Jacob L. Devers
Jacob Loucks Devers (born September 8, 1887 in York , Pennsylvania , † October 15, 1979 in Washington, DC ) was an American general . During World War II he commanded the French-American 6th Army Group in Europe .
biography
Devers was the son of a jeweler. He graduated from York High School by 1905 . In 1909 he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and became a lieutenant in 1909 . He was promoted to captain in 1917 and temporarily to major, and in 1918 to lieutenant colonel and colonel . Between the world wars he took care of the improvement of the technical and tactical departments of the field artillery. In 1932/33 he studied at the Army War College in Washington and in 1935 at the Military Academy. By 1938 he rose again, but now permanently, to colonel.
When World War II broke out, Devers was serving in Panama and became Brigadier General in May 1940 . From November 15, 1940 to July 15, 1941, he commanded the 9th US Infantry Division at Fort Bragg , North Carolina . On August 14, 1941, he was sent to Fort Knox as the youngest major general in the Land Forces to command the armored forces. During his command, this force grew from two armored divisions to 16 divisions and 63 separate tank battalions. In September 1942 he became Lieutenant General and in May 1943 Commander of the American Forces in Europe with headquarters in London . There he organized Operation Overlord .
In July 1944 he got the desired command of the 6th US Army Group. With their twelve American and eleven French divisions, Devers conquered large parts of Alsace in November and December 1944 . In January 1945 he fended off the last German offensive in the west , overriding an order from his superior Dwight D. Eisenhower and thereby strengthening his good relationship with France. From January 20th he started an offensive around Colmar (see bridgehead Alsace ). He crossed the Rhine in March and accepted the German surrender in western Austria on May 6, 1945 . In March 1945 he was promoted to general.
Devers was buried in Arlington National Cemetery .
Web links
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| George C. Marshall | Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission 1960–1969 |
Mark W. Clark |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Devers, Jacob L. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Devers, Jacob Loucks |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American general |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 8, 1887 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | York, Pennsylvania |
| DATE OF DEATH | 15th October 1979 |
| Place of death | Washington, DC |