Seventh United States Army

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US Army, Europe & Seventh Army
- USAREUR -

US Army Europe Logo.jpg
Lineup July 10, 1943
Country United States of America
Armed forces United States Armed Forces
Armed forces US Army
Type Army Service Component Command
Insinuation United States European Command
headquarters Wiesbaden (Hesse)
Nickname Pyramid of Power
Seven Steps to Hell
motto Born at Sea, Baptized in Blood, Crowned in Glory ("Born at sea, baptized in blood, crowned in glory")
Butcher Second World War , Second Gulf War , Iraq War
Commanding General, US Army Europe and Seventh Army
Current commander Lt. Gene. Christopher CavoliUS-O9 insignia.svg
Important
commanders

George Patton
Eric Shinseki
Dwight D. Eisenhower

insignia
Current sleeve badge USAREUR Insignia.svg
Old sleeve badge US Seventh Army SSI.svg

The Seventh United States Army ( German  7th US Army ) or the US Army Europe ( English US Army, Europe & Seventh Army ; abbreviation: USAREUR ) is a large unit of the US Army and the land component of the US European Command , its military area of ​​responsibility ( Area of ​​Responsibility ) includes Europe and the successor states of the Soviet Union including Russia .

history

Second World War

Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch

The 7th US Army was formed on July 10, 1943. The army emerged from the US I. Panzer Corps and was set up to take command of US forces during Operation Husky , the Allied landing in Sicily . During this deployment, Lieutenant General George S. Patton was the commanding general . Patton officially assumed command aboard USS Monrovia (APA-31) . Hence the association's motto: “Born at sea, baptized in blood.” (Eng. Born at sea, baptized in blood. ) Later supplemented by: “… crowned with glory” (Eng. Crowned with glory ).

In Sicily , the US 7th Army landed on the left flank of the Allied forces during Operation Husky on the Gulf of Gela . It was planned here as protection for the British 8th Army under General Bernard Montgomery , but it played a more important role, since the main part of Sicily and the city of Messina were liberated by American troops.

Command was now taken over by Alexander M. Patch , and the 7th US Army was withdrawn from the front and incorporated into the 6th US Army Group . The next mission was the invasion of southern France ( Operation Dragoon also Operation Anvil ) on August 15, 1944. The operation was planned to support General Dwight D. Eisenhower's landing in Normandy and to tie up German forces in the south. However, the breakthrough came in Normandy before Operation Dragoon was completed. This operation was controversial as it weakened US forces in Italy . As an amphibious operation , it was a success. Three divisions of the 7th US Army went ashore, followed by further US troops and the French 1st Army under General Lattre de Tassigny . A rapid advance through the whole of southern France was followed by hard fighting in Alsace and Lorraine during the winter of 1944/45. In March 1945, the 7th US Army crossed the Rhine and pushed on to southern Germany. Parts of the Black Forest and Bavaria were occupied by her. On April 20, they conquered Nuremberg , on April 29 a battalion of the 7th US Army liberated the Dachau concentration camp and occupied Munich a day later . A little later soldiers of the 7th US Army reached Hitler's alpine residence, the Obersalzberg .

After the Second World War

After the end of the Second World War in Europe on May 8, 1945, the headquarters of the US troops were stationed in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in Paris . Two months later, on July 1, 1945, the headquarters was renamed US Forces, European Theater (USFET).

The US 7th Army did not exist long after the war. Together with the 3rd US Army , it commanded the US occupation forces until March 1946. After that, it was disbanded and its tasks were taken over by the 3rd US Army, which in turn was withdrawn from Germany in 1947.

On March 15, 1947 the USFET became the US High Command for Europe ( European Command EUCOM - not to be confused with the later US European Command ), this was a cross- armed forces high command with the following components:

Six months later, on November 15, 1947, the US Army Europe (USAREUR) was formed from the US Ground and Services Forces . This was a construct under the European Command (EUCOM) that only existed on paper in order to be able to place the US ground forces in Europe and their administration under one commander. Since the commander of the USAREUR was also the commander of the EUCOM, the EUCOM staff mostly took over the tasks of the USAUREUR staff.

With the unification of the British and US occupation zones to form the bizone on January 1, 1947 and the annexation of the French zone in spring 1948, the EUCOM headquarters was relocated from Frankfurt am Main to Heidelberg to make room for the new administrative structures in Frankfurt. In order to make room for the EUCOM headquarters in Heidelberg, the US constabulary was relocated to Stuttgart.

As a result of the ongoing Korean War and troop reinforcements in Europe, the EUCOM under General Thomas T. Handy reactivated the 7th US Army on November 24, 1950 and set up its headquarters in Stuttgart. The new army staff took over command of all US Army units and their administrations from US Army Europe . However, he still had no troops under his command.

On August 1, 1952, a new US regional command for Europe was set up, the US European Command (USEUCOM) with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main. At the same time, the EUCOM headquarters in Heidelberg was renamed the US Army Europe headquarters . USAREUR took over most of the tasks of the previous EUCOM, as well as its staff. Since then, the commander of the 7th US Army has also been the commander of US Army Europe . The US European Command took over command of all US troops in Europe with the exception of those in Berlin , Trieste and Austria . The US Army Europe became the administrative command for all US Army troops in the USEUCOM area, with the exception of Trieste and Austria. For over a decade, the Seventh Army has also hosted and collaborated with the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, founded by the conductor Samuel Adler to support the cultural diplomacy ( international understanding ) of the US Army throughout Germany and Europe during the Cold War (1952–1962).

Since then, the USAREUR commander has been in command of all US troops in Germany and, in this function, was also the primary link between the USEUCOM commander and the German government and the office of the High Commissioner for Germany .

In October 1955, the last US troops withdrew from Austria and the US Army Southern European Task Force (USASETAF), based in Vicenza , Italy , was placed under USEUCOM. A short time later, on January 1, 1956, USASETAF was subordinated to US Army Europe .

After the founding of NATO in 1949, USAREUR put together a planning staff for the establishment of an Army Group for Central Europe in 1952 . When the Central Army Group (CENTAG) was activated on October 1, 1960, the commander of the USAREUR also took over this post in the NATO command structure . The 7th US Army with the V and VII US Corps provided the US part of the CENTAG.

After the Berlin Wall was erected in August 1961, various units were placed under the command of the 7th US Army until it reached its highest manpower in June 1962 with 277,342 soldiers. For most of the Cold War , the US 7th Army consisted of two corps , US V and VII.

On December 1, 1966, the headquarters of the 7th US Army and US Army Europe were finally merged, settled in Heidelberg and renamed the US Army, Europe and Seventh Army headquarters .

Regular exercises were held to prepare the units for a possible attack by the Warsaw Pact . This also included the large-scale exercise Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER), which took place once or several times a year. In 1967 the 7th US Army was merged with US Army Europe and its headquarters were relocated to the Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg .

The Vietnam War had relatively little impact on US forces in Europe. In order to be able to keep the front on the Iron Curtain , only a few forces stationed in Europe were withdrawn and deployed in Vietnam.

After the end of the Cold War, US troops in Germany were greatly reduced. Before this troop reduction took effect, however, the Second Gulf War against Iraq had to be fought . The 7th US Army was involved in the Desert Shield / Storm operations with the VII US Corps, which is subordinate to it. The corps led the tank attacks on the Iraqi forces. After that, however, it did not return to Germany, but went straight to the United States to be dissolved there. This left only the 5th US Corps as a major unit under the 7th US Army. This remained so during the Yugoslav wars and the US missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo . The only reorganization in 1996 was the re-establishment of the 173rd US Airborne Brigade in Italy.

21st century

The attacks of September 11th had no direct impact on the 7th US Army; Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 did. Since 2004 all units have been deployed in rotation, sometimes in Iraq.

The US Army's transformation plans envisage the relocation of the larger units of the US 7th Army to the United States, including the US 1st Armored Division . The V US Corps is to be disbanded and most of its units in the I. , III. and XVIII. US Corps to be integrated. The 7th US Army and US Army Europe are to remain one group, the headquarters of the US Army Europe and the V US Corps are to be merged and the new US Army Europe and Task Force 5 headquarters will then be formed. If these changes are carried out as planned, the US troops in Europe will consist of the US Army Europe headquarters and Task Force 5 , flight and combat support units and three maneuver brigades : the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment in Grafenwoehr , the 173rd US Airborne Brigade in Italy and the Eastern Europe Task Force , which will likely be stationed in Bulgaria and Romania .

In December 2007, the US Army announced through its Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, General Richard A. Cody , that it wanted to slow down the withdrawal of troops. At least 37,000 army soldiers are to remain in Germany and Italy by 2013.

On October 19, 2009 it was announced that the US Army had decided to relocate its European headquarters from Heidelberg to Wiesbaden. The new building in Wiesbaden, the Shali Center , was ready for occupancy in June 2012. The V. US Army Corps was relocated to Wiesbaden Army Airfield in the spring of 2011 and the headquarters of the V. Corps officially relocated to Wiesbaden on August 12, 2011. On September 6, 2013, the Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg were closed by the US Army and the USAREUR's move to the new headquarters in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim was thus officially completed.

organization

US Army Europe / Seventh Army Organization 2018

The 7th US Army currently (2018) consists of two combat brigades and numerous support units . The two heavy brigades ( 170th Infantry and 172nd Infantry ) were disbanded. At the time of the Cold War, two corps with four divisions were subordinate to her .

Other US Army units in Europe:

  • 2nd Theater Signal Brigade, in Wiesbaden
    • 39th Strategic Signal Battalion, in Chievres , Belgium
    • 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, in Grafenwoehr
    • 52nd Strategic Signal Battalion, in Stuttgart
    • 102nd Strategic Signal Battalion, in Wiesbaden
    • 509th Strategic Signal Battalion, in Vicenza, Italy
    • 6981st Civilian Support Group, in Germersheim
  • 66th Military Intelligence Brigade , in Wiesbaden
  • Regional Health Command-Europe, in Sembach
    • Dental Health Command-Europe, in Sembach
    • Public Health Command-Europe, in Landstuhl
    • Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl
    • Medical Department Activity-Bavaria, in Grafenwoehr
  • US Army Installation Management Command - Europe, in Sembach
    • US Army Garrison Ansbach
    • US Army Garrison Bavaria
    • US Army Garrison Benelux
    • US Army Garrison Italy
    • US Army Garrison Rhineland-Palatinate
    • US Army Garrison Stuttgart
    • US Army Garrison Wiesbaden
  • Kosovo Force - Multinational Battle Group-East (MNBG-E), Camp Bondsteel near Ferizaj ( US Army unit supported by Hungary, Poland, Romania and Turkey)
  • 5th Military Police Battalion (CID), in Kaiserslautern

List of the commanding generals

Lt. Gene. Christopher G. Cavoli
Surname Beginning of the appointment End of appointment
Christopher Cavoli January 18, 2018 -
Frederick B. Hodges 5th November 2014 January 2018
Donald M. Campbell December 1, 2012 5th November 2014
Mark Hertling March 8, 2011 December 1, 2012
Carter F. Ham August 28, 2008 March 8, 2011
Gary D. Speer ( interim ) May 2, 2008 August 28, 2008
David D. McKiernan December 15, 2005 May 2, 2008
Burwell B. Bell December 3, 2002 December 14, 2005
Montgomery C. Meigs November 10, 1998 December 3, 2002
Eric K. Shinseki 5th August 1997 November 10, 1998
William W. Crouch December 19, 1994 5th August 1997
David M. Maddox July 9, 1992 December 19, 1994
Crosbie E. Saint June 24, 1988 July 9, 1992
Glenn K. Otis April 15, 1983 June 23, 1988
Frederick J. Kroesen May 29, 1979 April 15, 1983
George S. Blanchard June 30, 1975 May 29, 1979
Michael S. Davison May 26, 1971 June 29, 1975
Arthur S. Collins, Jr. March 20, 1971 May 26, 1971
James H. Polk June 1, 1967 March 20, 1971
Andrew P. O'Meara March 18, 1965 June 1, 1967
Paul L. Freeman, Jr. May 1, 1962 March 18, 1965
Bruce C. Clarke October 20, 1960 May 1, 1962
Clyde D. Eddleman April 1, 1959 October 20, 1960
Henry I. Hodes May 1, 1956 April 1, 1959
Anthony C. McAuliffe February 1, 1955 May 1, 1956
William M. Hoge September 29, 1953 February 1, 1955
Charles L. Bolte April 1, 1953 September 29, 1953
Manton S. Eddy August 12, 1952 April 1, 1953
The 7th US Army was reactivated under Thomas T. Handy, took over many tasks from US Army Europe and had the same commander
Thomas T. Cell phone November 24, 1950 August 12, 1952
7th US Army disbanded between 1947 and 1950
Oscar W. Griswold June 11, 1946 March 15, 1947
7th US Army disbanded March 31, 1946 and later reactivated for 10 months
Geoffrey Keyes September 1945 March 31, 1946
Wade H. Haislip June 1945 August 1945
Alexander M. Patch March 2, 1944 June 1945
Mark Wayne Clark January 1, 1944 March 2, 1944
George S. Patton July 10, 1943 January 1, 1944

See also

Web links

Commons : 7th US Army  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Archived copy ( memento of the original from January 18, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.eur.army.mil
  2. The Julilliard Journal Faculty Portraits of Samuel Adler at the Juilliard School of Music, New York, October 2013 on Juilliard.edu (English)
  3. A Conductor's Guide to Choral-Orchestral Works, Part 1, Jonathan D. Green, Scarecrow Press, Oxford, 1994, Chapter II - Survey of Works p. 14 ISBN 978-0-8108-4720-0 Samuel Adler on books.google.com (English)
  4. ^ Harry MacKenzie: The Directory of the Armed Forces Radio Service Series . Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut 1999, ISBN 0-313-30812-8 , pp. 198 (English, excerpt [accessed on January 8, 2020]): “Seventh Army Symphony on the Radio of the Armed Forces 1961 with works by Vivaldi and Dvorak”
  5. ^ New Music New Allies Amy C. Beal, University of California Press, Berkley, 2006, p. 49, ISBN 978-0-520-24755-0 "Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra (1952–1962) Works by Roy Harris, Morton Gould and Leroy Anderson" on books.google.com (English)
  6. ^ Emily Freeman Brown: A dictionary for the modern conductor . Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland 2015, ISBN 978-0-8108-8400-7 , pp. 311 (English, online at Google Books [accessed January 10, 2020] Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra founded in 1952 by Samuel Adler).
  7. ^ John Canarina: Uncle Sam's Orchestra - Memories of the Seventh Army Symphony . University of Rochester Press, 1998, ISBN 978-1-58046-019-4 (English, title page on GoogleBooks [accessed February 20, 2020]).
  8. "USA slowing troop reductions in Europe" - dpa Alarm If GMX .com December 20, 2007. Access December 21 of 2007.
  9. Frankfurter Rundschau of 14 June 2012 .
  10. ^ V Corps returns to Hessen ( Memento of September 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), vcorps.army.mil. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  11. Official website of the US Army Europe ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 9 September 2013 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.eur.army.mil