[RinaseaofDs]

Patton never retreated. Ever.

That makes him number 1. You may not have liked working for him, especially training for him, but you loved not dying, and you loved killing tons of Germans.

The first to coordinate close air support with armor.

[MeganC]

One of the first books I read in my husband’s library was “A Genius for War” and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in General Patton!

[PGR88]

The first to coordinate close air support with armor.

Saw an interesting analysis on youtube about how armor (all sides) was destroyed, taken from a 1951 US Army analysis. It said that the vast majority (something like 65-70%) was destroyed by other Armor or Anti-tank weaponry. Another 15-20% was from mines and 10% from infantry with improvised methods. A very small percentage (<5%) was attributed to airplane. The effect was more psychological

Clearly, that changed with changes in technology.

[Reily]

Hurtgen Forest

Discouraged early development of the Pershing tank.

[Mouton]

I think there is a distinction between tactical generals and strategic generals. Yes Napoleon was a great tactical general however invading Russia was a catastrophic strategic blunder. In a similar fashion Patton's tactical generalship was to attack attack attack. Works when you have the material and logistical forces to do that. However, choosing to attack when you don't, like at Metz, limits success. However, IMO indeed he was our greatest WWII tactical general. I don't believe he had a big role in the strategic decisions in the war as most of those had some basis at the political level. Metz as I noted above was hindered due to Eisenhower's decision to support the Market Garden plan of Montgomery in the north.

[Tallguy]

(Patton) “The first to coordinate close air support with armor.”

The German victory in the Battle of France? (There were some early small-scale successes during the Spanish Civil War).