Gen. George Patton
Gen. George Patton (nicknamed "Old Blood 'n' Guts") was one of the most famous and sometimes infamous generals of World War 2. Gen. Patton started his WW2 campaign commanding II Corps during the North Africa campaign (OPERATION TORCH) and turning the tide there after a string of Allied defeats against the battle-hardened German Afrika Korps. After Africa, Patton commanded the U.S. 7th Army in the successful Allied invasion of Sicily. However, Patton was relieved of command after a publicized incident in which he slapped a shell-shocked soldier while visiting injured troops, accusing the soldier of cowardice. He was then sent to England to prepare the newly arrived 3rd Army for the invasion of France.
While in England, the Allies took advantage of Patton's notoriety among the German High Command and created a "Ghost Army", with Patton commanding. The Germans took the bait and kept many of their forces near the Pas-de-Calais, where they thought the Allied attack would come, led by Patton. Instead, the Allies attacked further south in Normandy. After the Allies captured a foothold in Normandy, Patton's 3rd Army was set loose on the German Wehrmacht, helping turn back a German counterattack in the Battle of the Bulge, and subsequently freeing over 10,000 miles of territory from Nazi control. Gen. Patton would not return to the United States as he was severely injured in an automobile accident in Germany in Oct 1945. He passed away shortly after from a pulmonary embolism as a complication from the accident. |