George Patton

George Smith Patton Jr. is a major figure in both American and military history. He has achieved a renown exceeded by perhaps only MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Churchill in the pantheon of World War II figures. The literature on his life and career is large and falls into five broad categories. First, Patton has been the subject of innumerable biographies ranging from hero-worshipping by associates, friends, and admirers to iconoclasm by those uncomfortable with the darker aspects of Patton’s character. A ubiquitous element in virtually all Patton biographies, however, is the struggle to reconcile his warrior image with his cultured and thoughtful nature. The second category consists of published articles, books, and graduate theses on specific aspects of his career. A substantial number of studies covering Patton’s Tunisian, Sicilian, and North-West European campaigns exist. Patton has also been the subject of many theses written by serving officers at American service schools. No American World War II commander has been the subject of a service school thesis more frequently than Patton. The third category consists of campaign studies that fit Patton into the larger strategic narrative. Fourth, there is a very large body of commentary on Patton by his superiors, peers, subordinates, and associates. The commentary is almost never benign; rather it varies from one extreme to another. Finally, Patton’s own writings published from the early 1920s to 1945 stand alone as the thoughts of a thoroughly professional soldier grounded in a deep appreciation and understanding of military history and theory. This article provides a pathway through the major Patton sources and highlights the principal controversies surrounding him.