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George S. Patton
Person page: George S. Patton →
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(23)
1943
March
23
The Battle of El Guettar
On 23 March 1943 the US 1st Infantry Division beat off two attacks by the German 10th Panzer Division at El Guettar – the first clear US success in Tunisia.
July
22
The capture of Palermo
On 22 July 1943 Patton’s Americans entered Palermo. The drive across western Sicily netted some 53,000 prisoners, but its military value was disputed.
August
03
The Patton slapping incidents
On 3 and 10 August 1943 General George Patton struck two soldiers suffering from combat exhaustion in field hospitals in Sicily. The affair became a scandal.
17
The end of the fighting in Sicily
On the night of 16–17 August 1943 US patrols entered Messina, and Patton drove in that morning. After 38 days of fighting all of Sicily was in Allied hands.
December
14
American corps in Britain
In December 1943 the headquarters of the US VIII and XV Corps arrived in Britain; in the summer of 1944 they were to fight in Normandy and Brittany.
1944
April
25
Patton at Knutsford
On 25 April 1944, at a welcome club in Knutsford, General Patton said the British and Americans would rule the world. He very nearly lost his command.
July
24
Key event
Operation Cobra
On 24 July 1944 bombs from Operation Cobra's first raid fell on Americans near Saint-Lô. On 25 July First Army attacked; on 28 July it took Coutances.
August
04
The liberation of Rennes
On 4 August 1944 the US 8th Infantry Division entered Rennes, abandoned by the Germans overnight, as Patton's Third Army spread across Brittany.
30
The Allies on the Marne and in Rouen
On 28 August 1944 Patton's tanks crossed the Marne and on 30 August the Canadians entered Rouen. The Germans fled over the Seine as the Normandy battle ended.
September
05
New American corps in Europe and the Pacific
In September 1944 the US III and XVI Corps staffs left for Europe and IX Corps for the Pacific. XXI Corps reached Europe only in November.
10
The armies meet near Dijon
On 10–12 September 1944 the forces from Provence linked up in Burgundy with Patton's Third Army. The Allied front now ran from the Channel to Switzerland.
15
The liberation of Nancy
On 15 September 1944 Patton's Third Army entered Nancy. Fighting went on along the Moselle, and from 18 September a tank battle raged at Arracourt.
November
09
Patton's offensive on the Moselle
On 9 November 1944 XX Corps of the Third Army crossed the flooded Moselle north of Metz. Patton's November offensive in Lorraine had begun the day before.
23
The capture of Metz
On 22 November 1944 organised German resistance ended in Metz, which the Third Army had entered on 18–19 November. Some forts held out until 13 December.
December
23
Clear skies over the Ardennes
On 23 December 1944 the skies cleared over the Ardennes. Allied aircraft struck German columns, and C-47s dropped supplies to Bastogne’s defenders.
24
The counter-offensive in the Ardennes
On 24 December 1944 Collins’s VII Corps resolved to strike the German 2nd Panzer Division at Celles. Patton had been driving on Bastogne since 22 December.
26
Key event
The relief of Bastogne
On 26 December 1944 tanks of Patton’s 4th Armored Division broke through to encircled Bastogne, opening a narrow corridor to the 101st Airborne Division.
1945
January
01
The Chenogne massacre
On 1 January 1945, in the Belgian village of Chenogne near Bastogne, soldiers of the US 11th Armored Division killed some 60–80 German prisoners.
16
The link-up at Houffalize
On 16 January 1945 patrols of the US First and Third Armies met near Houffalize. The Bulge was cut, but pushing the Germans back went on until 28 January.
March
20
The capture of Mainz
On 20 March 1945 infantry of Patton’s Third Army reached the hills above Mainz. The ruined city fell on 22 March as German defence west of the Rhine collapsed.
22
The crossing at Oppenheim
On the night of 22–23 March 1945 infantry of Patton's Third Army quietly crossed the Rhine in boats at Nierstein and Oppenheim, with no artillery preparation.
29
The capture of Frankfurt am Main
On 29 March 1945 Third Army troops completed the capture of ruined Frankfurt am Main. From their Rhine bridgeheads the Allies were driving deep into Germany.
May
06
The last American battles in Europe
On 6 May 1945 the Americans entered Plzeň as German resistance in the Alps died away. Isolated clashes went on on 7 and 8 May, until the surrender took effect.