George S. Patton

In his 1945 diaries and correspondence, Patton expressed distrust of the Soviet Union and contemplated future conflict. His statements and diplomatic approach were controversial during the transition to Allied occupation.

State of the evidence

Letters and diaries preserved by the Library of Congress.

Legal status — source text

No known personal criminal proceeding.

Attribution

Hostile remarks about a recent ally during a sensitive period.

In occupied Germany, Patton publicly downplayed the need for denazification and compared Nazi Party membership to ordinary U.S. party affiliations. Eisenhower relieved him of command in Bavaria and reassigned him.

State of the evidence

Statements and removal documented in historical reporting.

Legal status — source text

Removed from command; no criminal conviction.

Attribution

Publicly downplaying Nazi Party membership and challenging denazification policy.

A Patton speech in England about the future role of the United States and Britain prompted controversy when reporting appeared to omit the Soviet ally. Eisenhower had to manage the diplomatic incident.

State of the evidence

Incident recorded in Patton’s diaries held at the Library of Congress.

Legal status — source text

No known personal criminal proceeding.

Attribution

Diplomatically contentious wording concerning wartime allies.

After meeting members of the all-Black 761st Tank Battalion, Patton recorded a disparaging race-based assessment of their fighting ability in his diary. He subsequently praised their performance in remarks to a Black war correspondent.

State of the evidence

Diary entry and interview documented in historical reporting.

Legal status — source text

No known personal criminal proceeding.

Attribution

Racially discriminatory statements about Black servicemen.

American troops killed Italian and German prisoners near Biscari, Sicily. Informed by Omar Bradley, Patton initially suggested a cover story to avoid scandal, according to the U.S. Army’s legal history, before allowing prosecutions of the perpetrators.

State of the evidence

Killings, subordinate trials and initial response documented by U.S. Army legal history.

Legal status — source text

No known personal criminal proceeding.

Attribution

Initial response tending to minimise or conceal reported war crimes.