ALLIED COMMANDS OF
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
1942-1945

August 11, 1942 - A joint command headquarters, comprised of British and American personnel, established in England. The Combined Chiefs of Staff, at a meeting on August 13, 1942, designated Dwight D. Eisenhower the commander, with the title Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Force. Notification of this appointment was delivered to Eisenhower on August 14, 1942. At a later meeting on August 24, 1942, the CCS decided to delete the word "Expeditionary" for reasons of security. The headquarters thus became Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ) and Eisenhower's title was Commander-in-Chief, Allied Force.

December 5, 1943 - The CCS, by Directive 387/3, ordered the unification of Allied military commands in the Mediterranean. The British forces in the Middle East were placed under AFHQ and Eisenhower was redesignated Allied Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Theater, effective December 10, 1943. Eisenhower was notified of this change by telegram dated December 10, 1943. At the same time Eisenhower was ordered to turn over command of the Mediterranean theater to his successor in January 1944 and go to England to become Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force. On January 8, 1944, General H.M. Wilson relieved Eisenhower as Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. Wilson's title eventually became Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.

January 15, 1944 - Eisenhower arrived in England to take command of Allied forces which were planning to invade France. His title was Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force. Although Eisenhower's new command dated from January 15, it did not actually become official until February 13, when he received notification of his appointment from the CCS. On the same day Eisenhower issued orders activating his headquarters, which was named Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).

July 14, 1945 - SHAEF was deactivated and Eisenhower relinquished command of the Allied forces under his control.


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