Supreme Allied Commander facts for kids
The Supreme Allied Commander is a very important leader in certain military groups made up of different countries. This special title was first used during World War I. Today, it is only used within NATO, for two main roles: the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. These commanders are in charge of working with armies from many nations to achieve shared goals.
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Important Leaders from the Past
World War I: A Single Commander
During World War I, on March 26, 1918, a French general named Ferdinand Foch became the first Supreme Allied Commander. He was put in charge of all the Allied forces, including soldiers from Britain, France, America, and Italy. His job was to coordinate them to stop a big attack by Germany. Foch was also the one who accepted Germany's surrender, which ended the war on November 11, 1918.
World War II: Many Commanders for Different Areas
During World War II, the Allied leaders chose Supreme Allied Commanders to lead the fighting forces in different parts of the world, called "theatres of war." These commanders were given control over all air, land, and sea units in their specific area. They were usually the most senior leaders from the British Armed Forces and United States Armed Forces.
One famous Supreme Allied Commander was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was a General from the United States. Eisenhower first led Allied forces in the Mediterranean area. Later, he became the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (SCAEF) for the European theatre. He was in charge of planning and carrying out Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings.
Other important commanders included Henry Maitland Wilson and Harold Alexander, who took over from Eisenhower in the Mediterranean. Lord Louis Mountbatten was the Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia.
In the Pacific, Douglas MacArthur was the Supreme Allied Commander for the South West Pacific Area. After the war, he also led the Allied occupation of Japan. Another key leader was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who commanded forces in the Pacific Ocean Areas.
Even though they didn't have the official title, many Soviet generals, like Georgy Zhukov, also led large groups of soldiers from different Allied countries. They worked together to fight against the Axis powers in Europe and Asia.
Modern Day Leaders: NATO's Commanders
The idea of a Supreme Allied Commander came back when NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949.
In 1952, Allied Command Europe was created, and Dwight D. Eisenhower became its first Supreme Allied Commander. This role is known as SACEUR. Soon after, another command, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), was set up in the United States. Until 2009, both of these top commanders were always American.
In response to NATO, the Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 by the Soviet Union and its allies. They also had their own top commanders, who were always high-ranking Soviet generals.
In 2003, NATO changed its command structure. Now, there are two main Supreme Allied Commander roles:
- Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR): This commander leads Allied Command Operations (ACO). Their headquarters are in Mons, Belgium. This person is always a U.S. four-star general or admiral. The current commander is General Christopher G. Cavoli.
- Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT): This commander leads Allied Command Transformation (ACT). Their headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. This role focuses on making sure NATO's military forces are ready for new challenges. Since 2009, this position has been held by a French officer, making it the first time a non-American held a top NATO commander role. The current commander is General Philippe Lavigne.
See also
- Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
- Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
