No, George S. Patton Jr. was not a five-star general. His highest achieved rank was a temporary four-star general.
Understanding Military Ranks: General of the Army
The rank of "five-star general," formally known as General of the Army in the United States, is a prestigious and rare rank that was established during World War II. It is superior to a four-star general and is often considered an honorary rank for exceptional wartime service. Unlike other general officer ranks, General of the Army is usually a permanent rank, though it was initially temporary for some during its establishment.
Patton's Rank and Career
George S. Patton Jr., a brilliant and controversial military leader, played a pivotal role in the Allied victory in World War II, particularly noted for his command of the Third Army. Under his command, the Third Army rapidly advanced through France and swept into Germany and Czechoslovakia.
In April 1945, near the end of the war in Europe, Patton was promoted to a temporary four-star general. Despite his significant military achievements, his career was not without challenges. Following the war, he was removed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower from his leadership of the Third Army due to making inflammatory remarks concerning the denazification policies in occupied Germany.
Who Were the Five-Star Generals?
During and immediately after World War II, only a select group of American military leaders were promoted to the five-star rank (General of the Army or Fleet Admiral). These were individuals who typically commanded vast theaters of operation or held supreme command positions.
The U.S. Army officers who achieved the rank of General of the Army were:
- George C. Marshall: Chief of Staff of the Army during WWII.
- Douglas MacArthur: Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific during WWII and later in Korea.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during WWII.
- Henry "Hap" Arnold: Commander of the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII (later the only five-star general in the Air Force).
- Omar Bradley: The last active General of the Army, appointed in 1950.
While Patton's strategic genius and aggressive leadership were critical to the Allied effort, his temporary four-star rank remained his highest achievement in the U.S. Army.
For more information on the history of U.S. Army ranks, you can refer to sources like the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
