The Commanders of World War II were for the most part career officers. They were forced to adapt to new technologies and forged the direction of modern warfare. Some political leaders, particularly those of the principal dictatorships involved in the conflict, Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Hirohito (Japan), acted as dictators for their respective countries or empires.
Military commanders
Allied Forces
United Kingdom Armed ForceName Highest Rank Highest AwardCommands Fate Theatres / BattlesArmyAlan Brooke Field Marshal Knight of the Garter.Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces
Chief of the Imperial General Staff Served as CIGS. Chief of the Imperial General Staff Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal Operation AerialCommanded the II Corps of the British Expeditionary Force at the Battle of France. Later served as the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.Bernard Montgomery Field Marshal Knight of the Garter.General Officer Commanding, 3rd Infantry Division
General Officer Commanding, II Corps
General Officer Commanding, V Corps
General Officer Commanding, XII Corps
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief South-Eastern Command
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eighth Army
Supreme Commander, Allied Ground Forces (Normandy)
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief 21st Army Group
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine and Military Governor of British Occupation Zone in Germany Served as CIGS, and later Commander-in-Chief of the Western Union and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in NATO. Western Desert Campaign Battle of Alam el Halfa Second Battle of El Alamein Battle of El Agheila Tunisia Campaign Battle of Medenine Operation Pugilist Battle of Wadi Akarit Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Western Front (World War II) Operation Overlord Battle for Caen Operation Epsom Operation Goodwood Operation Cobra Falaise pocket Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany A veteran of World War I and the Irish War of Independence, entered the Second World War as a divisional commander within the British Expeditionary Force, defending France and then took command of II Corps during the evacuation at Dunkirk. After several Corps appointments was placed in command of South-Eastern Command before being dispatched to Egypt to take command of the Eighth Army, following the death of William Gott. Won the Second Battle of El Alamein and played a crucial role in the completion of the North African Campaign. Then led the Eighth Army during the Battle of Sicily and then the invasion of Italy itself. Was transferred back to the United Kingdom to take command of the 21st Army Group and led all Allied ground forces during Operation Overlord. Following the conclusion of this campaign, relinquishing the role of Ground Forces commander, he continued to lead 21st Army Group throughout the rest of the 1944-1945 North West Europe Campaign.Harold Alexander Field Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the BathGeneral Officer Commanding, 1st Infantry Division
General Officer Commanding, I Corps
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command
General Officer Commanding, XII Corps
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Eastern Command
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East Command
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, 18th Army Group
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, 15th Army Group
Supreme Commander Allied Forces Headquarters Governor General of Canada Battle of Dunkirk Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Battle of Tunisia Italian Campaign (World War II)The last British soldier to evacuate Dunkirk, replaced Auchinleck from command at North Africa, and turned the tide in the Allies' favour. Defeated the Germans in North Africa. Staged a successful invasion of Italy, and as Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces liberated it in 1944 before becoming Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Headquarters, responsible for all military operations in the Mediterranean Theatre.Archibald Wavell Field Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathGeneral Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East Command
Commander-in-Chief, India
Supreme Commander, American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
Governor-General of India Viceroy of India, returned to England in 1947 and became High Steward of Colchester and a Lord Temporal Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African campaign East African Campaign Anglo-Iraqi War Syria–Lebanon Campaign Burma Campaign 1942–43Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in the Middle East 1939–1941. Commander-in-Chief in India 1941–1942. Commander of ABDACOM 1942. Commander-in-Chief in India 1942–1943. Viceroy of India 1943–1947.Viscount Gort Field Marshal Holder of the Victoria Cross.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force
Governor of Gibraltar
Governor of Malta
High Commissioner for Palestine and Trans-Jordan Died in 1946. Western Front (World War II) Battle of France Battle of DunkirkA World War I hero, he played a major role in mobilising and arming the British forces during the Phony War. He took command of the British Expeditionary Force for the German invasion of France but was overwhelmed by German military tactics. When his troops were trapped in Dunkirk, he disobeyed orders from French and British command to attack and decided to evacuate, a decision which saved the lives of over 300,000 soldiers.Claude Auchinleck General Order of the BathGeneral Officer Commanding, IV Corps
Commander-in-Chief, Northern Norway
Governor of Malta
General Officer Commanding, V Corps
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East Command
Commander-in-Chief, India Commander-in-Chief, India during the Partition of India Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Anglo-Iraqi War Operation Crusader Battle of Gazala First Battle of El AlameinOrganised the Home Guard to protect against Operation Sea Lion. A quick response to the Iraq revolt impressed Churchill, who appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the North Africa forces. Frequent disagreements with British command, coupled with significant loss of territory against Rommel, forced him to be reassigned back to India. He fared better in this theatre, successfully mobilising the British Indian Army against the Burma invasion.Air ForceCharles Portal Marshal of the Royal Air Force Knight of the GarterAir Member for Personnel
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Bomber Command
Chief of the Air Staff Chairman of atomic energy division of Ministry of Supply, British Aluminium, and British Aircraft Corporation.C A Portal_P Chief of Air Staff Adlertag Strategic bombing during World War IIStrong advocate of area bombing. Took over as head of the RAF after the Battle of Britain. Continually launched air raids against Germany, especially targeting civilian populations, and helped create Pathfinder forces.Arthur Harris Air Chief Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Bomber Command Manager of the South African Marine Corporation Strategic bombing during World War II Combined Bomber Offensive Pointblank directive Battle of the Ruhr Bombing of Kassel in World War II Battle of Berlin (RAF campaign)Assisted Charles Portal in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, issued the area bombing directiveHugh Dowding Air Chief Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Fighter Command Dismissed as head of fighter command in November 1940. Became a theosophist after the war. Died in February 1970, aged 87 and buried in Westminster Abbey. Battle of BritainLeader in World War I of a Royal Flying Corps squadron. Commander of the Battle of Britain. Credited with saving Britain from defeat by devising the Dowding systemNavyAndrew Cunningham Admiral of the Fleet Knight of the ThistleCommander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Died in June 1963, buried at sea off Portsmouth. French West Africa in World War II Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of Calabria Battle of Taranto Battle of Cape Matapan Siege of Malta (World War II) Operation Torch Operation Retribution (1943) Operation Husky First Sea Lord 1943–1946.Louis Mountbatten Admiral of the Fleet Knight of the GarterCommanded HMS Kelly and HMS Illustrious
Commander-in-Chief, Combined Operations Headquarters
Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command Viceroy of India until 1947. First Sea Lord from 1954 to 1957. Battle of Dieppe South-East Asian theatre of World War II Burma Campaign Operation Tiderace Supreme Allied Commander of SEAC. Under him were such generals as William Slim and Joseph Stilwell.Sir Alfred Pound Admiral of the Fleet Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathFirst Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Died of illness, October 1943. Battle of the Atlantic First Sea Lord 1939–1943.James Somerville Admiral of the Fleet Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathCommander-in-Chief, East Indies Station
Commander-in-Chief, Battlecruiser Squadron
Supreme Allied Commander, Force H
Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet Became Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in August 1946. Attack on Mers-el-Kébir Battle of Cape Spartivento Indian Ocean raid
France
Armed ForceName Highest Rank Highest AwardCommands Fate Theatres / BattlesArmyCharles de Gaulle Général de Brigade Grand Master Legion of HonorCommander, 4th Armored Division
Leader of the Free French Forces
Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic Took control of France as President and was instrumental in creating the Provisional Government of the French Republic and later the Fifth French Republic. Battle of France Battle of Montcornet Battle of Abbeville West African Campaign Battle of Dakar Battle of Gabon Free French Forces Defied Vichy France by vowing to continue fighting after the French surrender. He headed with de Tassigny the Free French Forces, who assisted the Allies in the liberation of France in 1944. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Marshal of France Grand Master Legion of HonorCommander, First Army
Commander-in-Chief, Ground Forces in Western Europe Later commanded the French Far East Expeditionary Corps in the First Indochina War. Invasion of Elba Operation Dragoon Colmar Pocket French Resistance Defied Vichy France by vowing to continue fighting after the French surrender. He headed with Charles de Gaulle the Free French Forces, who assisted the Allies in the liberation of France in 1944.Alphonse Juin Marshal of France Grand Cross Legion of HonorCommander, 15th Motorized Infantry Division
Commander, French Expeditionary Corps
Chief of the Defence Staff Became Resident General in Morocco and member of the Académie Française, Allied Joint Force Commander Brunssum in NATO Winter LineCommander of the Vichy French forces in North Africa until 1942, then commander of the French Expeditionary Corps in Tunisia and Italy.Maurice Gamelin Général d'Armée Grand Cross Legion of HonorChief of Staff of the French Army Died in 1958. Saar Offensive Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Sedan (1940)Commander-in-Chief of French army during Battle of France, was replaced on 20 May 1940.Maxime Weygand Général d'armée Grand Cross Legion of HonorChief of Staff of the French Army
Minister of National Defence Arrested on charges of treason but acquitted. Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Abbeville