Changes

General '''George Smith Patton Jr.''' was a celebrated and controversial American general in [[World War II]], famed for his successes in armored warfare against the Germans in 1944-45.  His public image of tough-minded courage in battle remains fixed in the popular image of the war.  '''''Historians estimate that Patton's Third Army caused an astounding 55% of all of Germany's casualties in the war, while Patton's own men suffered only 9% of the losses on our side.'''''<ref>[http://romanushistory11.wikifoundry.com/page/The+Battle+of+the+Bulge The Battle of the Bulge]</ref>

General '''George Smith Patton Jr.''' was a celebrated and controversial American general in [[World War II]], famed for his successes in armored warfare against the Germans in 1944-45.  His public image of tough-minded courage in battle remains fixed in the popular image of the war.  '''''Historians estimate that Patton's Third Army caused an astounding 55% of all of Germany's casualties in the war, while Patton's own men suffered only 9% of the losses on our side.'''''<ref>[http://romanushistory11.wikifoundry.com/page/The+Battle+of+the+Bulge The Battle of the Bulge]</ref>

Patton served in the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] in France in [[World War I]] as a senior tank officer. In World War II, he commanded U.S. Army invasions of North Africa (1942-43) and Sicily (1943). He perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  Prior to being deployed in North Africa, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s innovative tactics and the unbridled enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with fewer casualties than anyone else.

Patton served in the [[American Expeditionary Forces]] in France in [[World War I]] as a senior tank officer. In World War II, he commanded U.S. Army invasions of North Africa (1942–43) and Sicily (1943). He perfected the art of lightning-fast tank maneuvers and unrestrained aggression, and he was the only Allied leader feared by the Germans.  Prior to being deployed in North Africa, Patton led his men in war games in Atlanta that were supposed to last for many days.  Patton’s innovative tactics and the unbridled enthusiasm of his men enabled him to win the games in just a day or two.  Patton inspired a unique loyalty and spirit in his men that enabled his troops to win quicker and with fewer casualties than anyone else.

[[Liberals]] hated Patton and feared that, after defeating the Germans, he would then push the [[communist]] [[Russia]]n forces out of Eastern Europe. Given Patton's brilliance as a general, the liberals' fear was right, for once.  Exploiting an exaggerated incident whereby Patton slapped a wounded soldier, liberal military leadership gave Patton command in 1944 of a 'fake' army designed to fool the Germans as to where the invasion of France would take place. He was then given command of a major unit, the Third Army, pushed the Germans out of France, defended and counterattacked at the [[Battle of the Bulge]], then rolled through Germany in 1945. He died in an automobile accident.  Patton has a very high visibility as a gruff, no nonsense, attacker who promoted armored force as they key to mobility and victory. His lightning-fast tank maneuvers shocked even the inventors of blitzkrieg.

[[Liberals]] hated Patton and feared that, after defeating the Germans, he would then push the [[communist]] [[Russia]]n forces out of Eastern Europe. Given Patton's brilliance as a general, the liberals' fear was right, for once.  Exploiting an exaggerated incident whereby Patton slapped a wounded soldier, liberal military leadership gave Patton command in 1944 of a 'fake' army designed to fool the Germans as to where the invasion of France would take place. He was then given command of a major unit, the Third Army, pushed the Germans out of France, defended and counterattacked at the [[Battle of the Bulge]], then rolled through Germany in 1945. He died in an automobile accident.  Patton has a very high visibility as a gruff, no nonsense, attacker who promoted armored force as they key to mobility and victory. His lightning-fast tank maneuvers shocked even the inventors of blitzkrieg.

==The 1970 movie==

==The 1970 movie==

[[Image:George_C._Scott.jpg|right|200px|thumb|George C. Scott as Patton in the 1970 film; unlike the gravel-voiced Scott, Patton spoke with a falsetto: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYjnWXFTQkM&feature=related]]]

[[Image:George_C._Scott.jpg|right|200px|thumb|George C. Scott as Patton in the 1970 film; unlike the gravel-voiced Scott, Patton spoke with a falsetto: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYjnWXFTQkM&feature=related]]]

Patton became famous to new generations due to an Oscar-winning 1970 movie starring George C. Scott in the title role.  It is a biographical film, based based on the books ''Patton: Ordeal and Triumph,'' by Ladislas Farago, and ''A Soldier's Story'', by General of the Army [[Omar Bradley]] (Bradley served as technical adviser in the film, and was himself played by Karl Malden).  The opening scene is one of the most familiar in film history, with Patton standing before a large American flag and delivering a speech to unseen troops based upon one he gave on June 5th, 1944<ref>http://www.pattonhq.com/speech.html</ref>, yet sanitizing away several of the obscenities. Patton used harsh and foul language and castigated cowards, or "psychoneurotics," and those who used self-inflicted wounds to get out of combat. The basic message was "shoot and keep shooting,"<ref>Pullen (2005)</ref> keeping with the General's standing order of "Always take the offensive; never dig in."  This movie even had to tone down the strength of Patton's real speeches, in order to make them palatable to a general civilian audience.

Patton became famous to new generations due to an Oscar-winning 1970 movie starring George C. Scott in the title role.  It is a biographical film, based based on the books ''Patton: Ordeal and Triumph,'' by Ladislas Farago, and ''A Soldier's Story'', by General of the Army [[Omar Bradley]] (Bradley served as technical adviser in the film, and was himself played by Karl Malden).  The opening scene is one of the most familiar in film history, with Patton standing before a large American flag and delivering a speech to unseen troops based upon one he gave on June 5, 1944,<ref>http://www.pattonhq.com/speech.html</ref> yet sanitizing away several of the obscenities. Patton used harsh and foul language and castigated cowards, or "psychoneurotics," and those who used self-inflicted wounds to get out of combat. The basic message was "shoot and keep shooting,"<ref>Pullen (2005)</ref> keeping with the General's standing order of "Always take the offensive; never dig in."  This movie even had to tone down the strength of Patton's real speeches, in order to make them palatable to a general civilian audience.

The movie was originally filmed and presented on 70mm wide-screen film, and had a dimension of spectacle which cannot be fully appreciated in home video. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and originally distributed by 20th Century Fox, ''Patton'' won seven academy awards including "Best Picture."  Critic Roger Ebert said it was ''"released at the height of the unpopular war in Vietnam, was described by many reviewers at the time as "really" an anti-war film. It was nothing of the kind. It was a hard-line glorification of the military ethic, personified by a man whose flaws and eccentricities marginalized him in peacetime, but found the ideal theater in battle. In this he was not unlike Churchill; both men used flamboyance, eccentricity and a gift for self-publicity as a way of inspiring their followers and perplexing the enemy. That Patton was in some ways mad is not in doubt--at least to the makers of this film--but his accomplishments overshadowed, even humiliated, his cautious and sane British rival, Montgomery."''<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020317/REVIEWS08/203170301/1023</ref>

The movie was originally filmed and presented on 70mm wide-screen film, and had a dimension of spectacle which cannot be fully appreciated in home video. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and originally distributed by 20th Century Fox, ''Patton'' won seven academy awards including "Best Picture."  Critic Roger Ebert said it was ''"released at the height of the unpopular war in Vietnam, was described by many reviewers at the time as "really" an anti-war film. It was nothing of the kind. It was a hard-line glorification of the military ethic, personified by a man whose flaws and eccentricities marginalized him in peacetime, but found the ideal theater in battle. In this he was not unlike Churchill; both men used flamboyance, eccentricity and a gift for self-publicity as a way of inspiring their followers and perplexing the enemy. That Patton was in some ways mad is not in doubt--at least to the makers of this film--but his accomplishments overshadowed, even humiliated, his cautious and sane British rival, Montgomery."''<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020317/REVIEWS08/203170301/1023</ref>

* "May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't"

* "May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't"

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[List of military strategies and concepts]]

* [[List of military strategies and concepts]]

<references/>

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patton, George}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patton, George}}

[[Category: World War II Commanders]]

[[Category:World War II Commanders]]

[[Category : World War II]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category : People who were Educated at Home]]

[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]

[[Category : Military Strategies and Concepts]]

[[Category:Military Strategies and Concepts]]

[[Category : Military Commanders]]

[[Category:Military Commanders]]

[[Category : Oath Keepers]]

[[Category:Oath Keepers]]

[[Category : Patriots]]

[[Category:Patriots]]

[[Category : Veterans]]

[[Category:Veterans]]