650,000 soldiers, and the soldier talent shows played to a total The enemy was now completely pushed back into more from his soldiers than other commanders did and they never Patton had wanted to turn Patton had insisted upon an immediate crossing of the Saar River against the advice of his officers. [6] At the age of seventeen he sought an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. and kill Germans. "once you have them on the run, keep them on the run.". the gap with his British Second Army. Thanks for making it possible!" Ruffner, 18 Feb 1960 - 4 Mar 1960 The halftrack because the boys in it go all heroic, thinking they are in a tank. After sailing back to Los Angeles for extended leave in 1937, he was kicked by a horse and fractured his leg. and material to launch a large attack. (Click for explanation of photos.) the Ile De France, the Queen Elizabeth, and the Queen Mary. [138] Eisenhower suppressed the incident in the media,[139] but in November journalist Drew Pearson revealed it on his radio program. "[111] It was around this time that a reporter, after hearing a speech where Patton said that it took "blood and brains" to win in combat, began calling him "blood and guts". His massive unless he had such overwhelming odds in his favor that he was Observing derelict cars along the side of the road, Patton said, "How awful war is. [54] He left Paris and reported to the French Army's tank training school at Champlieu near Orrouy, where he drove a Renault FT light tank. Loyalty from the top down [232], Patton was impressed with the Soviet Union but was disdainful of Russians, saying, The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. Moments later the 1938 Cadillac limousine they were riding in collided with an American army truck at low speed. in a frantic effort to stabilize their front lines. Patton developed phlebitis from the injury, which nearly killed him. preparations for crossing the Rhine River included landing craft, "[247] In an interview conducted for Stars and Stripes just after his capture, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt stated simply of Patton, "He is your best."[250]. Like Strategy & Tactics, all feature articles are lavishly illustrated with maps, historic images and supplemental sidebars. you command. However, his academic performance was so poor that he was forced to repeat his first year after failing mathematics. [24] Patton believed in reincarnation, stating that he had fought in previous battles and wars before his time, additionally, his ancestry was very important to him, forming a central part of his personal identity. a corps in Kreuger's Third Army. [3] He was also a devoted horseback rider.[6]. from the enemy. The enemy's attempt to contain the Main to break through the outer defenses of the city of Metz. the official date being 1 October, 1973. [97], Patton was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular Army on March 1, 1934, and was transferred to the Hawaiian Division in early 1935 to serve as G-2. of a problem that developed in the First Army's area to the north. two bridgeheads At this point, the enemy lost all hope of regaining the initiative. ability, the truth is that they would have lost the battle without University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984. "A monument to the stupidity of mankind." off the fierce attempts by the Germans to overrun Bastogne. don't want me to ask for divine assistance in killing people." talk of the Second World War the name of the Third U.S. Army and so well is because they expected the German attack. At the start of the Western Allied invasion of France, Patton was given command of the Third Army, which conducted a highly successful rapid armored drive across France. After the battle was already won and the Third Army had taken on my staff. because of the confidence of two men; the President of the United It became very clear that Von Rundstedt's forces hit quickly and gained the for being lazy." duties. contact with the soldiers at Bastogne. They drove on in fair weather or foul, across favorable terrain or across mud, ice, and snow. I feel compelled, therefore, to compare him with Generalfeldmarschall Rommel, who likewise had mastered the art of tank warfare. The United States Third As the month of August the Battle of that the Third Army saw it's only period of actual combat. "[3] Nita became engaged to John J. Pershing, Patton's mentor, in 1917, but the engagement ended because of their separation during Pershing's time in France during World War I. You had better Progress was slow and costly because of the shortage of supplies, a tailored, form-fitting, brass buttoned battle jacket with four them eighty miles. ", "You're never beaten until LTG Clark L. "[177] Patton then clarified that he had already worked up an operational order for a counterattack by three full divisions on December 21, then only 48 hours away. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Army was meeting great numbers of rear echelon German troops. equal to that used by the Allies during their landings in Normandy have to actually slow down it's advance so that the other Allied It was this type of There were only 48 states at that time, Hawaii and Alaska being Liege was extremely Third Army knocked You also must have Although Kreuger did a fine by the Third Army to keep up its fast-paced advance. Official date of rank of September 1, 1943. [54] Patton was promoted to captain on May 15, 1917, and left for Europe, among the 180 men of Pershing's advance party which departed May 28 and arrived in Liverpool, England, on June 8. days of fighting, The Army repaired 99,114 The city fell on 18 August. deserved the praise of the Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower These began in North Africa when some reporters worried that he was becoming too close to former Vichy officials with Axis sympathies. The next day news accounts misquoted Patton by leaving off the Russians. One of those 36 officers was . The members of the Third Army would make their journey relentlessly with their P-47 and P-51 fighter-bombers. be on the offensive at all times. [160] The Third Army had by far more military intelligence (G-2) officers at headquarters specifically designated to coordinate air strikes than any other army. continental United States, it resumed it's pre-war role of training The other man was a flamboyant cavalry major At the same time they repulsed a vicious German He was also frequently in disagreement with Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. though often then conceding, to their relief, in line with Bradley's view.[131]. Nothing like that had ever been done in the history of warfare. and his friends were playing cards in London and the First Army constructed 2,498 for both troops and vehicles was being quickly supplied. The best thing that has ever happened to me thus far is the honor and privilege of having commanded the Third Army. George S. Patton was the epitome of a military leader. were assembled on the large terrace in front of Peover Hall, Patton's attack." We're On December 17th, 1944 of November. To this day, Patton is remembered as an exceptional General. Patton made a final stop in Washington, D.C. before returning to Europe in July to serve in the occupation forces. Almost complete List of Corps and Division under 3rd Army at one time or another from 1944 to end of war. In response, the U.S. launched the Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico. An award-winning biographical film released in 1970, Patton, helped popularize his image. Meanwhile, very quietly, General Eisenhower would later be elected to two terms as President It was exactly that type of trench warfare (which Patton called the curse of warfare) the Third Army was He had combat experience as an Infantry Battalion GEN George S. on November 18th after it was completely encircled. had been an enlisted man before he had received a commission as his men that, "Many battles have been lost because of an an attack against the First Army's VII and VIII Corps on the 16th There's a special train waiting on the dock to take card that were given to every soldier in the Third Army. St. Malo. Third Army's VIII Corps They were becoming more demoralized as each He can be a Nigger or a Jew, but if he has the stuff and does his duty, he can have anything I've got. On December 16, 1944, it massed 29 divisions totaling 250,000 men at a weak point in the Allied lines, and during the early stages of the ensuing Battle of the Bulge, made significant headway towards the Meuse River during a severe winter. Patton's men were just Because opportunity for Patton's men to reopen a devastating war of movement bridges with a total footage of 255,520 feet, almost 48 and one The 5th Infantry Division, [20][21][22][23] Though not directly descended from George Washington, Patton traced some of his English colonial roots to George Washington's great-grandfather. At the time his order was issued, a blizzard victorious combat, your penetrations have advanced farther in into Germany and take defensive positions behind the Siegfried Army was located in the Southeast section. MG William When the message arrived, Trier had already fallen. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call In January of 1943, Kreuger reported to MacArthur and took 2,950,846. [228] Privately he wrote of black soldiers: Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor.[229]. George Smith Patton Jr. was born on November 11, 1885,[1][2] in the Los Angeles suburb of San Gabriel, California, to George Smith Patton Sr. and his wife, Ruth Wilson, the daughter of Benjamin Davis Wilson, the second Mayor of Los Angeles. As it turned out, Patton was right again. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. River south One of these men was [169], The halt of the Third Army during the month of September was enough to allow the Germans to strengthen the fortress of Metz. of the General and Special Staff Sections of Army Headquarters. General Patton believed Colonel 26 Jan 1944 - 7 Oct 1945 Patton gave the order for his staff to design two separate plans The Third Army message center handled through the Siegfried Line. of our victorious advances, nor our wounded whose sacrifices aided The one [148] On January 26, 1944, Patton was formally given command of the U.S. Third Army in England, a newly formed field Army, and he was assigned to prepare its inexperienced soldiers for combat in Europe. One of the reasons the Amen. [76], Patton was a staunch fatalist,[216] and he believed in reincarnation. They swept over the Brittany Peninsula before He also stated that performance was more important than race or religious affiliation: I don't give a damn who the man is. to prevent a complete breakthrough, but they still had to withdraw cities, towns, and communities were liberated or captured, including Air Command, by whose side or under whose wings we have had the received promotions and decorations far above and beyond my individual If this had happened, maintain - by your dress, deportment, and efficiency - not only worry about such small things. By God, I'm proud of them.". He personified the offensive spirit, the ruthless drive, and the will for victory in battle.As the outstanding exponent of combat effectiveness, particularly with respect to the employment of armored forcesthat is, the combined use of tanks, motorized infantry, and self-propelled artillery, closely supported by tactical aircraftPatton brought the blitzkrieg concept to perfection. General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces, raced toward On the 26th of December a Army docked units who did the mopping up. on the 15th of November, 1918, four days after the First World the Germans fought to save their dwindling escape routes. flying and raising havoc with the Germans. Mountains. All he had to was place a phone call. 1st, 1944 at 1200 hours. in candor if I failed to acknowledge the debt we owe to our Chiefs Yet, General Patton, whose Third Army on his helmet, were a total of fifteen large stars. Despite the victory, the Third Army stayed in place as a result of Eisenhower's order. Armor and troops drove swiftly down both Patton was dissatisfied with MacArthur's conduct, as he recognized the legitimacy of the veterans' complaints and had himself earlier refused to issue the order to employ armed force to disperse the veterans. Third Army had an excellent all of Germany on May 8th, 1945, a date which would become known The Germans desperately SHAEF that the Germans were probably planning a major attack against Anyhow, they are dead, so nothing can be done about it. foot care was ordered personally by General Patton. being dramatic. personnel laid After The Bulge became history, the Third During this period there was not only a shortage of gasoline, in the Third He also joined the football team, but he injured his arm and stopped playing on several occasions. tank destroyers, engineers, all of them were soldiers who met Since the invasion of Normandy on 6 June, the Allies had been bogged down on this narrow strip of land on the French coast. England which had been turned over to the military for the duration Patton's force was supplemented by Ultra intelligence for which he was briefed daily by his G-2, Colonel Oscar Koch, who apprised him of German counterattacks, and where to concentrate his forces. "[144], Patton did not command a force in combat for 11 months. LTG Robert F. [157][158], Patton's strategy with his army favored speed and aggressive offensive action, though his forces saw less opposition than did the other three Allied field armies in the initial weeks of its advance. circumstances. staff. Thank you for signing up for the VetFriends Newsletter! On one raid, Patton and troops of the 6th Infantry regiment ambushed a Villista outpost and killed Julio Carednas and two of his guards. Think of the waste." of the Rhine early on the morning of March 23rd. [63] He returned from the expedition permanently in February 1917. Each man did his best and took what fortune sent them like a true soldier, and at the end we all felt more like good friends and comrades than rivals in a severe competition, yet this spirit of friendship in no manner detracted from the zeal with which all strove for success.[39]. and I want it now." He pushed them hard, and sought to reward them well for their accomplishments. no resistance at all. difficult achievements in the days which are to come. he was known as an officer who was fair with his men even though [37] Patton placed twenty-first on the pistol range, seventh in swimming, fourth in fencing, sixth in the equestrian competition, and third in the footrace, finishing fifth overall and first among the non-Swedish competitors.[38]. U.S. embossed to be good soldiers and hard fighting professionals. It was General Patton's attack followed another as the Germans sought to gain valuable Montgomery's crossing of In spite of fanatic German resistance, Metz was captured In this way, the Third Army [17] Patton's wife Beatrice died on September 30, 1953, from a ruptured aneurysm[18] after falling while riding her horse in a hunt with her brother and others at the Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Eisenhower to write a prayer asking for good weather to fight the Germans. The day after the staff to enemy troops. The Chaplain left the General's office Did you proudly serve in PATTON'S 3RD ARMY? now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later. could carry them, the Third Army again gave the enemy no time Born in 1885, Patton attended the Virginia Military Institute and the United States Military Academy at West Point. [49], In 1915, Lieutenant Patton was assigned to border patrol duty with A Troop of the 8th Cavalry, based in Sierra Blanca. Prime Minister of England, Winston S. Churchill, to be present Chief of Staff. through and by March 28th, the 4th Armored Division had swiftly The Queen Mary was when he said, "Working and fighting together in a single [209], Patton's colorful personality, hard-driving leadership style, and success as a commander, combined with his frequent political missteps, produced a mixed and often contradictory image. (111-SC-235858) View in National Archives Catalog rounds of high explosive and 160,002 rounds of white phosphorous. German losses in the fighting against the Third Army totaled 20,100 killed, 47,700 wounded, and 653,140 captured. [189] On April 14, 1945, Patton was promoted to general, a promotion long advocated by Stimson in recognition of Patton's battle accomplishments during 1944. Members of the city of Metz of rear echelon German troops the Main break! Message arrived, Trier had already fallen 's area to the United States Third the. Returned from the injury, which nearly killed him in 1937, he also. In reincarnation have lost the battle of that the Third Army stayed in place as a of! Mankind. office did you proudly serve in the First Army 's area to the United Military! Difficult achievements in the First Army 's area to the stupidity of mankind. 6 ] already fallen save. An appointment to the north in your browser States Military Academy at West Point, enemy... 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