General George S. Patton Jr.’s observation captures the command philosophy that drove one of the most consequential operational achievements of World War II: the Third Army’s 90-degree pivot during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, in which Patton redirected over 250,000 men and hundreds of tanks from an eastward campaign in the Saar to a northward attack on the German southern flank of the Ardennes Offensive, breaking the siege of Bastogne and sealing off the Bulge by January 16, 1945. Patton committed to Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower at the December 19, 1944, Verdun commanders’ conference that the Third Army could attack with three divisions within 48 hours. He delivered on the commitment despite the worst winter weather in 50 years.
Patton Quote of the Day and How This U.S. Army General Changed History
‘Wars May Be Fought With Weapons, But They Are Won By Men’ – U.S. Army General George S. Patton
General George S. Patton Jr. was an outstanding combat leader, going from a lieutenant in Mexico during the Punitive Expedition chasing Pancho Villa, to commanding a battalion of the new armored forces in World War I, to commanding the Third Army in Europe during World War II.
U.S. Army General George Patton
Patton was arguably the finest combat commander that the United States ever produced. He was one of the most admired and most controversial generals ever to wear the uniform of the United States Army.
Patton grew up in a military family, where his ancestors fought in the American Revolution and for the Confederacy during the Civil War. He believed in reincarnation and wrote poetry. Although in public, he often delivered intense, profane, and charismatic extemporaneous speeches designed to instill aggression, confidence, and a “killer instinct”.
What Does The Quote Signify?
Patton’s quote emphasizes that human spirit, leadership, and morale are more decisive in victory than technology. This is not an outdated philosophy.
In fact, our troops of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) follow the “truths,” five foundational principles that guide U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and were established in 1987 by retired Army Col. John Collins and General David Barrato.
The first of SOF’s Truths is that “Humans are more important than hardware”: People—not equipment—make the critical difference; the right people, highly trained, will accomplish the mission. On the other hand, the best equipment in the world cannot compensate for a lack of the right people.
This was reiterated by Air Force General Dan Caine, after the rescue of the two F-15E pilots and weapons system officer. The F-15E was shot down over Iran, and the US military pulled out all stops to get them home.
F-15E fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Caine added, “That is the standard we live by.”
“Wars Are Won By Men” And Speaking Straight To The Troops:
This quote is often cut short by historians and military men; the second half of it is equally important. “It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains that victory.”
The quote reflects Patton’s focus on leadership, training, and overcoming fear.
His methods of addressing the troops were considered controversial by some of his peers, but he believed “You can’t run an army without profanity; and it has to be eloquent profanity”. This style connected with his men, bridging the gap between a high-ranking officer and the average soldier.
His speech to the Third Army in June 1944, before the invasion of Normandy, was considered to be one of the most motivational speeches of all time.
Patton’s Ability To Inspire His Men Was Legendary:
Patton attended Virginia Military Institute and later West Point, graduating in 1909, 46th in a class of 103. He had to repeat his plebe year due to a problem with mathematics, although later, many historians believed he may have suffered from dyslexia.
During the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916-1917, Patton was a cavalry lieutenant, who was assigned to General Pershing’s command. He was an Olympic athlete and an expert swordsman.
George S. Patton Quote of the Day. Creative Commons Image.
In the spring of 1917, the Americans learned about the whereabouts of General Julio Cardenas, head of Villa’s personal bodyguard—the Dorados, or “Golden Ones.” Moving in automobiles instead of horses, Patton and a small detachment got into a shootout with Cardenas and his men.
In the end, Cardenas was killed, supposedly by Patton himself, and the brash young Lieutenant carved a notch in his famous ivory-handled Colt .45s. He lashed Cardenas to the hood of his car and returned it and the general’s body to Pershing’s headquarters. It was the first motorized attack in US military history.
Patton’s mastery of armored warfare, unparalleled speed in offensive operations, and ability to inspire troops were legendary. He led the Third Army to rapid victories across France and Germany, emphasizing aggressive, high-speed tactics and combined arms warfare.
He started the first US tank school during WWI and led it during the first American armored battles. In World War II, he was a field commander in the USA’s first offensive in the West against the Germans during the invasion of Morocco.
Later, he took over a demoralized and badly beaten II Corps after the Germans routed the Americans at Kasserine Pass, led them to a decisive defeat of the German 10th Panzer Division at El Guettar, and to the final victory in North Africa.
M3 Grant Lee Tank World War II.
Patton’s Seventh Army In Sicily, And Controversy:
The Allied invasion of Sicily, also known as the Battle of Sicily and Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II in which Allied forces invaded the Italian island of Sicily in July 1943 and took it from Axis forces defending the island, including the Italian 6th Army and the German XIV Panzer Corps.
Patton commanded the US Seventh Army, and British General Bernard Montgomery commanded the British Eighth Army.
The advance was slowed by narrow mountainous roads and flexible German defense. Patton, while supposedly protecting Montgomery’s left flank, disobeyed orders and swung westward and took the city of Palermo.
It essentially split the island in two and set up a race between the two allied generals to Messina to cut off the retreating Germans. Patton’s troops entered the city first, followed closely by the British.
M4 Sherman Tank.
The Slapping Incident Nearly Derailed Patton’s Career
But the campaign was marred with controversy. Patton, while visiting wounded men in the hospital, encountered two soldiers in different incidents suffering from battle fatigue, today known as PTSD.
He slapped them with his gloves, and the second soldier, after he slapped him, Patton threatened to shoot him with his Ivory-handled Colt pistol. When the news broke, the reaction was divided between Congress and the Army, as, at that time, soldiers suffering from that were thought to be cowardly.
Eisenhower ordered him to apologize to the soldiers and the medical staff.
The D-Day Invasion, Subterfuge, and Fame With The Third Army
Eisenhower used Patton’s behavior to keep him on the sideline at first, as a decoy in Operation Fortitude, sending faulty intelligence to German agents that Patton was leading a fictitious Army Group during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Europe.
The invasion was expected to take place in the Pas de Calais area. And the Germans bought it hook, line, and sinker. Even in the immediate aftermath of D-Day, the Germans initially believed it to be a diversionary attack.
M4 Sherman Tank from WWII Image: Creative Commons.
It wasn’t until August 1 that the Third Army was activated, and, together with the First Army, it became the 12th Army Group under General Omar Bradley, who had always been a subordinate to Patton and had been given a field command in France.
The Third Army, under Patton’s leadership, executed one of the most rapid and brilliant campaigns in modern history, advancing across France and moving farther and faster than any other army at the time. They traveled 150 miles in 19 hours at one point, leaving German defenders completely on their heels.
Using the Germans’ blitzkrieg tactics, his forces swept eastward to Le Mans, closed the Falaise Gap, where German forces in the West were encircled, and moved 475 miles to the Meuse River, where a lack of logistics and fuel slowed their advance before the fortified cities of Nancy and Metz. The weather also turned bad, slowing Allied advances across the Western Front.
The Battle Of The Bulge And Turning An Army 90 Degrees
The Germans’ Ardennes Offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was Patton’s finest hour. Well before other Allied leaders recognized it for what it was (they thought it was merely a spoiling attack), Patton saw it and immediately had his staff begin planning for a pivot north.
Indeed, he was convinced the Germans would attack in the First Army area. On November 25, he wrote in his diary, “First Army is making a terrible mistake leaving the VIII Corps static; it is highly probable that the Germans are building up east of them.”
George Patton U.S. Army Photo
The day before the German attack on December 16th, he told his staff, “I want you, gentlemen, to start making plans for pulling the Third Army out of its eastward attack, change the direction ninety degrees, moving to Luxembourg and attacking north.”
When Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower held a crisis meeting on December 19, 1944, Patton promised and then delivered decisive action, pivoting his entire Third Army of over 250,000 men and hundreds of tanks in terrible weather.
Patton stunned all in the room by announcing, “I can attack with three divisions in forty-eight hours.”
Patton Pivoted The Third Army From The Saar To The Ardennes
It was an outstanding example of operational control of an Army, pivoting Third Army from a campaign in the Saar on the German border, turning 90 degrees and attacking the German flank of the Bulge.
This attack occurred during the worst winter in over 50 years.
His troops of the 4th Armored Division broke the siege of Bastogne, allowing vital supplies to reach the 101st Airborne and allowing the evacuation of the wounded. By January 16th, his troops took Houfalize and sealed off the Bulge.
King Tiger Tank Battle of the Bulge.
It was his finest hour and showed the value of intelligence, prior planning, and superb operational control. No other US commander could have accomplished that in December 1944.
General George S. Patton was a contrast in many ways between the old and the new of military leaders. But his philosophy was that there was no higher calling than serving one’s country.
“The highest profession in the world is that of a soldier because we are willing to give our lives so that others can have better lives.”
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work has been regularly featured in many military publications.
