Patton takes command in North Africa

11th March 1943: Promoted in his first week in command of US II Corps, he is candid on the state of the Army that he takes over and his views on Fredendall

Mar 11

With two stars. George S. Patton soon after his arrival in North Africa, November, 1942.

After the US II Corps came unstuck at the Kasserine Pass the Allied commander Dwight D. Eisenhower moved quickly to replace Lloyd Fredendall with George S. Patton. He did not tell him he was also to be promoted - and Patton learnt of this over the radio on the 12th.

The German success at Kasserine in mid February had been brief. Allied artillery followed by air strikes broke up their attack. A German Mark III tank knocked out by 37mm American artillery. 25 February, 1943.

Patton moved with a determination to shake things up - and was completely disparaging about his predecessor, Fredendall. He only had a short time to get his command prepared for battle - but everything we can read in his diary and in his communications with his troops shows that he was confident he would be ready.

Of course, we are willing to die but that is not enough. We must be eager to kill, to inflict on the enemy - the hated enemy - wounds, death and destruction. If we die killing, well and good, but if we fight hard enough, viciously enough, we will kill and live. Live to return to our family and our girl as conquering heroes - men of Mars.

The only troubling aspect for him at this time was that he did not know of the fate of his son-in-law, John K. Waters, who was Missing in Action. Waters was in fact a POW. Later, in 1945, Patton would cause some controversy by launching a mission to rescue him from a POW camp.

John A. Crane says that I am the oldest general in Africa and that he is next. I am the best anyhow.

Patton’s original handwritten diary is available to view online at the Library of Congress. “3-12-43 (Friday) We left Rabat one week ago to day. We have done a lot but much remains to be done. Freedenhal just exited he did not command and with few exceptions his staff was worthless due to youth and lack of leadership.

Twenty-six Italian prisoners in a truck for transportation. Kasserine, Tunisia. North Africa. 24 February, 1943.

German scout car captured in Tunisia. 25 February, 1943.

Graves of two German soldiers killed during the American advance in Tunisia. They were buried by American soldiers. Sgt. T. B. Haber, New York City, standing by the graves. Kasserine Pass, Tunisia. 26 February, 1943. Note that his insignia have been obscured by the censor.

Patton’s uncompromising and forthright views are readily apparent from the diary that he hastily scribbled every day.

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