 PATTON AT BAY: THE LORRAINE CAMPAIGN September to December, 1944. For General George S. Patton, Jr., the battle for Lorraine during the fall and winter of 1944 was a frustrating and grueling experience of static warfare. Plagued by supply shortages, critical interference from superiors, flooded rivers, fortified cities, and the highly-determined German army, Patton had little opportunity to wage a fast armored campaign. Author Rickard examines Patton's generalship during these bitter battles and suggests that Patton was unable to adapt to the new realities of the campaign, thereby failing to wage the most effective warfare possible.
Includes Third Army Order of Battle. U.S. Units covered: 4th Armored Division, 6th Armored Division, 7th Armored Division, 10th Armored Division; 5th Infantry Division, 28th Infantry Division, 35th Infantry Division, 80th Infantry Division, 83rd Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division, 95th Infantry Division; First Army, Third Army, Seventh Army.
Also includes German Order of Battle and covers German armored and infantry divisions.
By the beginning of the Ardennes offensive, Patton had crippled his worthy opponent, but had suffered the highest casualties of any campaign that he conducted during the war. Until now, his better known exploits in Sicily and Normandy have overshadowed this campaign. Relying on a broad range of sources, this treatment of Patton's operational performance in Lorraine goes beyond the official history. It describes Patton's philosophy of war and explains why it essentially failed in Lorraine. Supplemented by full orders of battle, casualty and equipment losses, and excellent maps, Patton at Bay is a penetrating study of America's best fighting general.
320 pages, tables & figures, detailed battle maps.
Reviews:
[T]he best account of this long overlooked and much neglected campaign. Supplemented by full orders of battle, casualty and equipment losses, and excellent maps, Patton At Bay is a compelling and incredibly detailed account--a must read for professional soldiers and Marines, and a good, penetrating study for anyone wanting to know why Patton's philosophy of war failed in Lorraine.
- Bravo
Well-written and carefully researched, "Patton at Bay" is a welcome addition to the historiography of World War II. Neglected by historians, the Lorraine campaign was an excellent example of the resilience and skill of the German army and is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II.
- Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky
The author has written an ambitious, provocative, and well-researched account of the Lorraine Campaign. Moreover, he has taken on the daunting task of examining George Patton's generalship....The author's well-written study of the Lorraine Campaign is useful because it has been thoroughly researched, drawing heavily on Hugh M. Coles' officail history of the Lorraine Campaign and a broad range of other sources. The book is supplemented by full orders of battle, casualty and equipment losses, maps, and period photos. Assuredly, Patton at Bay is required reading for scholars of WWII.
- ARMOR
...the best account of this long-overlooked campaign. Supplemented by full orders of battle, casualty and equipment losses, and excellent maps, Patton at Bay is a compelling and incredibly detailed account--a must read for professional soldiers and marines, and a penetrating study for anyone wanting to know why Patton's philosophy of war failed in Lorraine.
- Military Heritage
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