Aug 14, 2015 promoted to lieutenant general, patton is sent to sicily, where he engages in a personal war of egos with british field marshal montgomery michael bates. I have read a lot of books on ike and now i am reading books on patton. American units continued to pour into france until early 1918. Making note of it in his diary, patton declared the book to be pretty sticky. General patton s principles for life and leadership, 5th edition. Gen patton s principles for life and leadership, by porter b. They were traveling at about thirtyfive miles per hour when an army truck turned from a side road into their path. Now from bill oreilly, iconic anchor of the oreilly factor, comes the most epic book of all in this multimillionselling series.
A genius for war, this book would make a good introduction to patton for the general or casual reader. General pattons principles for life and leadership 1988. Sergeant mims, his regular driver, was in the hospital, and a substitute was at the wheel. In world war ii he commanded 194243 a corps in north africa and the 7th army in sicily. Patton 18851945 was also notable for drama and style. Patton grew up reading and taking on roles in the iliad and the odyssey, shakespearean plays, bible stories, and stirring tales by sir walter scott, rudyard kipling, arthur conan doyle, and g.
Seventh army in the mediterranean theater of world war ii, and the u. The entire collection spans the years 18071979, with the bulk of the papers concentrated from 1904 to 1945. Washington post book world hirshson does a fine job of capturing george s. Oct 02, 2015 in this interview, tim wilcox shares the inside story on the death of george s patton as documented in the book target patton, written by tims cousin robert wilcox. A graduate of west point 1909, he served in world war i and was wounded while commanding a tank brigade in france. Patton 35 movie clip rommel, you magnificent bastard. Sep 22, 2014 we believe he was poisoned in the hospital by the russian secret service, oreilly says. He led a series of wildly successful offensive operations in europe during world war ii, but his controversial and erratic behaviour off the battlefield damaged his reputation and hampered his own career advancement. In 1904, he enrolled in vmi in preparation for west point. November 11, 1885 december 21, 1945 was a general of the united states army who commanded the u.
On december 9, 1945, patton was returning from a pheasant hunt with his chief of staff, major general hobart hap gay. Legendary for his tactical speed in war, general george s. Sep 11, 2019 in december 1945, general patton broke his neck in a car crash near mannheim, germany. The man behind the legend, 18851945 is an insightful, succinct biography of the most famous american general of the twentieth century. Patton comes from the academy awardwinning film patton 1970. These texts offered patton inspiration on adventure and heroism, as well as insight into human drama, emotions, and conflict. The strange death of world war iis most audacious general is a book written by bill oreilly and martin dugard about the final year of world war ii and the death of general george patton, specifically whether it was an accident or an assassination. Pattons contradictions and the decidedly unpleasant aspects of his character. The first patton, robert, emigrated to virginia from scotland about 1770. None too surprisingly, when palgrave macmillan launched a great generals series of short biographies, number one on its list of subjects was george s. Mar 26, 2018 patton grew up reading and taking on roles in the iliad and the odyssey, shakespearean plays, bible stories, and stirring tales by sir walter scott, rudyard kipling, arthur conan doyle, and g. The collection documents pattons military career, including his attendance at the.
General pattons principles for life and leadership, 5th. Patton, americas greatest combat general of the second world war, was assassinated after the conflict with the connivance of us leaders, according to a new book. November 11, 1885 december 21, 1945 was a general of the. Patton in world war i american warrior series by jon b. Patton jr, was one of the most brilliant military strategists in history.
Military academy at west point, new york, where he was forced to repeat his plebe freshman year because of poor grades. The historic image of patton has been indelibly molded by george c. I dont measure a mans success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom. Six primary elements leadership, decision making, information. Patton sailed off to save the world 75 years ago and. Utilising untapped archival materials in both the usa and uk, government documents, family papers, and oral histories, hirshson creates the most balanced portrait of patton ever written.
Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. The battle for sicily, 1943, by carlo deste alternatively, i recommend panzer battles, by maj gen f. General pattons principles for life and leadership by porter b. Patton was vocally antisoviet at a time when the u. It explains pattons belief in a soldiers valhalla, connects the familys wealth to one of americas bitterest labor strikes, and disputes the usual interpretation of.
General bradley and the army air forces general carl spaatz shared the number one position, walter bedell smith was ranked number three, and patton number four. Mar 27, 2018 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. This is a massive biography of general george patton 820 pages of text, and more pages of footnotes, references, etc. Subsequently he served in the cavalry and the tank corps. Patton 18851945 are part of a larger collection of patton papers available for research use onsite in the manuscript reading room of the library of congress. Third army in france and germany following dday, the allied invasion of normandy in june 1944. Hirshsons general patton is a very well written, revealing and very satisfying look at the american military icon, general george s. The book was warmly endorsed by both general patton s son and daughter as being true to the character of their father his drive, his indomitable will, his faith, his genius as a warrior, and especially of the extraordinary bond with his troops.
George patton was the most brilliant commander of an army in the open field that our or any other service produced. Scott, karl malden, michael bates and karl michael vogler. This book focuses on patton the man and not all of his actions, and at times is a bit fawning. George patton was the most brilliant commander of an. Jun 30, 2017 in 2008, author robert wilcox wrote a sensational book on the circumstances surrounding the accident and later death of patton called target patton. A graduate of west point 1909, he served in world war i and was wounded. Patton jr, an inspirational leader and outstanding tactician, has intrigued and confounded his biographers. It begins with the roots of his predecessors in the new world. The first chapter outlines the development of the family from that point to the civil war. Adored by many and loathed by some, general george s. Patton, now at the army war college in carlisle, pa two grandsons the sons of general pattons deceased oldest daughterand two corporations.
Army general who was arguably the allies most gifted tank commander. His whole family loved books, and he and his sister and parents would not only read. A soldiers life reveals patton as a complex soldier capable of brilliant military maneuvers but also of inspiring horrendous acts with fiery speeches. What lasting battle command lessons can we learn from him. Third army in france and germany after the allied invasion of normandy in june 1944 born in 1885 to a family whose members had served in the united states and confederate states armies, patton. Patton enjoyed military history in particular, especially books about the american civil war, a conflict in which his grandfather and greatuncle had been killed while fighting for the confederacy. As patton flew through these engrossing books, the convoy carrying. He died at the hospital in heidelberg 12 days later on december 21, 1945. Jun 15, 2003 discover book depositorys huge selection of george s patton books online. Pattons appetite for reading was nurtured from a young age.
Perhaps like many who are interested in this book, my prime connection to the general is the film patton, staring george c. The latter author was the editor of the patton papers and bro. The narrator has an inflection while reading the book that seemingly betrays negative personal feelings towards patton. The book, which caused a huge controversy, said that patton had been assassinated on orders from highranking american military leaders. The book is the followup to killing kennedy, killing lincoln, and killing jesus. Destes massive and thoroughly researched biography serves to separate the man from. Patton was a typea field general with many great qualities, a very conservatively minded individual with strong ideals and grand motivations. The personal and candid account of general patton s celebrated, relentless crusade across western europe during world war ii first published in 1947, war as i knew it is an absorbing narrative that draws from patton s vivid memories of battle and his detailed diaries, covering the moment the third army exploded onto the brittany peninsula to the final allied casualty report. Recordings from world war i and the 1920 election, 19181920. Patton is a 1970 american epic biographical war film about u.
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