George S. Patton's speech to the Third Army

Patton's Speech to the Third Army was a series of speeches given by General George S. Patton to troops of the United States Third Army in 1944, prior to the Allied invasion of France. In June 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was given command of the Third United States Army, a field army which was newly arrived in the United Kingdom and which was composed largely of inexperienced troops.

His philosophy of leading from the front, and his ability to inspire troops with attention-getting, vulgarity-ridden speeches, such as his famous address to the Third Army, was met favorably by his troops, but much less so by a sharply divided Allied high command.

An abbreviated and less profane version of the speech became iconic thanks to the 1970 movie Patton, where it was performed by the actor George C. Scott while standing before an enormous American flag.

General George S. Patton addresses an unseen audience of American troops to raise their morale, focusing in particular on the value placed on winning by American society.

An abbreviated and less profane version of the speech became iconic thanks to the 1970 movie Patton, where it was performed by the actor George C. Scott while standing before an enormous American flag.

An abbreviated and less profane version of the speech became iconic thanks to the 1970 movie Patton, where it was performed by the actor George C. Scott while standing before an enormous American flag.

The performance was instrumental in bringing Patton into popular culture and transforming him into a folk hero.

The performance was instrumental in bringing Patton into popular culture and transforming him into a folk hero.

In June 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was given command of the Third United States Army, a field army which was newly arrived in the United Kingdom and which was composed largely of inexperienced troops.

Patton's Speech to the Third Army was a series of speeches given by General George S. Patton to troops of the United States Third Army in 1944, prior to the Allied invasion of France. In June 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was given command of the Third United States Army, a field army which was newly arrived in the United Kingdom and which was composed largely of inexperienced troops.

In June 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was given command of the Third United States Army, a field army which was newly arrived in the United Kingdom and which was composed largely of inexperienced troops.

In June 1944, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was given command of the Third United States Army, a field army which was newly arrived in the United Kingdom and which was composed largely of inexperienced troops.

Patton's job had been to train the Third Army to prepare it for the upcoming Allied invasion of France, where it would join in the Operation Cobra breakout into Brittany seven weeks after the Operation Overlord amphibious invasion at Normandy.

Patton's job had been to train the Third Army to prepare it for the upcoming Allied invasion of France, where it would join in the Operation Cobra breakout into Brittany seven weeks after the Operation Overlord amphibious invasion at Normandy.

Patton's job had been to train the Third Army to prepare it for the upcoming Allied invasion of France, where it would join in the Operation Cobra breakout into Brittany seven weeks after the Operation Overlord amphibious invasion at Normandy.

Patton's Speech to the Third Army was a series of speeches given by General George S. Patton to troops of the United States Third Army in 1944, prior to the Allied invasion of France. Patton's job had been to train the Third Army to prepare it for the upcoming Allied invasion of France, where it would join in the Operation Cobra breakout into Brittany seven weeks after the Operation Overlord amphibious invasion at Normandy.

Patton's job had been to train the Third Army to prepare it for the upcoming Allied invasion of France, where it would join in the Operation Cobra breakout into Brittany seven weeks after the Operation Overlord amphibious invasion at Normandy.

He carried a trademark ivory-handled Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum.

He carried a trademark ivory-handled Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum.

His jeep bore oversized rank placards on the front and back, as well as a klaxon horn which would loudly announce his approach from afar.

Patton was an effective combat commander, having rehabilitated the U.S. II Corps during the North African Campaign and then led the Seventh United States Army through the Invasion of Sicily during 1943, at times personally appearing to his troops in the middle of battle in hopes of inspiring them.

Patton was an effective combat commander, having rehabilitated the U.S. II Corps during the North African Campaign and then led the Seventh United States Army through the Invasion of Sicily during 1943, at times personally appearing to his troops in the middle of battle in hopes of inspiring them.

Patton was an effective combat commander, having rehabilitated the U.S. II Corps during the North African Campaign and then led the Seventh United States Army through the Invasion of Sicily during 1943, at times personally appearing to his troops in the middle of battle in hopes of inspiring them.

Patton was an effective combat commander, having rehabilitated the U.S. II Corps during the North African Campaign and then led the Seventh United States Army through the Invasion of Sicily during 1943, at times personally appearing to his troops in the middle of battle in hopes of inspiring them.

Patton's army had beaten British general Bernard Law Montgomery to Messina which gained him considerable fame, although the infamous "slapping incident" sidelined his career for several months thereafter.

Patton's army had beaten British general Bernard Law Montgomery to Messina which gained him considerable fame, although the infamous "slapping incident" sidelined his career for several months thereafter.

Patton's army had beaten British general Bernard Law Montgomery to Messina which gained him considerable fame, although the infamous "slapping incident" sidelined his career for several months thereafter.