Who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War?
1 Answer
SHAEF: Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces was the headquarters for all Allied Forces committed to the liberation of Europe in 1944-45 (save those forces assigned to the Mediterranean)
Explanation:
The Americans and British decided that SHAEF should have an American commander, as the Americans would eventually commit the most men and resources to the Liberation of Europe. SHAEF was being formed as early as March 1943, although General Dwight D. Eisenhower of the US Army would not take up his command until December of that year.
While Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander, his principal subordinates were:
1) Deputy Supreme Allied Commander : Air Marshal Arthur Tedder, RAF
2) General Bernard Montgomery; commander all land forces (until August 1944), then commander British 21st Army Group;
3) General Omar Bradley; commander 12th US Army Group
4) General Jacob Deevers; commander 6th Army Group.
5) Air Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory, RAF, commander Allied Expeditionary Air Forces.
6) Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay, RN, commander of Naval forces.
Besides American and British personnel, there were substantial contingents of Free French and Canadians, with Poles, Czechs, Norwegians, Dutch and Belgian personnel, plus a small number of soldiers from Luxembourg. There were also some Australian and New Zealand air crew in the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force.
SHAEF was dissolved on 14 July 1945.
