How Patton's Third Army Smashed Their Way Out of Normandy?

In July 1944, Normandy was the site of intense fighting.

The Allies had made progress in France despite suffering major losses on several beaches, and the scattering of paratroopers across the French countryside.

US General George S. Patton was such a prominent figure that, while not participating in the battle, he helped to mold the outcome.

The German High Command regarded Patton more highly than any other Allied commander and saw him as central to any attempt to invade Europe from England.

As a result, Patton was assigned to command the fictional First United States Army Group during the deception scheme Operation Fortitude, in the first half of 1944.

This helped to mask the real location of the invasion in Normandy.

Patton had arrived in Normandy, a month after the D-Day landings. He assembled the US Third Army, the unit with which he would launch his attack, behind Allied lines.

Following the opening of a path by Operation Cobra, Patton directed Third Army east, west, south and north assisting in the capture of tens of thousands of German soldiers.

Patton's army's strategy prioritized speed and aggressive offensive action.

[futuregenerationz]

I grew up thinking Patton was George C. Scott with that deep, pensive, emotional growl. Instead I hear this high pitched whine with this heavy fieldhand southern accent reminiscent of Walter Brennan. Scott's acting job was propaganda. The actual Patton was not as charismatic.

[Senaleb]

Gotta love the armchair generals on here telling us how Patton wasn't very good lol.

[josephpearlman]

If allowed and not restricted, Patton could have ended the war a few months earlier, beat the Soviets to Berlin and occupy all of Germany.

[scottkrater]

He wasn't demoted because of the 2 incidents in Sicily, he was removed from command temporarily, and transferred to the rear and then England, his punishment was that Bradley his former subordinate in Sicily became his commander in France.

[craigdeandean]

This is first grade level commentary try again

[evolvedmonkey]

Patton was punished because of his success that was a threat to Montgomery, personally I think Patton as the best alied general of the war, Operation Market Garden was a disaster and Patton knew it, If focus was given to him he would have raced to Berlin long before the soviets. I consider Patton as the general "soldier", bold, tenacious and courageous, troops under his command admired him.

[williamromine]

You point out that Patton did not command a fighting force for 11 months. What's interesting, is that Eisenhower never commanded a fighting force in his entire career! Yet, he was the Supreme Commander of the allied forces in western Europe.

[seanbumstead]

The reason he was advancing so fast is because the Canadian's and British were fighting the better equipped and tougher German units

[bobelliott]

Patton was a pretty good general but he walked out of Normandy...all the German forces were to his east. He did very good at the relief of US forces at the Bulge however.

[TheSaltydog]

My Dad caught up to him at Bastogne. Rest in peace, Daddy.

[jonschaefer]

The truth is if Patton was not there we would still be fight that war. Just read the Patton papers. Volumes #1 and #2. Takes a hard look into the mind of a military Genius

[richardthelionheart]

I don't understand the hype for Patton. He was perfectly fine when rampaging through virtually undefended countryside; whenever he ran into serious opposition though, his record looks less impressive, and both in Sicily and at Metz, he wasted lives charging into prepared positions because he was rushing for reasons of personal ego, to say nothing of throwing away troops trying to rescue his son-in-law. He lost more men in Lorraine against pretty second-rate German troops than MacArthur lost in New Guinea and the retaking of Leyte combined.

[dogmadogma]

SIMPLE place all the heavy German armor including all the Tiger tanks in the Western theatre up against the Brits.

[JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Market Garden - Monty's greatest failure

[wombatwilly]

Should've listened to old George and pushed Stalin out of Europe

[machinist]

My dad was a tracked vehicle mechanic with the 4th Armored Division. He spoke very little of his experiences.

[jm]

My grandfather served as a Sherman crewman in Pattons 3rd. He rarely spoke of the war itself. But spoke very highly of Patton

[randywarren]

In my mind, Patton and Montgomery had 2 things in common, they both were egotistical maniacs and both thought they were right and everyone else was wrong!

[mustafajsiraj]

You should make a video about the tankbattle before warsaw also known as battle of radzymin in 1944 where the germans crushed several soviet armies(the soviets lost 500tanks) i think a lot of people don't know about this battle

[photoisca]

I'm not a fan of the hype that surrounds Patton but I concede he was probably the best the U.S had. Although not the god that American fan-boys think he was. IMO Patton missed his opportunity when he blotted his copybook in Sicily. He was the man for the job in Italy. Replacing him with the disastrous Mark-Clark cost many lives and the war in Italy dragged on until V.E day.