This was stated by Paul Hellyer, Canadaโs former Defense Minister, in a 2014 interview with RT.
Considering he was the Defense Minister from 1963-1967, it seems like heโd be a relatively authoritative and credible figure on the subject, but for a fantastic claim, I canโt find any records of such an event. Do any exist?/r/
Additional question, Eisenhower was also very popular to the troops but before this, was there resentment/reservations from his colleagues, or even from ordinary soldiers, about the fact that the general attained the highest rank without ever experiencing combat?
Just curious, as i've only ever heard it was because he was willing to put the allied coalition above just the United States military and political interest. Was there actually more to it than just this?
On January 1st, 1951, American General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, a famed soldier and military commander who successfully directed the Allied landings in Normandy and subsequent march into Germany during World War II, arrived in Amsterdam. General Eisenhower quickly set to work with a small group of planners to devise a structure for the new European command. The Planning Group, as they were called, worked in a five star hotel in central Amsterdam while construction of a permanent structure for the new European command in the eastern part of the capital city.
On April 2, 1951, General Eisenhower was appointed the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), the commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationโs (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) and the head of ACOโs headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The Supreme Commander signed the activation order for Allied Command Europe and to move forward with its permanent headquarters at SHAPE. The headquarters, Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) has been activated in Fontainebleau, France. On the same day, ACEโs subordinate headquarters in Northern and Central Europe were activated as well. The Southern region is expected to be activated within three months.
The new SACEUR role is dual-hatted with that of Commander of United States European Command. Eisenhower gave a speech today to the press corps upon his arrival in Rotterdam that the Second Chinese Civil War has created the need for an integrated military structure for NATO for European defenses in case of a Soviet attack.
Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery will be appointed the first Deputy SACEUR with the UKโs blessing.
