. War as I knew it. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, 1947. Battle of the Bulge-940.94 BLA Leo Hayes Library Encyclopedia of WWII, the New Grolier-940.53 Leo Hayes Library http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/Bulge.html http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=battle+of+the+bulge&search_type=&aq=4&oq=battle+of+the ADRP 6-0 Battle of the Bulge, The Deadliest Battle of World War II, American Experience

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Mission Command Failure

    1505 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mission Command as defined by the United States Army consists six distinct and critical principles. During World War II there were many examples of exemplary mission command that led to stunning victories for the Allies but also many examples of failure. The Battle for Arnhem or Operation Market-Garden was such a failure. Major General Robert Elliot Urquhart, the Commander of the 1st Airborne Division failed in not only in tactics but the ability to lead his division to victory. He did not completely misunderstand the principles of mission command, but four main areas in which he made critical mistakes were; Build a Cohesive Team Through Mutual Trust, Create a Shared Understanding, Accept Prudent Risk, and Exercise Disciplined Initiative.

    Read More

  • George A. Custer and the Operations Process

    2203 Words  | 5 Pages

    Mission command is the commander's use of authority and direction to empower adaptive leaders in the conduct of unified land operations. It helps subordinates exercise disciplined initiative when operating within their commander’s intent. To facilitate effective mission command, commanders must accomplish four consecutive stages of the operations process. They must thoroughly understand the problem, visualize a solution that achieves a desired end state, and then accurately describe this visualization in order to direct the organization. Commanders continually lead and assess their organizations and provide input and influence to their subordinates and staff.

    Read More

  • A History of the 714th Tank Battalion

    3836 Words  | 8 Pages

    Parsons, Othal T. Interview by author, 17 April 1995. Mail questionnaire. 12th Armored Division Historical Project, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.

    Read More

  • How Did Dwight Eisenhower Impact On The Military

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during WWII, General Eisenhower was the leader in charge of planning Operation Overlord or D-Day (Ambrose, 1983). This was a complex, large-scale operation that put many lives on the line. Sending thousands of military forces to storm the beaches of Normandy and face death was not an easy task. Operation Overlord was successful, and its success gained Eisenhower fame. Eisenhower used risk management on a high level to plan the operation. At the same time, Eisenhower was an empathetic leader who understood the emotional

    Read More

  • Desert Storm Air Defense Essay

    1624 Words  | 4 Pages

    Brigade General Scales, Robert H. JR. Certain Victory. The U.S. Army in the Gulf War.

    Read More

  • Mission Command Analysis

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1943 the British and American Allies shared a common language and a common enemy, but they disagreed on the war’s grand strategy. (site) These strategic differences culminated in the Sicily Campaign, with Allied command and control exercise by Allied Commander, General Eisenhower, failed to employ the three essential attributes of mission command: commander’s intent, full understanding, and mutual trust among partners, as discussed in General Dempsey’s white paper. These failures in Mission Command also limited the Allies’ ability to effectively integrate the vital joint functions like Fires, Maneuver, and Protection. This essay will evaluate the Allies’ Command and Control and the other vital Joint Functions and expound on General Eisenhower

    Read More

  • George Patton

    1902 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Web. Blumenson, Martine, and the Patton Papers, (14 March 2014) 2-13-2014) “George S. Patton Jr.” U-s-history.com. Web. The Web. The Web.

    Read More

  • OLD BLOOD AND GUTS

    1490 Words  | 3 Pages

    General Patton was a devoted student of history, a poet, a humble man who was very unsure of his own abilities, a man who could bust into tears at any given moment, and could be charming or quite insulting all in the same hour. His reckless, outspoken manner gained him friends and enemies of equal determination. General Patton was not only extrovert of public perception but he also had an intensely private side. He was a man who trained himself for greatness with a determination matched by no other Allied General of World War Two. During the war, Patton led U.S. troops in Morocco, Tunisia, and Sicily, then took command of the Third Army, leading the troops through the German lines at Normandy to traverse France and eventually into the heart of Germany. His toughness on enemies as well as his own forces earned him the name “Old Blood and Guts.” General George Smith Patton’s leadership and tactics were the best of any Allied general of World War Two.

    Read More

  • General George S. Patton

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    "General George S. Patton’s Military Career – Through WWI." ARMED FORCES HISTORY MUSEUM. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Battle Of The Bulge Research Paper

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    December 16th 1944, Nazi Germany launches a surprise offensive attack against allied forces in the area of the Ardennes forest. Operation Watch on the Rhine was what the Germans code named this mission and it only took five days from the time Hitler met with his top military officials to launch day to get the operation going in full swing. Without major allied knowledge the axis powers gathered 450,000 soldiers and sent them to split the allied powers in two so a treaty could be made on the western front in favor of the axis powers and allow them to focus exclusively on the eastern front. Despite careful planning and complete surprise over allied forces, quick thinking and determination kept Germany front splitting the allied forces apart and ultimately sending Nazi Germany their final fatal blow to end World War II in 1945.

    Read More

  • The Battle of France

    2520 Words  | 6 Pages

    Warfare was in a state of transition. Older commanders and generals in the French and British militaries were very cavalry and infantry focused. These commanders believed that cavalry, infantry, and artillery would assure victory in any circumstance, against any foe. They clung to the static tactics of the bygone World War I era. World War I had been fought primarily on French soil, and the military as well as the government never wanted that to happen again, therefore they wanted to reinforce their main border against any future German. Little did they know that only twenty two years later they would be bested by German forces in a way that would shock the world. This research will be analyzing many important assumptions, oversights,...

    Read More

  • John Toland: The Battle Of The Bulge

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    To write this book the author, John Toland, had to devote 15 years researching different stories from all sides of the war. He studied war memoirs, interviewed war veterans, and read military documents. While doing this he focused on both the allied and axis forces to truly understand both sides of the story and be able to write such a descriptive and accurate piece of work. This research was used in the book to describe the unlikely victory of the Americans over the Germans during the “Battle of the Bulge”.

    Read More

  • Battle Of The Bulge Research Paper

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    World war two took many people by surprise and is one of the most historical and remembered events in all of history. One battle in Europe that is very well remembered is that Battle of the Bulge, it started December 16th of 1944 and ended in January 25th of 1945. The Battle of the Bulge took place in Belgium, France, and luxembourg and got its name because the countries shape looked like a big bulge. The battle was between Nazi Germany, with their dictator being Adolf Hitler, and America with their presidential leader Eisenhower. During the time of the battle weather conditions were horrible, it was very cold and neither sides had the best war supplies. The soldiers in this battle could not start fires or their enemies would see them, making

    Read More

  • Battle Of The Bulge Essay

    1670 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the cold winter of December 16, 1944 - January 16, 19453a the Battle of the Bulge marched on. It was the last great battle of World War II in Europe. Thousands of lives were lost during those cold two months. The battle finally ended after tactics, artillery, and espionage were used and exhausted. The battle was Germany’s last stand and America’s greatest battle.1a

    Read More

  • George S. Patton Case Study

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    The U.S. government should be praised for its foreign policy actions. During the 1900s, the United States government connected with numerous countries and nations. For example, U.S. helped Puerto Rico when they were in complication. Also, United States helped the Allied Nations achieve victory in World War 1. While some people may say that the U.S. government were unfair with their foreign policy with Cuba, however, U.S. helped Cuba gain independence from Spain. These are three out of the countless relations U.S. had with other nations, the United States government should be appreciated for their actions.

    Read More

More about General Patton and Mission Command: The Battle of the Bulge

Open Document