During the First World War, American General George Patton (1885 - 1945), sent to France in 1917, formed the first Brigade of the Tank Corps here. At the time, Patton was a captain under General Pershing, whose aim was to organise the training of his units before they were sent to the front in August 1918. Towards the end of September, the American Light Tank School was set up at Langres with George Patton as instructor. It was south of Grand'Gorge Wood (near the village of Bourg) that Patton, promoted to battalion commander, set up his training camp in November 1917.
A first contingent of the new Renault FT 17 tanks quickly arrived on the scene. These tanks weighed 7 tonnes, were equipped with a 37mm cannon and a machine gun in a 360-degree rotating turret, and were manned by two crewmen. Two battalions were created to form the 304th operational armoured brigade. The camp, designed around a few hectares for training, was quickly extended to over 60 hectares by the end of 1918. After the armistice, it was decided to liquidate the stocks (October 1919), which led to the sale of vehicles in batches throughout the years 1919-1920.
On 17 October, George Patton was promoted to colonel, and successively received the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart. Before returning to the United States in February 1919, George Patton returned to the village of Bourg and visited every family. He made strong friends with the local people. After the war, the tank corps was disbanded and Patton returned to the cavalry. At the Bourg camp, stocks were liquidated in October 1919. The vehicles were sold off in batches between 1919 and 1920. When war broke out in Europe in 1939, George Patton returned to service. From Avranches to Bastogne, at the head of the 3rd Army, he once again played a decisive role in liberating France in the European war. During the Second World War, George Patton found time to visit the French towns he had visited between 1917 and 1919. His headquarters were in Chaumont, and the village of Bourg, of course! On 20 October 1944, the head of the 3rd US Army stopped off in Langres. At Place de l'Abbé Cordier, George Patton visited Dr Just Jeanneret, in whose house he had stayed in 1917. Today, between Saints-Geosmes and Bourg, at a campsite called "La Croix d'Arles", a stele bears a commemorative plaque to "George S. PATTON (1885-1945) - 1917-1918 Colonel Commandant USA Tank Corps - 1944-1945 General Commandant 3rd US Army - La France reconnaissante".
Stèle du Général Patton
