They were the two most famous Western Allied generals of the war, and rivals as much as comrades. George Patton drove his armies with speed and aggression; Bernard Montgomery won by careful planning. They served the same cause under Eisenhower, yet competed and clashed from Sicily to the heart of Germany. Here they are, side by side.
Head to head
| George Patton | Bernard Montgomery | |
|---|---|---|
| Lived | 1885 to 19451 | 1887 to 1976 |
| Role | American general, Third Army | British field marshal, 21st Army Group |
| Famous for | The breakout across France, 1944 | El Alamein, 1942 |
| Method | Speed, aggression and relentless pursuit | Careful planning and set-piece battles |
| Great moment | Relief of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge2 | Victory over Rommel at El Alamein3 |
| Friction | The race to Messina in Sicily, 19434 | Command of the Normandy ground battle |
| Reputation | America's fighting general | The general who beat Rommel |
Patton: America's fighting general
George Patton was the most aggressive American commander of the war. He drove the Third Army across France in 1944 at breakneck speed1, then turned it north in days to relieve the besieged town2 of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Bold and outspoken, he believed in attack above all, which made him feared by the enemy and, at times, a problem for his own superiors.
Montgomery: the methodical victor
Bernard Montgomery made his name beating Rommel at El Alamein in 1942, then commanded the Allied ground forces in the5 Normandy landings. Careful, confident and often cautious, he insisted on overwhelming preparation before he struck, a method that rarely lost but that frustrated faster-moving commanders like Patton.
The verdict
They were rivals on the same side, not enemies, so the question is one of style, not victory over each other. Montgomery delivered the bigger set-piece victory, El Alamein, and held the higher rank; Patton produced the most dramatic drives of the Western campaign, across France and to the relief of Bastogne. Montgomery rarely lost; Patton rarely stopped. Which you rate higher depends on whether you prize the sure thing or the bold stroke.
Compare more in Montgomery vs Rommel, or meet the field in the greatest military commanders.
Sources
Each commander above has a full biography on this site, with its own sources. Judgements of who was "greater" are ours and openly a matter of debate; the facts and dates follow established histories. See our editorial approach.