George S. Patton

George Smith Patton Jr. was a U.S. Army general who commanded forces in North Africa, Sicily, and Western Europe during World War II. He was known for aggressive armored warfare and forceful public conduct.

Operation Torch: The Allied invasion of French North Africa, launched in November 1942. Patton took command of the Western Task Force, which landed in Morocco.
Armored warfare: Military operations centered on tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. Patton’s battlefield method relied on exploiting mobility and concentrated armor.
Dwight D. Eisenhower: The U.S. general who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II and later became president. Eisenhower repeatedly managed Patton’s assignments and the consequences of his public conduct.
Bend in the Road speech: A 1944 speech by Patton that suggested the United States and Britain had fought the wrong enemy. Its remarks about the Soviet Union prompted controversy and a public clarification.
Battle of El Guettar: A 1943 battle in Tunisia between U.S. forces and German troops. Patton’s II Corps fought there during his brief command in Tunisia.
M4 Sherman: The principal U.S. medium tank used by American forces in World War II. Shermans equipped much of the armored force Patton commanded in Europe.
Omar Bradley: A U.S. Army general who commanded forces in North Africa and Western Europe during World War II. Bradley was Patton’s superior in the European theater and a frequent operational counterpart.
Nazi salute controversy: A dispute over Patton’s remarks comparing Nazi Party membership to political affiliation in the United States. The controversy intensified scrutiny of his statements about Germans and denazification.
Sicilian campaign: The Allied invasion and conquest of Sicily from July to August 1943. Patton led the U.S. Seventh Army in its rapid advance across the island.
Combined arms: The coordinated use of multiple military branches and weapon types in combat. Patton’s operations depended on cooperation among tanks, infantry, artillery, and air power.

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