On the Allied command structure 1940

::Command Structure::

The French command structure within France “was a peculiar one” (Major-General R Barry). The Chief of Staff Armed Forces was General Gamelin. He was responsible for the defence of France on all fronts – including overseas territories. The so-called “North-East Front”, bordering Belgium and Germany was under the command of General Georges. This front, understandably, contained a great deal of the French army in the months leading up to May 10th. Gamelin had his headquarters just outside of Paris at Vincennes. Georges had his headquarters at La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, about 40 miles east of Paris. In the spring of 1940, both of these highly important military centres were linked by a single staff located at Montry, about 20 miles from Vincennes and about the same distance from Georges’ headquarters. The Chief-of-Staff, General Doumenc tried to spend an equal amount of time at both centres.

The commander of the French Air Force, General Vuillemin, had his headquarters elsewhere. The air force divided France up into ‘zones of operations’ but the pilots within each could receive instructions from Vuillemin or from the Air Observation Groups which were attached to the army. There is evidence that the air force received contradictory instructions from both once the Germans had attacked.

The most senior military figure in Belgium was the king, Leopold. He was commander-in-chief of the Belgium Army. However, he took advice from his military advisor, General van Overstraeten rather than from his General Staff. Belgium put its defensive trust in the Albert Canal, running north-west from Liège to Antwerp. Liège as a city was heavily fortified; Fort Eben-Emael was considered to be the strongest fort in the whole of Europe and the city was considered to be the linchpin of the whole defence plan of Belgium. However, such planning also meant that if Liège fell, then Belgium would also fall.

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