George Patton (actually George Smith Patton Junior) was born in 1885 and died in 1945. He was one of the most recognizable and, in the opinion of many, one of the best American generals of the Second World War. He gained his first military experience during the General Pershing mission to Mexico in 1917, and later participated in the First World War in Europe. He was the main organizer of the American armored corps in this conflict, but also fought on the front lines where he was badly wounded. For bravery in the face of the enemy, decorated with the orders of Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross. General George Patton began his participation in World War II with participation in Operation Torch, i.e. the Allied landings in North Africa (late 1942). He then fought in Sicily (1943), but there was an incident with the slap of a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. As a result, he was removed from command for a long time. He returned to the front line at the head of the US 3rd Army during Operation Cobra in August 1944, where he showed considerable tactical sense and skillful coordination of the actions of the ground forces and aviation. Probably the greatest fame came from the 3rd Army during the operation in the Ardennes at the turn of 1944-1945, when he was able to quickly change the front lines of his army and proceed to a counterattack. He died in a car accident in occupied Germany. General George Patton was an unconventional figure, with great organizational talents, considerable tactical and operational skills, showing great personal bravery. At the same time, he was nicknamed "blood and guts", believed that he was the reincarnation of a Roman legionnaire and a Napoleonic general.
Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein was born in November 1887 and died in March 1976. He was a British field marshal and one of the best commanders of the British Empire during the Second World War. Bernard Law Montgomery completed his secondary education at St. Paul's School, and received theoretical military education at the Military Academy in Sandhurst, which he graduated in 1908 at the age of 21. Military service began with assignment to the 1st Royal Infantry Regiment and shipment to India. Bernard Law Montgomery took a very active part in World War I: he fought at Ypres and Baileul in 1914, where he was badly wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for these battles. In 1916, he fought on the Somme as a staff officer. In July 1918 he was appointed lieutenant colonel and chief of staff of the 47th Infantry Division. He also actively served in the British Army in the interwar period, obtaining the rank of brigadier. He started his activities in World War II with the French campaign in 1940, as the commander of the 2nd BEF Corps (British Expeditionary Force). He had earned his credit in the retreat from Dunkirk. He spent the years 1940-1942 in the British Isles. In 1942, he was assigned to North Africa, where he was given command of the 8th Army. Commanding these forces, he first inhibited the German advance at Alam El-Halfa, and later defeated the Axis forces in the Battle of El-Alamein, achieving his greatest and most famous victory. He later commanded the 8th Army during the fighting in North Africa, during the landings in Sicily and in southern Italy in 1943. He was one of the high-ranking Allied officers who planned and implemented the Normandy landing plan in June 1944. After landing, his forces fought in the Caen area where he ultimately won victory despite numerous tactical defeats. Later (September 1944) he oversaw the unsuccessful operation Market-Garden. After World War II, he held important positions in the structure of the British army, and later also in NATO. He ended his military career in 1958.
Erich von Manstein (actually: Fritz Erich von Lewinski ) was born in November 1887 and died in June 1973 at the age of 86. He was a German field marshal from the Second World War, widely recognized as the most outstanding German commander of that war. The future field marshal was born into a family with a long military tradition. After his parents were baptized, they gave little Erich to his mother's sister and her husband, who could not have children. At the age of 14, he was adopted by his adoptive parents, and over time he began to use only their surname, i.e. von Manstein. In 1900, he began his military career, entering the Prussian Cadet Corps as a cadet, and in 1906, after graduating from the secondary school-leaving examination, he joined the 3rd Expedited Guards Regiment as a cadet. In the years 1913-1914 he studied at a military academy. Erich von Manstein took an active part in World War I, fighting between Namur and the Masurian Lakes in 1914. From the summer of 1915, after suffering a serious wound and promotion to the rank of captain, he served primarily in the staffs. He ended the war as head of the operational department of the 213rd Infantry Division. In the interwar period, he stayed in Reichwechra, and his career continued to develop. At the outbreak of World War II, he was already a lieutenant general. During the September campaign in 1939, he was the chief of staff of Army Group "A". It is commonly assumed that it was Erich von Manstein who developed an essentially brilliant plan of operations against France, which went down in history as the "sickle cutting plan" and which was implemented in the period May-June 1940. It brought the Wehrmacht a great and brilliant victory. For participation in the second stage of the campaign in France, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. During the operation, Barbarossa commanded the LVI Panzer Corps, successfully operating within Army Group "North". In September, he became the commander of the 11th Army fighting in the south of the USSR. In July 1942 he took Sevastopol at its head, for which he was promoted to the rank of field marshal. As a commander of Army Group South, he won the Third Battle of Kharkiv in March 1943. A few months later he fought near Kursk in July of the same year. In March 1944 he was dismissed by Hitler from his commanding positions. Until the end of the war, he no longer commanded any units. In 1945, he was arrested by the British, and as a result of Soviet pressure, he was accused of war crimes and sentenced to 18 years in prison, but in 1950 this sentence was reduced, and in 1953 he was released from prison. After his release from prison, he made a significant contribution to the rebuilding of the German Bundeswehr as an advisor. He died on June 10, 1973.