3d Army green border and Green back

3d Army green border and Green back patch, original, WW2.

The 3rd Army participated in the liberation of Europe during World War II under the command of General George Patton as part of the United States 12th Army Group. After mobilization, the US 3rd Army trained a very large number of recruits into the US Armed Forces. Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, later best known for his command of the 6th Army in the Pacific, commanded the 3rd Army from May 1941 to February 1943. Krueger was later succeeded by Lieutenant General Hodges. At the end of 1943, the 3rd Army was sent to the United Kingdom.

Although the 3rd Army did not participate in the first waves of Operation Overlord, it quickly proved itself in the field. Lieutenant General George Patton was one of the greatest promoters of tank warfare. The 3rd Army was sent to France, just after the breakthrough in Normandy. Barely landed on European soil, the 3rd Army rushed through France. But logistical problems stopped it on the Meuse west of Metz on September 1, 1944. While the 8th Corps, commanded by General Middleton, was still fighting in Brittany, the Lorraine campaign was to be deadly for the 20th and the 12th Army Corps. This respite allowed the Germans to reform a coherent front between the Vosges and Belgium, notably by rearming the forts of Metz and Thionville.

After the Battle of Metz and the penetration of this line of defense in Lorraine, the men of the 3rd Army had to face a new offensive in the Ardennes. Great efforts were needed to reduce the salient which resulted from this winter offensive. At the end of January 1945, however, Patton succeeded in reducing this breakthrough, clearing the way for American troops towards the Rhine. After crossing the Rhine, the 3rd Army reached Austria, helping to liberate the concentration camps around Mauthausen. The 3rd Army ends the war in Czechoslovakia, farther east than all other American units. Patton wanted to continue to Berlin in order to liberate the German capital before and instead of the Russians. His idea was to oppose the seizure of central Europe by the USSR. But he was not followed by the American Government and to cut short his legendary boldness, his refueling was stopped.

The 3rd Army remained in Europe for the military occupation of the American Occupation Zone in Germany until 1947.