European Theater of Operations

The European Theater of Operations, or ETO, is the term used in the United States to refer to US operations north of the Mediterranean coast, in the European Theater of World War II.

Definitions

The European Theater of Operations, or ETO, was the term used by the United States in World War II to refer to all US military activity in Europe which fell under the adminstative command of "European Theater of Operations, United States Army" (ETOUSA). From February 1944 the operational command was the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) which as an Allied command also had operational control of British and all other allied land forces and tactical airforces in the European theatre.

Related Topics:
United States - World War II - 1944 - Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force

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The term European Theater of Operations should not be confused with the European Theatre of World War II which is often defined to include the years before the US entered the war, the Italian campaign, the European Stratigic Bombing Campaign, the European Eastern Front, all of the European Western Front in 1944 and 1945, as well and other actions which did not involve the use of American forces.

Related Topics:
European Theatre of World War II - European Stratigic Bombing Campaign - European Eastern Front - European Western Front - 1944 - 1945

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Because Dwight Eisenhower held positions in the ETO and the North African Theater of Operations (NATO) here is a brief explanation of that theatre. Operation Torch, the landings in North Africa, were referred to as occurring in the North African Theater of Operations and then later (December 10, 1944), when the theater was redefined to include Italy, as the Mediterranean Theater of Operations or MTO. US forces in that theatre were initially under the administrative command of NATOUSA which was redesignated MTOUSA. They were under the operational command of Allied (Expeditionary) Forces Headquarters AFHQ.

Related Topics:
Dwight Eisenhower - Operation Torch - December 10 - 1944 - Mediterranean Theater of Operations - AFHQ

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