General George S. Patton Jr.
Tyler Krantz
Junior Division
Historical Paper
Word Count: 1955
“A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”
General George S. Patton Jr.
In the midst of the chaos of World War II the world waited for a leader to navigate the
Allied forces to victory against the Axis powers. General George S. Patton Jr. rose to this challenge with his offensive leadership style. “We shall attack and attack until we are exhausted, and then we shall attack again” declared Patton to his troops before the North African Landings
(“Patton’s Career”).
Patton was integral in the Allied victories in Africa and Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge where he relentlessly drove his Third Army over 100 miles, under impossible conditions to relieve a surrounded unit. General George S. Patton’s military prowess was the result of his obsessive desire to remain on the offensive and tenacious ability to keep the enemy off balance. Often seen as a loose cannon and hothead that put political stress on his superiors,
Patton’s unorthodox leadership style had a dynamic effect on the battlefield. The same characteristics that made Patton, at times, an embarrassment to his superiors were also the characteristics that made him such a superb war leader that helped lead the Allied forces to victory. Although controversy surrounded General Patton, his fierce leadership style and offensive war plan cemented his legacy in military history.
As a child George Patton felt destined to become a military leader. George Patton loved war. He got this passion by listening to his family members telling old war stories throughout his childhood. Patton’s ancestors fought in many wars including the Mexican American War
and the Civil War (Pettinger). Patton’s first attempt to carry on this family tradition was when
Patton was admitted into U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1909.
His first year ended in failure. Not an intellectual stand-out, Patton was prone to academic struggles. He needed a military conflict for his leadership traits to unveil themselves.
He was designed to lead troops through grit and determination and to strike first in an offensive strategy. (Hogg 332)
Patton first experienced military conflict in March 1916, during the Poncho Villa
Expedition. Initially left out of the conflict Patton pleaded to Commander John J. Pershing to participate in the operation. Pershing, impressed by Patton’s determination, appointed him to be his personal aide. By mid-April Patton was in command of troops where he led the first motorized attack in the history of US warfare which resulted in the killing of Julio Cardenas henchman of Poncho Villa (Hickman). Patton’s leadership styles started in the first Great War.
While commanding troops during World War I Patton was shot in the thigh. Instead of receiving medical attention and leaving the battlefield Patton commanded his troops from a shell hole.
(Klein)
The years between World War I and World War II were very hard on the Army of the
United States because of severe lack of funding and the drastic reduction of forces. Patton along with the majority of Army leaders was discouraged but continued to develop tactics that would be instrumental to the coming war effort. He was particularly adept at recognizing and conducting groundbreaking work on armor tactics (Interview).
World War II erupted when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The
Nazi’s continued their campaign to transform Europe into a totalitarian state of a master Aryan
race by sweeping through most of Europe and crushing nearly everyone in their path. Germany went on to invade Russia in June 1941. Although hesitant to join the Second Great War the
United States of America quietly supported their allies, Great Britain. However, the United
States was forced to declare war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor and war on Germany shortly afterwards due to the alliance between Japan and Nazi Germany.
The United States decided that the best way to engage the Germans and enter continental
Europe was by going through Africa and driving out the Nazi forces. In June of 1940 the United
States was part of the North African Campaign that was fought between the Allies and Axis
Powers. The first major operation by the U S forces against the Germans included the Battle of
Kasserine Pass. This battle was a humiliating defeat for the American II Corps led by Major
General Lloyd Frendendall. “Their first major clash with Germans, the battle showed an enemy with superiority in experience and equipment as well as exposed several flaws in the American command structure and doctrine” (Hickman). The US soldiers were too confident in themselves and they were led poorly by General Frendendall.
Following the defeat at Kasserine Pass, General George S. Patton, a West Point and
Virginia Military Institute graduate, was appointed by the supreme Allied Commander, General
Dwight Eisenhower as Commander of II Corps. With a take charge leadership style he was sent to Africa to inspire his soldiers. “Patton diligently worked to restore discipline and fighting spirit to II Corps” (Hickman). General Patton would prepare quickly and go on the offensive. He believed, that in the long run being on the offensive would create fewer casualties. He also believed he could end the war sooner by continually driving the enemy back and not being on the defensive and holding territory. “The hill was Patton's most advanced position at one point on the Gafsa-Gabès road. U.S. troops who had fought without sleep for 48 hours seized it, then
barely had time to scratch out shallow foxholes before 88-mm. cannon began blasting at them from German tanks in the pass below and from artillery in overlooking hills.” (Djebel el
Kreroua) Unlike British Field Marshall Montgomery, of the British Forces, who would wait until everything was perfect (weather, air support, artillery, etc.) before attacking, General Patton would attack as fast and as soon as possible (“Patton’s Career”).
Although General Patton demanded that his soldiers were in top fighting condition, conveyed through profane language and strict conduct rules he was often seen visiting injured soldiers at their bedside in military field hospitals. He would talk, comfort, and often times cry with his wounded men. They realized that Patton was a serious soldier who had one mind set and that was to win with the least amount of casualties as possible. Patton’s perception of a wartime injury was a physical not mental wound and that if you were not injured you should be fighting on the front lines. A prime example of this leadership style was exhibited in August of
1943 during the allied invasion of Sicily. As General Patton was touring the hospital tents talking to the wounded he saw Private Paul G. Bennett without any visible injuries. When Patton asked him what was wrong with him, Pvt. Bennett said: “It’s my nerves, I cannot take it anymore.” Patton slapped him twice and called him a coward. General Patton told the staff that he was not to be treated anymore and to immediately transfer him back out to the front lines.
Patton also said that the Private might get shot back out there on the front lines and that he
(Patton) might as well shoot him right then and there (Perzo). Having left the hospital Patton made his way to General Bradley’s headquarters where he simply explained “Sorry to be late, stopped off at a hospital on the way, there were a couple of malingerers there; I slapped one of them to put some fight back into him (Hogg 400).
Widely criticized for slapping the Private, General Patton was required to apologize for his actions. General Dwight Eisenhower, his superior, relieved him in Sicily and sidelined him from the front lines for nearly a year. Infuriated, Patton became a decoy sending false intelligence to Nazi Germany. General Patton was put in command of a ghost army, while the actual invasion force was being formed and trained elsewhere. The ruse was extraordinarily effective and was instrumental in tying up a huge German force away from the actual battle area.
The Germans could just not believe that a General of the caliber of Patton would not be leading the main effort.
The Allied invasion of France took place in June 1944 with a huge landing force and although successful the assault quickly bogged down and General Eisenhower realized that
Patton would have to be brought out of “retirement” to restore the initiative to the battlefield.
General Patton was given command of the 3rd Army and immediately went on the offensive and began pushing the German forces out of France. The Germans, however had one more, great offensive in them and it would be known as the Battle of the Ardennes Forest, better known to the Allies as the Battle of the Bulge.
The American and Germans met at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest in December of 1944. Germany launched an offensive attack on the American positions while the Americans counter-attacked. Although the fight was in doubt for weeks, the Americans ultimately gained the upper hand. The win at the Battle of the Bulge was a direct reflection of
General Patton’s leadership and offensive mindedness. As Patton was attacking in the Saar
Basin he had to redeploy his troops to save the crumbling 101st American Airborne Division on the south side of the bulge. He redeployed his troops in amazing speed across cold unforgiving land (“Patton’s Career”). Patton moved 250,000 men and 133,000 vehicles 50 miles in freezing
weather, major snowstorms and ice frozen roads (Hogg455). Time after time Patton proved that he led his soldiers by example.
People thought that General George S. Patton Jr. was not only one of the most brilliant soldiers in American history, but also inspiring, unorthodox and audacious. Even the enemy thought the same. The Nazi Generals admitted that they were more afraid of General Patton than any other Field Commander (“Patton’s Career”).
Patton was definitely not a general who commanded in the safety of the back lines but instead was always on the front lines being a role model for his men and encouraging his troops. Patton believed that officers should lead troops not direct them (“Patton Commands”). Patton found out the importance of being a role model and showing his men what was expected when he fell to the ground after an artillery shell exploded nearby. When he looked behind him he saw all of his men laying on the ground with him. He stayed standing when another shell exploded and when he looked around to his men this time they copied him and remained standing (Kluckhohn).
Patton even went forward with a tank unit. When one tank remained and the driver seemed nervous Patton sat atop the tank during the fight to encourage the driver (Blumenson).
General Patton was reputed to have once said, in a speech, that `When your grandchildren ask you what you did the war, you can tell them, “I fought with Patton.” You won’t have to shift them to the other knee, cough and say I shoveled dirt in Louisiana.” Born to be a wartime leader, the battlefield showcased the characteristics that made Patton a decisive leader that lead from the front. The same traits that had him slapping a private for being a coward, using profane laden speech and being a political risk to Eisenhower was what made Patton an essential part in winning World War II. Nicknamed “Old Bloods and Guts” for his passion for battle, the soldiers under his command admired his leadership. The way he led his troops is the same reason he was
a political embarrassment to President Eisenhower these were the traits that made him such a great leader. Patton’s leadership style and legacy has earned him a place in the world’s history.
WORKS CITED Primary: Kluckhohn, Frank” Always Go Forward”. New York Times 4 April 1943: 1-2. Print. This newspaper article gave me an example of when General Patton learned the importance of being a role model. Patton quality of being a role model made up most of what won the war. “Patton’s career a brilliant one.” Obituary. 22 December 1945. The Learning Network. New York Times. 2015. Web. 21 January 2015. www.nytimes.com. Patton’s Obituary told me what people thought about him. The obituary gave me a detailed summary of his military life and accomplishments. “Patton commands in Mid-Tunisia; leads Americans in offensive.” New York Times 19 March 1943: 1. Print. This newspaper article gives a perfect description of General Patton’s view on leadership. In it I learned how Patton viewed officers and how they should lead their troops. "World Battlefronts: BATTLE OF AFRICA: In the Dust of the Khamsin." Time 5 Apr. 1943. Print. This source really showed the bravery and determination of Patton’s men. Secondary:
Blumenson, Martin. Patton the Man behind the Legend, 1885-1945. New York: William Morrow, 1985. Print. This article gave me a time when Patton took his leadership style to the extreme. This definitely strengthened his role model leadership style. Gitlin, Martin. “George S Patton World War 2 general and military innovator.” Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company, 2010. Print. This book gave me opinions from other people who backed Patton up on the slapping incident. Which also strengthened his leadership style. Hickman, Kennedy. "World War II: General George S. Patton." About Education. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
I learned a lot about how General Patton got into the War. It told me about the Battle of Kasserine Pass. It gave me a lot of information on how America and Patton entered the war. Hogg, Ivan. Great American Generals of World War 2. New York: Smith Publishers Inc. 1984. Print. Great American Generals of World War 2 was a portal into General Patton’s mind and thoughts. It gave me information on what he thought during the war. Klein, Christopher.” 10 things you may not know about George Patton”. History. 27 May 2014. Web. 19 November 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Gallagher, Patrick Son of Francis Gallagher, served under Patton. Interview on General Patton. 31 March 2015
My grandpa helped me a lot with the finer details of Patton’s life and wartime history.