The Legacy and Leadership of General George S. Patton |
Invasion of Sicily |
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." |
INVASION OF SICILY
On July 10, 1943, General Patton and his Seventh Army landed on Sicily's shores along the Gulf of Gela, the southwest side of the island. To the east, British General Montgomery landed with his 8th Army south of Syracuse. Operation Husky, which was the code name for the invasion of Sicily, was underway. However, tensions were high between the British and American commanders. To the Americans, General Montgomery always got his way, and the Americans were always on the sidelines. Part of this can be that the American military was shown as ineffective in battle during the earlier stages of the invasion of North Africa, despite the successes the Americans achieved under Patton later on. When Patton found out that Montgomery was given use of a highway that was earlier promised to the Americans, He considered it a great insult to American military prestige.
On July 13, the American II Corps, led by General Omar Bradley, had just about captured Route 124, which was a major transport route that went east to west through the center of the island. However, British and American relations worsened when Montgomery, who was bogged down by German defenders in Catania, decided to flank west around Mt. Etna. This flanking maneuver would require the use of Route 124, which the Americans had fought hard to capture. British General Sir Harold Alexander, commander of Operation Husky and the 15th Army, gave the route to Montgomery. Patton, however, would not give up Route 124 completely. He expanded the American perimeter west and discussed a possible reconnaissance force to push west towards Agrigento and Porto Empedocle.
On July 13, the American II Corps, led by General Omar Bradley, had just about captured Route 124, which was a major transport route that went east to west through the center of the island. However, British and American relations worsened when Montgomery, who was bogged down by German defenders in Catania, decided to flank west around Mt. Etna. This flanking maneuver would require the use of Route 124, which the Americans had fought hard to capture. British General Sir Harold Alexander, commander of Operation Husky and the 15th Army, gave the route to Montgomery. Patton, however, would not give up Route 124 completely. He expanded the American perimeter west and discussed a possible reconnaissance force to push west towards Agrigento and Porto Empedocle.
Patton felt that capturing the city of Messina on the northeast tip of Sicily would finally prove to the British and the world that Patton and the American army were fully capable of any operation on the battlefield. Instead, on July 16, General Alexander issued an order that Montgomery's 8th army was to advance to Messina while Patton's 7th army would protect Montgomery's left flank. Enraged, Patton flew to 15th Army headquarters in Tunisia the following day to meet General Alexander. He argued that the Americans should be equal in terms of glory after the campaign and requested to push on northwards to destroy all resistance in the west. Alexander agreed. Immediately, Patton established a Provisional Corps, led by Major General Geoffrey Keyes, to capture Sicily's capital, Palermo. Bradley and his II Corps were to spear through the island's center towards the north coast. Resistance was minuscule, as many of the Italian troops defending Sicily were demoralized and not motivated to continue on fighting. Palermo was captured after American troops raced 100 miles in just 72 hours on July 22. Meanwhile, Bradley's II Corps had arrived at the coast at Termini the very next day. Support for Benito Mussolini, Italy's fascist dictator, seemed to have completely disappeared from Sicily. On July 25, 1943, Mussolini was overthrown and King Victor Emmanuel III, supported by leading Italian government officials, negotiated peace with the Allies. With Italy no longer on their side, German commanders began to evacuate all German forces in Sicily.
Patton continued to charge towards Messina, and pressured his officers to push on as hard as they could. On August 7 and 8, Patton authorized two amphibious landings on the north coast in order to capture Messina more quickly. Although the second landing almost ended in disaster, The Americans held their ground and continued on. In the south, the British and Canadians had forced the German forces from Mt. Etna. Montgomery ordered an amphibious landing himself, and on August 15 and 16, British troops were only within 8 miles from Messina. However, American forces entered Messina at around 10:00 p.m on August 16. The next morning, Patton himself entered Messina. When the British forces finally entered Messina later that day, they were surprised when American forces were there to greet them. Patton was elated, but he wouldn't be for long.
THE SLAPPING INCIDENT
On August 3, Patton visited a hospital to chat with the wounded soldiers. When he noticed a soldier with no apparent wounds, he asked him what was wrong. The soldier replied "I guess I can't take it". Patton erupted in anger and slapped the soldier and cursed him. A week later, a similar incident happened when Patton met another solider at a hospital who was diagnosed with severe shell shock. Like before, Patton slapped and cursed the soldier. When the incidents were reported to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, he himself grew angry with Patton. He ordered Patton to apologize to those involved and warned him not to do that again. The situation worsened when the public found out. The public wanted Patton relieved from command immediately, but Eisenhower refused to do so. However, Patton was dropped from all consideration for the upcoming invasion of Europe.