Breakdown of Patton’s Speech Essay

Introduction

This speech was intended for the troops of the Third Army, which General George S. Patton commanded during the Normandy invasion in 1944. He happened to be one of the most flamboyant and talked about general during the Second World War. Through sheer inspiration and superlative leadership qualities, both on the battlefield and away from it, he exhorted his troops to fight on and was able to draw the best fighting spirits and display of valor from the troops he commanded.

How Patton’s speech motivated troops

His speech motivated troops through his exhortations that the Germans were the real enemy and needed to be annihilated without any sense of remorse. “I believe in the old and sound rule that an ounce of sweat will save a gallon of blood. The harder we push, the more Germans we will kill.” (Israel, p. 203).

Why Patton’s speech motivated troops

His speech motivated troops because it eliminated their fear of imminent death in the battle. He has assured them that only2% of those present would die during combat, and this was reassuring for his men. (Israel, p. 201). Besides, as he said, death was universal, and nobody could really escape from it, and to run from the battle was sheer cowardice which a man of honor would not undertake. Even a man who is fearful of battle needs to fight on and ultimately conquer his fears about death and dying. He motivated them to annihilate the enemy in order to avoid self-destruction.

What method did he use- logic, emotion, or a combination of both?

He used a combination of logic and emotion. He used logic to account for the mortality rate on the battlefield, the need to keep constant vigil, alertness, and movement. He also used logic to explain the significance of teamwork and helping comrades–in–arms. “Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under or thru the enemy.” (Israel, p. 203). His emotional appeal was in terms of urging them to fight on for sheer glory and national pride. But most significantly, to kill before the enemy kills them. He exhorts, “… but a real man will never let the fear of death overpower his honor, his sense of duty, to his country and to his manhood.” (Israel, p. 201).

His appeal to emotion was also in terms of what the soldiers would answer if they were asked about their roles by their future generations. If they took pride in their work, they would say that they fought with the magnificent Third Army, which was commanded by none less a general than General Patton himself. (Israel, p. 203).

Who was his audience?

His audiences were mainly soldiers, including privates of the Third Army. The speech was intended to create a strong hate emotion against the Nazis and to urge them to fight and rout the enemy during Second World War.

Conclusions

Gen. Patton took war and fighting very seriously and prided on American fighting spirits despite countless odd. He believed that fighting and winning were in the psyches of the soldiers, and if they had the right attitude, they could win any battle. His speech was intended to touch the raw nerve of American patriotism, soldiers’ sense of honor, sacrifice, and personal pride, and the indomitable fighting qualities and gamesmanship of the soldiers of the Third Army.

Works Cited

Israel, Steve. Charge!: History’s Greatest Military Speeches. Naval Institute Press. 2007. Web.