How Did Pattons Reputation Play

How Did Pattons Reputation Play a Key Role in The D Day Victory
Michael A. Reese
ENG-2100-30 - Research Writing&Argument

Abstract

On June 6, 1944 Allied troops landed on the beach of Normandy to begin their European
onslaught against the Third Reich which had built a military superiority for nearly four years.
One interesting and often overlooked fact about this battle is that George Patton did not step foot
on the beach in Normandy that day. However, the man and the legend of the general did play a
key role to the allied victory before that day. How Did Pattons Reputation Play a Key Role in
The D Day Victory
Dont get excited when the whistle blows. I am not in the opening kickoff. (D DAY,
2014). This was a quote George Patton had written to his wife only two days before the grandest
battle was to take place. Why was one of the most successful generals of World War II sitting
out the beginning of such an auspicious battle? The answer is simply answered with one word.
Strategy.
Patton had a reputation which Nazi military leaders both feared and respected. These
feelings forced them to focus and plan their own military plans on and around Pattons
movements. This paper will focus on how Pattons deeds throughout his life created a reputation
to result in such attention. It will then layout the role and military operation which used Patton
as a decoy to strike against a disoriented Nazi defense. Finally, it is important to observe
Pattons leadership of the Third Army which helped to establish victory in Europe.
PATTONS EARLY YEARS
On November 11, 1885, George Smith Patton was born into a family with rooted into the
United States military history. Under the Patton military resume, can list battles from the
Revolutionary, Mexican, and Civil wars. This family history blanketed a young George in the
glories of competition, battle, and bravery. These characteristics led him in an education course

which included such establishments like the Virginia Military Academy and graduating West
Point in June of 1909.
In 1915, Patton gained world recognition while fighting under the tutelage of legendary
General John J. Pershing. This brought him across the battle field against Mexicos Francisco
Pancho Villa. .His success in these battles led him into a promising position when America
became entangled into World War I. Patton was able to demonstrate the value of tanks when he
became a member of the United States Tank Corps. Along with British tankers, he and his men
achieved victory at Cambria, France during the worlds first major tank battle in 1917 (The
Official, 2012). This success, led Patton into creating the armored force during the battle of
World War II.

ENTER WORLD WAR II

With his success in building a strong tank cavalry, Pattons talents were soon put to use in
the early battles of World War II. Here he was able to push back the opposing forces and take
back parts of Northern Africa and lower parts of France. These areas were considered to be
impenetrable and were not to be lost to an injured US military.
Here, Patton gained a reputation of being a fierce leader and gained the rank of Lieutenant
General. On top of this, Life Magazine put him on the cover with the nickname Blood and
Guts. He got this nickname for two reasons. The first was for pushing his subordinates to the
limits of exhaustion. And for slapping two soldiers who were suffering from battle fatigue in
front of the press. This gave him a reputation of expecting each person he was in command of
nothing but 100% effort when it came to being in a battle.

From incidents like the slapping and numerous successes both being made public over the
news outlets, Patton gained a strong notoriety which he used to his advantage.

Germany Notices Patton

According to the Armed Forces History Museum, Patton was the most respected Allied
commander by the German High Command.(2012). This fact and the combination of a limited
attack format (all attacks were coming from the south protecting the country of Germany from
any direct attacks) made the Germans realize that the allies would need to set a base on northern
European soil. They also assumed that the only one who would lead such an attack would be
Patton.
The D Day attack was planned and named Operation Overlord. The problem with this was
the sheer number of men and equipment would be easily seen by spies and the German Air force.
A diversion was also devised to lure any Nazi preparations away from the planned area to
another part of the country. This diversion was centered around Patton. False intelligence was
instantly spoon fed to the Nazis under the illusion that Patton was now in charge of the 1st US
Army group and was going to invade Pas De Calais. This is over 100 miles away from the true
point of planned landing.
This deception attack was named Operation Fortitude. To sell this even more, Patton was
placed on a different battle ground and surrounded by what could best be described as actors.
These actors were in the roles of solders, staff, and public relation officials playing the parts of
what would usually be based before an attack. Even more, props were also included. Balloons
were blown up and appeared to be tanks, planes, and other military equipment from the

surrounding area. Finally, sound effects were blasted all over the area to give the appearance of a
functioning military base.
According to dcmilitary.com, Fortitude-South, as the Pas de Calais feint was called, was
critical to the success of the Normandy invasion. They go on to say that, When the Allies
eventually landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944, the Germans were still bracing for the main
attack at Calais. Hitler believed the force landing in Normandy was the deception force, so he did
not divert troops or assets from Calais to assist forces on the Cotentin Peninsula(Himmer, 2013)

Aftermath

It took nearly seven weeks for Patton to get back into action. He was put in charge of third
army and given the southern and longest flank on a military push towards Germany. The idea
behind this was to keep Pattons behavior in control and make him back up to the other two
British and American Generals. Patton would have nothing to do with it and pushed his units to
the lead of the attack.
This push actually saved lives. Patton sought to avoid casualties by encircling German
armies. (Hanson, 2014). Hanson put this fact in his article. The article tried and pushed to
besmirch the man who was known as Blood and Guts.
So for all of his flaws as a man, his deeds on a battle field can and never will be denied. In
his book, The Rise And Fall 0f the Third Reich, Shirer gives credit for the European victory of
WWII in the following way, Gen. Pattons newly formed third Army, racing through the gap,
reached Avanches, opening the way to Brittany and to the Loire to the south. This was the
turning point in the Allied invasion(1960).

Even though Patton sat out the beginning of D Day and was not personally involved in its
planning, his reputation can only be equated to legendary status for the way that the Axis powers
were fooled into believing his future role in the attack its self. The true question is one of what
would have been a difference if he would have been involved in the planning of the battle or
incorporated in a more physical role its self.
References
D-Day: Three Unique Perspectives: Where was General Patton on D-day? (2014, January 1).
Retrieved January 16, 2015, from http://www.generalpatton.org/d-day/patton_dday.htm
Hanson, V. (2014, July 24). George Patton's Summer of 1944, by Victor Davis Hanson, National
Review. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/383516/george-pattons-summer-1944-victor-davishanson
Himmer, C. (2013, June 7). D-Day deception: Operation Fortitude -- DCMilitary.com. Retrieved
February 2, 2015, from
http://www.dcmilitary.com/article/20130607/NEWS08/130609934/d-day-deceptionoperation-fortitude
In the Eyes of the Germans. (2012, January 1). Retrieved February 1, 2015, from
http://armedforcesmuseum.com/george-s-patton-and-wwii/
The Official Website of General George Patton - Biography. (2012, January 1). Retrieved
February 3, 2015, from http://www.generalpatton.com/
Shirer, W. (1960). The Allied Invasion of Western Europe. In The rise and fall of the Third
Reich; a history of Nazi Germany. (p. 1076). New York: Simon and Schuster