History in 5 Minutes or less

It is August 1943; the Allies have defeated the Germans in North Africa and have advanced into Sicily, Italy.  The commander of the US forces is George S. Patton.  Patton was given command in North Africa in March 1943 by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, replacing the ineffective General Lloyd Fredendall*.  Patton’s actions in Sicily will place the Generals’ future in the US Army at risk.  On August 3^rd Patton visited the 15^th evacuation hospital where he encountered a Private Charles H. Kuhl who appeared to be uninjured and lacked enthusiasm to return to the battlefield.  Patton took his lack of enthusiasm to fight as a sign of cowardice and slapped the soldier with his glove across his face.  Patton repeated the same actions on August 10^th  at the 93^rd evacuation hospital with a Private Paul G. Bennett.  Little did Patton know his actions would outrage an American public and sideline him for what could be the remainer of the war. 

Background of the Incident:

Patton had a reputation for being a tough, no-nonsense leader, he demanded high standards of discipline and performance from his soldiers. He believed soldiers needed to maintain a strong will and a fighting spirit to win battles. However, his leadership style was controversial, especially when it came to how he dealt with what he perceived as cowardice.

During the Sicilian campaign, Patton visited the 15^th evacuation hospital and the 93^rd evacuation hospital where soldiers were recovering from various wounds and illnesses. While visiting the hospitals he encountered Private Charles H. Kuhl at the 15^th  evacuation hospital and Private Paul G. Bennett at the 93^rd evacuation hospital each had been diagnosed with combat fatigue**.  At the time, combat fatigue was still poorly understood, and many commanders viewed it as a sign of weakness or cowardice, rather than a legitimate psychological condition.

The Incident:

Patton was outraged when he saw the two men he believed were lazy to avoid fighting. He reportedly slapped Private Kuhl in the face, calling him a “coward,” and a week later slapped Private Bennett in the same fashion. Patton’s actions were violent, and he berated the men in front of other soldiers and medical staff, accusing them of being unworthy of wearing the uniform.

Patton’s behavior was widely reported by soldiers and hospital staff who witnessed it. The incident caused an immediate outcry, with many criticizing his treatment of the soldiers. Some saw it as an abuse of power, while others viewed it as a sign of Patton’s brutal commitment to discipline.

Consequences:

The public backlash was significant, especially as the U.S. Army was still struggling with the growing awareness of combat stress and its impact on soldiers. Patton was ordered to apologize to the men involved and was temporarily removed from command of the Seventh Army as a result of the incident. He was reassigned to a less prominent role before being allowed to return to command in time for the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day) in 1944.***

Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Patton remained a beloved figure among many soldiers, and his leadership was instrumental in the Allied victory in Europe. However, the slapping incident has remained one of the more infamous moments of his career, symbolizing the tension between his tough persona and the evolving understanding of psychological trauma in warfare.

* North African campaign is code named Operation Torch

**Commonly referred to as “shell shock,” now known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD

***Although Patton was not directly involved in the D Day invasion, he played a prominent role in the deception to trick the Germans called Operation Fortitude.

Sources:

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2024, November 7). Controversies and appraisal of George Patton. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Smith-Patton/Controversies-and-appraisal#ref1267660