Operation Overlord The invasion of Italy followed on almost as a natural consequence of the conquest of Sicily.
Patton, who was ill-suited to inactivity, could only watch on in frustration. Of even greater importance than the campaign in Italy was the long-awaited invasion of Western Europe.
This would take place in June of 1944. It was one of the most difficult operations of the war, but Patton would have no direct role to play in the invasion. . .
Instead he was used as a decoy, given command of an entirely fictitious army intended to fool the Germans into believing that a second invasion force was preparing to strike. The ruse totally worked.
The Germans never imagined that the Allies would leave their best offensive general back in Britain while such a vital offensive was being fought in France. . .
Breakout Patton's greatest fear was that the war would be over before he could get back into it.
He needn't have worried though. . . While the success of the initial Allied invasion exceeded expectations, the British and Americans made slow progress as they attempted to push inland.
It wasn't until the end of July that the Americans finally punched a small hole through German lines. Omar Bradley, commander of the US ground forces, knew that this was the moment to get Patton back in the fray.
Bradley regarded Patton as difficult to control, unpredictable, and vulgar, but he recognized his talents. Patton was given command of the newly formed Third Army, a highly mobile force equipped with plenty of armor.
He was ordered to go and break through the German lines. . . Patton quickly got to work, squeezed his armored divisions through the narrowest of gaps in the German lines,
