Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:01:08-1:01:37

Why use a major general to coordinate Allied forces?

The available command rank lets Allied reinforcements support Norway without making the victory look like a British takeover.

Adrian Carton De WiartAllied CommandCarl Gustav FleischerNorwegian ArmyNorwegian Campaign
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Question

Was a higher-ranking commander available for the Allied force in Norway?

Short answer

No suitable higher-ranking major general was available, and the chosen rank helped keep the operation visibly Norwegian-led.

Notes

No higher-ranking major general was available for this immediate operation. Major General Carton de Wiart serves alongside General Carl Gustav Fleischer because that pairing is acceptable to the British, French, and Norwegians. Sending a lieutenant general would imply that the Allies were taking over a government that had survived and was still fighting. Rank therefore becomes part of preserving Norwegian political ownership of the victory.