major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (03/14/91)
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Hopefully this will put this thread to bed. I did some research on
the WWII 5-stars and the amount of fources they commanded. Surprisingly,
Omar Bradley was only a 3-star throughout the European Campaign. Here's
some facts.
On December 15th 1944, the US Senate approved the creation of the 5-star
rank and authorized 4 Generals of the Army; Marshal, MacArthur,
Eisenhower, and Arnold. Four Fleet Admirals were authorized; Leahy,
King, Nimitz, and Halsey. The 'reason' as debated by congress, was to
provide an equal rank to match the British 5-star (or Field Marshal).
When the Normandy landing commenced, Jun '44, Montgomery was initially
in command of all landing forces, commanding the 21st Army Group.
Within a month, Bradley was in command of the newly activated 12th Army
Group with Montgomery's 21AG on his left (northern) flank. Eventually,
Dever's Army Group, which landed in Southern France - joined up on
Bradley's right (southern) flank. Throughout 1944, Eisenhower was in
command of three Army Groups - as a four-star. Bradley was a Lieutenant
General (3-stars) and wore his 3-stars through France and Germany - as
did his Army commanders. Most of his Corps commanders were 2-star Major
Generals.
LTG Bradley's 12th AG consisted of LTG Simpson's 9th Army, LTG Hodges'
1st Army, LTG Gerow's 15th Army, and LTG Patton's 3rd Army. Bradley
was commanding about 34 divisions (Mongomery commanded 21 divisions,
Dever commanded 20 divisions.) Eisenhower became 5-star on 15Dec44
at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), Paris, in
command of 3 Army Groups.
In one of my source books ("Patton's Third Army at War") is a picture
taken on 3 September 1945 of Bradley, Simpson, Hodges, Gerow, and Patton -
all wearing 3-stars. I could not find a definitive date for when Bradley
was promoted to 5-star General of the Army.
By contrast, MacArthur was a 5-star and during the height of the Phillipine
campaign - was in command of only two Armies consisting of 10 divisions.
So, in sum. A 5-star rank, today, is not necessary. At most, Schwarzkopf
commanded maybe the equivalent of four corps-size formations; a light
corps (XVIII), a heavy corps (VII), a corps of marines, and a Pan-Arab
corps -- as a four-star general.
So, with the thread in bed - perhaps we should all just be patient and
watch what happens to the careers of Schwarzkopf and Powell.
mike schmitt