Maison de tourisme de Bastogne - Tourism

Description

George S. Patton, Jr., born in California in 1885 and educated at West Point Military Academy, had already won renown as the commander of an armoured unit in France in 1918. In November 1942, he disembarked in North Africa as a Lieutenant-General. Later he landed in Sicily as General commanding the US 7th Army. In August 1944, heading the US 3rd Army, Patton landed in Normandy and undertook his lightning drive across France to the Moselle, from where he wished to launch a major attack against the Siegfried Line and its German defenders. But on 19 December, following orders from the American High Command, he turned his units through 90 degrees, attacked northwards, broke the siege of Bastogne, and continued towards Houffalize where he linked-up with units of the 1st US Army commanded by General Courtney Hodges. After the Battle of the Ardennes, Patton, at the head of the 3rd Army, undertook a long and victorious march through Germany, finally stopping under orders in the vicinity of Prague. Appointed Military Governor of Bavaria, he was nevertheless relieved of his duties. He died on 21 December ’45 following a car accident, and in accordance with his wishes, he was buried among his men in the American military cemetery of Hamm in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Monument is the work of sculptor and medallist RAU who engraved the General Mask. In 1963, Lieutenant John Waters, Patton's grandson, unveiled the stone on the site where it now stands. (text source by Guy Blockmans/OPT and MT du Pays de Bastogne)