General george patton jr biography

George Patton’s Early Life and Job

George Smith Patton was native in 1885 in San Archangel, California. His family, originally hold up Virginia, had a long martial heritage, including service in character Civil War. Patton decided prematurely on that he wanted choose carry on the tradition, current graduated from the U.S.

Warlike Academy at West Point notes 1909. Patton gained his be in first place real battle experience in 1915, when he was assigned suggest lead cavalry troops against Mexican forces led by Pancho Tenancy along the U.S.-Mexico border. Stylishness served as aide-de-camp to Accepted John J. Pershing, commander go along with American forces in Mexico, build up accompanied the general on rulership unsuccessful 1916 expedition against Villa.

When the United States entered World War I adjust 1917, Patton went along revamp Pershing to Europe, where noteworthy became the first officer determined to the newly established U.S.

Tank Corps. He soon justified a reputation for his dominion skill and knowledge of vessel warfare. After the war, Patton served positions in tank beam cavalry units at various posts in the United States. Provoke the time the country began to rearm itself in 1940, he had risen through honourableness ranks to colonel.

General Patton send back World War II: North Continent and Sicily

Soon after distinction Japanese attack on Pearl Nurse in December 1941, Patton was given command of the Ordinal and 2nd Armored Divisions impressive organized a training center hoax the California desert.

Patton watchful to North Africa late encompass 1942 at the head be keen on an American force; before description initial landings on Morocco’s Ocean coast, he presented his unit base with an expression of top now-legendary philosophy of battle: “We shall attack and attack waiting for we are exhausted, and substantiate we shall attack again.” Patton’s lust for battle would cloudless him the colorful nickname “Old Blood and Guts” among her highness troops, whom he ruled spare an iron fist.

With that formidable aggression and unrelenting practice, the general managed to place U.S. forces back on magnanimity offensive after a series see defeats and win the war’s first major American victory at daggers drawn Nazi-led forces in the Conflict of El Guettar in Hike 1943.

A month later, Patton disgusting over his command in Ad northerly Africa to Gen.

Omar Pol in order to prepare rendering U.S. 7th Army for corruption planned invasion of Sicily. Leadership operation was a smashing come off, but Patton’s reputation suffered terribly after an incident in uncorrupted Italian field hospital in which he slapped a soldier heartbroken from shell shock and offender him of cowardice.

He was forced to issue a become public apology and earned a zigzag reprimand from General Dwight Recur. Eisenhower.

General Patton in World Combat II: France and Germany

Though he had greatly hoped endure lead the Allied invasion objection Normandy, Patton was instead ingenuous assigned command of a imagined force that was supposedly preparation for an invasion in south England.

With the German chance distracted by a phantom break-in of Pas de Calais, Author, the Allies were able halt make their actual landings observer the beaches of Normandy supremacy D-Day (June 6, 1944). Afterward the 1st Army broke righteousness German line, Patton’s 3rd Host swept through the breach intent northern France in pursuit sign over Nazi forces.

Late that origin, it played a key conduct yourself in frustrating the German retort in the Ardennes during depiction massive Battle of the Bulge.

In early 1945, Patton led monarch army across the Rhine Issue and into Germany, capturing 10,000 miles of territory and serving to liberate the country put on the back burner Nazi rule.

In the months following Germany’s surrender, the candid general caused another firestorm pointer controversy when he gave clean up interview criticizing the Allies’ inflexible de-Nazification policies in the shamefaced country; Eisenhower removed him do too much command of the 3rd Swarm in October 1945. That Dec, Patton broke his neck take back an automobile accident near City, Germany.

He sustained spinal related and neck injuries and passed away from pulmonary embolism by reason of a result of the accident in a Heidelberg hospital 12 stage later. 

Patton’s memoir, titled “War Tempt I Knew It,” was publicized posthumously in 1947; his marathon persona later made its rendition to the silver screen barge in an Academy Award-winning 1970 biopic starring George 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 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Around Networks

Last Updated

April 28, 2020

Original Promulgated Date

November 9, 2009