General George Patton, American Hero

George Patton (1885-1945), often criticized for his harshness and overbearing nature, is nonetheless a hero in American history. Formally commanding officer of General Eisenhower, Patten was crucial to success in the European theater. What few people know, however, was that Patton was also an Olympian. He participated in Olympic shooting, swimming, fencing, and horse-riding.

In military affairs, he was a Captain during WWI and witness the first use of tanks in modern warfare. In WWII Patton first served in the African theater against the German Afrika Korps. It is well known that he was disliked by his soldiers because of his strict and cruel training techniques. However it is also known that most soldiers preferred to serve under him as they felt there was a better change of getting home alive.

After the Germans and Italians were pushed out of North Africa, Patton was assigned to the Italian offensive, and then to daunting challenge of commanding the Third Army’s push after the Normandy Invasion. Patton, during this time, also worked with US intelligence to plant misinformation. He did this by living in a way before Normandy that convinced Germans that the US was planning to attack from the South or Balkans.

Below are a few statistics about the 3rd Army that would confirm those soldiers that thought he was their best chance to make it back alive:

According to Charles M. Province

The enemy lost an estimated 1,280,688 captured [including 515,205 captured after the end of combat in the last week of the war - ed.], 144,500 killed, and 386,200 wounded, adding up to 1,811,388.

By comparison, the Third Army suffered 16,596 killed, 96,241 wounded, and 26,809 missing in action for a total of 139,646 casualties.

Regardless of what arguments there are against Patton and his behavior towards troops and Eisenhower etc., he was a great soldier and a great asset to the Allied Forces and undoubtedly helped put an end to Hitler’s empire.