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