<P> During World War II, the Allied leaders appointed Supreme Allied Commanders to manage the multi-nation, multi-discipline fighting forces for a particular theatre of war . These Supreme Allied Commanders were given operational control over all air, land, and sea units in that theatre . In other cases, senior commanders were given the title Commander - in - Chief . </P> <P> These Supreme Allied Commanders--were drawn from the most senior leaders in the British Armed Forces and United States Armed Forces . These commanders reported to the British / American Combined Chiefs of Staff, although in the case of the Pacific and South East Asia, the relevant national command authorities of the American Joint Chiefs of Staff or the British Chiefs of Staff Committee had responsibility for the main conduct of the war in the theatre, depending on the Supreme Commander's nationality . </P> <P> General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower served in successive Supreme Allied Commander roles . Eisenhower was the Commander - in - Chief, Allied Force for the Mediterranean theatre . Eisenhower then served as Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force (SCAEF) in the European theatre, starting in December 1943 with the creation of the command to execute Operation Overlord and ending in July 1945 shortly after the End of World War II in Europe . In 1951, Eisenhower would again be a Supreme Allied Commander, the first to hold the post for NATO (see next section). </P> <P> Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson succeeded Eisenhower in the Mediterranean theatre, given the title Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean . Wilson was succeeded by Field Marshal Harold Alexander, who continued in charge of those Allied forces until the end of the war . </P>

Who was the supreme commander of the western allied forces in europe