Patton's First Victory: How General George Patton Turned the Tide in North Africa and Defeated the Afrika Korps at El Guettar

by Leo Barron

Overview

American troops invaded North Africa in November 1942, but did not face serious resistance until the following February, when they finally tangled with Rommel’s Afrika Korps—and the Germans gave the inexperienced Americans a nasty drubbing at Kasserine Pass. After this disaster, Gen. George Patton took command and reinvigorated U.S. troops with tough training and new tactics. In late March, at El Guettar in Tunisia, Patton’s men defeated the Germans. It was a morale-boosting victory—the first American success versus the Germans and the first of Patton’s storied World War II career—and proved to the enemy, the British, and the Americans themselves that the U.S. Army could fight and win.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811718325
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	10/20/2017
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Leo Barron holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and has served with the 101st Airborne. He saw two tours of active duty in Iraq as an infantry and intelligence officer. He has written for Infantry, WWII History, and World War II magazines. He is co-author of No Silent Night: The Christmas Battle for Bastogne (NAL, 2012) and author of Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the General’s Tanks Turned the Tide at Bastogne (NAL, 2014) and High Tide in the Korean War (Stackpole, 2015). He works for General Dynamics as an instructor of military intelligence officers and lives with his family in Arizona.

Table of Contents

Preface: Purple Heart Boxes versus Panzers xiii

Introduction: The Opponents xxi

Chapter I Prelude 1

Chapter 2 Night Attack 25

Chapter 3 Morning Attack 69

Chapter 4 Afternoon Attack 129

Chapter 5 Spoiling Attack 161

Epilogue 183

Acknowledgments 205

Note on Sources 209

Endnotes 211

Bibliography 231

Index 249

Editorial Reviews

A fascinating and well researched account of WWII's most celebrated American general, George Patton, and his first great campaign of the war in North Africa.

Alex Kershaw

Praise for No Silent Night (2012): "No Silent Night is the product of in-depth research and a strong commitment to historical accuracy. Whether you are new to the topic or a confirmed expert, you will learn much from this book.  

John C. McManus

Praise for Patton at the Battle of the Bulge (2014): "Painstakingly researched and highly readable, the latest work by Barron is a significant contribution to the analysis of the great commander, the endurance of his great army, and the resounding American victory in the great battle.

Michael Haskew

Patton's First Victory is a compelling and comprehensive account of a battle that has been for too long neglected in the history of America's part in World War II. Leo Barron's well-researched book has revived the true story of Patton's success in North Africa, and is an invaluable addition to any library of military history.

Matthew J. Davenport