The eventual Allied victory in North Africa prompts both Patton and Montgomery to come up with competing plans for the Sicily invasion. Patton's plan, drawn from reference to the Peloponnesian War highlights the strategic importance of Syracuse; if it fell to an occupying force, the Italians would surely withdraw. Patton proposes that Montgomery captures Syracuse, whereas he will capture Messina and cut off the withdrawal. Though the plan shows promise and interest, General Eisenhower turns it down in favor of Montgomery's more cautious plan that essentially relegates Patton to guarding the British advance. The invasion of Sicily takes place, but just as Patton predicted, the fall of Syracuse triggers a mass withdrawal of German and Italian troops from the island, and the remaining entrenched forces delay the Allied advance. Angered by the lack of progress being made, Patton vows not only to beat Montgomery to Messina, but to also take Palermo on the way. Though he is ultimately successful in both feats, Patton's blunt aggression bodes poorly with his subordinates Bradley and Truscott. During a visit to a field hospital, Patton notices a soldier, crying out of shell shock. Surmising that the soldier isn't actually physically injured, Patton slaps the soldier and nearly threatens to shoot him for his cowardice and demands he return to the frontline. Eisenhower demands Patton apologize to his entire command for the altercation. Though Patton obliges, he is stunned to find out that Bradley, not he, has been given command of American forces preparing for the invasion of France.