Commanders of World War II - wikipedia Commanders of World War II World War II Alphabetical indices N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 -- 9 Navigation Campaigns Countries Equipment Lists Outline Timeline Portal Category Bibliography Timelines of World War II Chronological Prelude ( in Asia in Europe ) 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 By topic Diplomacy Engagements Operations Battle of Europe air operations Eastern Front Manhattan Project United Kingdom home front The Commanders of World War II were for the most part career officers. They were forced to adapt to new technologies and shaped the direction of modern warfare. Some political leaders, particularly those of the principal dictatorships involved in the conflict, Adolf Hitler ( Germany ), Benito Mussolini ( Italy ) and Emperor Hirohito ( Japan ), acted as supreme military commanders as well as dictators for their respective countries or empires. Contents 1 Military commanders 1.1 Allied Forces 1.1. 1 United Kingdom 1.1. 2 France 1.1. 3 United States 1.1. 4 Soviet Union 1.1. 5 Republic of China 1.1. 6 Australia 1.1. 7 New Zealand 1.1. 8 Poland 1.1. 9 Czechoslovakia 1.1. 10 Greece 1.1. 11 Netherlands 1.1. 12 Yugoslavia 1.1. 13 Canada 1.1. 14 South Africa 1.1. 15 Luxembourg 1.2 Axis Forces 1.2. 1 Germany 1.2. 2 Italy 1.2. 3 Japan 1.2. 4 Hungary 1.2. 5 Thailand 1.2. 6 Romania 1.2. 7 Slovakia 1.2. 8 Bulgaria 1.3 Others 1.3. 1 Finland 1.3. 2 Burma 1.3. 3 Switzerland 1.3. 4 Ukraine 2 See also 3 References Military commanders Allied forces United Kingdom Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Alan Brooke Field Marshal Knight of the Garter. Served as CIGS. Chief of the Imperial General Staff Battle of the Ypres - Comines Canal Operation Ariel Commanded the II corps of the British Expeditionary Force at the Battle of France. Later served as the Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Bernard Montgomery Field Marshal Knight of the Garter. Served as CIGS, and deputy leader of NATO. Western Desert Campaign Battle of Alam el Halfa Second Battle of El Alamein Battle of El Agheila Tunisia Campaign Battle of Medenine Operation Pugilist Battle of Wadi Akarit Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Western Front ( World War II ) Operation Overlord Battle for Caen Operation Epsom Operation Goodwood Operation Cobra Falaise pocket Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany A veteran of World War I and the Irish War of Independence, Great General of the British Army, entered the Second World War as a divisional commander within the British Expeditionary Force, defending France and then took command of II Corps during the evacuation at Dunkirk. After several Corps appointments was placed in command of South - Eastern Command before being dispatched to Egypt to take command of the Eighth Army, following the death of William Gott. Won the Second Battle of El Alamein and played a crucial role in the completion of the North African Campaign. Then led the Eighth Army during the Battle of Sicily and then the invasion of Italy itself. Was transferred back to the United Kingdom to take command of the 21st Army Group and led all Allied ground forces during Operation Overlord. Following the conclusion of this campaign, relinquishing the role of Ground Forces commander, he continued to lead 21st Army Group throughout the rest of the 1944 - 1945 North West Europe Campaign. Harold Alexander Field Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Governor General of Canada. Battle of Dunkirk Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Battle of Tunisia Italian Campaign ( World War II ) The last British soldier to evacuate Dunkirk, replaced Auchinleck from command at North Africa, and turned the tide in the Allies ' favour. Defeated the Germans in North Africa. Staged a successful invasion of Italy, and as Commander - in - Chief of Allied Forces liberated it in 1944 before becoming Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces Headquarters, responsible for all military operations in the Mediterranean Theatre. Archibald Wavell Field Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Viceroy of India, returned to England in 1947 and became High Steward of Colchester. Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African campaign East African Campaign Anglo - Iraqi War Syria -- Lebanon Campaign Burma Campaign 1942 -- 43 Commander - in - Chief of British Forces in the Middle East 1939 -- 1941. Commander - in - Chief in India 1941 -- 1942. Commander of ABDACOM 1942. Commander - in - Chief in India 1942 -- 1943. Viceroy of India 1943 - 1947. Viscount Gort Field Marshal Holder of the Victoria Cross. Died in 1946. Western Front ( World War II ) Battle of France Battle of Dunkirk A World War I hero, he played a major role in mobilising and arming the British forces during the Phony War. He took command of the British Expeditionary Force for the German invasion of France, and despite courageous fighting, was overwhelmed by German military tactics. When his troops were trapped in Dunkirk, he disobeyed orders from French and British command to attack and decided to evacuate, a decision which saved the lives of over 300,000 soldiers. Claude Auchinleck General Order of the Bath Commander - in - Chief, India Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Anglo - Iraqi War Operation Crusader Battle of Gazala First Battle of El Alamein Organised the Home Guard to protect against Operation Sea Lion. A quick response to the Iraq revolt impressed Churchill, who appointed him Commander - in - Chief of the North Africa forces. Frequent disagreements with British command, coupled with significant loss of territory against Rommel, forced him to be reassigned back to India. He fared better in this theatre, successfully mobilising Indian forces against the Burma invasion. Air Force Charles Portal Marshal of the Royal Air Force Knight of the Garter Chairman of British Aircraft Corporation. Chief of Air Staff Adlertag Strategic bombing during World War II Strong advocate of area bombing. Took over as head of the RAF after the Battle of Britain. Continually launched air raids against Germany, especially targeting civilian populations. Arthur Harris Air Chief Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Manager of the South African Marine Corporation Strategic bombing during World War II Combined Bomber Offensive Pointblank directive Battle of the Ruhr Bombing of Kassel in World War II Battle of Berlin ( RAF campaign ) Assisted Charles Portal in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Hugh Dowding Air Chief Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Dismissed as head of fighter command in November 1940. Became a theosophist after the war. Died in February 1970, aged 87 and buried in Westminster Abbey. Battle of Britain Leader in World War I of an RFC Squadron. Commander of the Battle of Britain. Deservedly credited with saving Britain from defeat. Navy Andrew Cunningham Admiral of the Fleet Knight of the Thistle Served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Died in June 1963, buried at sea off Portsmouth. French West Africa in World War II Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of Calabria Battle of Taranto Battle of Cape Matapan Siege of Malta ( World War II ) Operation Torch Operation Retribution ( 1943 ) Operation Husky First Sea Lord 1943 - 1946. Louis Mountbatten Admiral of the Fleet Knight of the Garter Viceroy of India until 1947. First Sea Lord from 1954 to 1957. Battle of Dieppe South - East Asian theatre of World War II Burma Campaign Operation Tiderace Supreme Allied Commander of SEAC. Under him were such famous generals as William Slim and Joseph Stilwell. Sir Alfred Pound Admiral of the Fleet Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Died of illness, October 1943. Battle of the Atlantic First Sea Lord 1939 - 1943. France Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Charles de Gaulle Général de Brigade Grand Master Legion of Honor Took control of France as President and was instrumental in creating the Fifth French Republic. Battle of France Battle of Montcornet Battle of Abbeville West African Campaign Battle of Dakar Battle of Gabon Free French Forces Defied Vichy France by vowing to continue fighting after the French surrender. He headed with de Tassigny the Free French Forces, who assisted the Allies in the liberation of France in 1944. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Marshal of France Grand Master Legion of Honor Later commanded French troops in the First Indochina War. Invasion of Elba Operation Dragoon Colmar Pocket French Resistance Defied Vichy France by vowing to continue fighting after the French surrender. He headed with Charles de Gaulle the Free French Forces, who assisted the Allies in the liberation of France in 1944. Alphonse Juin Marshal of France Grand Cross Legion of Honor Became Resident General in Morocco. Winter Line Commander of the Vichy French forces in North Africa until 1942, then commander of the French Expeditionary Corps in Tunisia and Italy. Maurice Gamelin Général d'Armée Grand Cross Legion of Honor Died in 1958. Saar Offensive Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Sedan ( 1940 ) Commander - in - Chief of French army during Battle of France, was replaced on 20 May 1940. Maxime Weygand General Grand Cross Legion of Honor Arrested on charges of treason but acquitted. Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Abbeville Battle of Dunkirk Commander - in - Chief of French army during the Battle of France from 20 May 1940 until the surrender of France. Oversaw the creation of the Weygand line, an early application of the Hedgehog tactic. French Navy François Darlan Admiral of the Fleet War Cross Murdered by Bonnier de La Chapelle December 1942. North African Campaign Mers - el - Kébir Operation Torch Built up the French Navy to prepare for war, only to see it destroyed by the British Navy. Served the Vichy France government and was tipped to become Pétain 's successor. Was commander of Vichy French forces in Operation Torch. After arranging a ceasefire, he defected to the Allied side. United States Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army George Marshall General of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star As Secretary of State his name was given to the Marshall Plan, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. Chief of Staff of the United States Army Was the aide to General Pershing during World War I. Was Chief of Staff having overall command of the US Army during and before World War II. Marshall served as the U.S. Army Chief of Staff during the war and as the chief military adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many of the American generals that were given top commands during the war were either picked or recommended by Marshall, including Dwight Eisenhower, Lloyd Fredendall, Leslie McNair, Mark W. Clark and Omar Bradley. He led the rapid growth of US forces, co-ordinated the Western Allies and promoted postwar reconstruction of Europe. Dwight D. Eisenhower General of the Army Distinguished Service Cross, Medal of Honor ( offered, but not accepted by him ). After liberating Europe, served as NATO head and president of Columbia University before being elected the 34th President of the United States. Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Italian Campaign ( World War II ) Western Front ( World War II ) Western Allied invasion of Germany Entered the war as an assistant to the more senior Officers MacArthur and George Patton, showed his worth as a commander during the North Africa Campaign. In December 1943, President Roosevelt decided that Eisenhower -- not Marshall -- would be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. The following month, he resumed command of European Theater of Operations United States Army ( ETOUSA ) and the following month was officially designated as the Supreme Allied Commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ( SHAPE ), serving in a dual role until the end of hostilities in Europe in May 1945. He was charged in these positions with planning and carrying out the Allied assault on the coast of Normandy in June 1944 under the code name Operation Overlord, to head the liberation of Europe on the Western Front and the invasion of Germany. Douglas MacArthur General of the Army Medal of Honor, Philippine Medal of Valor Tasked with rebuilding Japan after the war. Later involved in the Korean War. South West Pacific theatre of World War II Philippines Campaign ( 1941 -- 42 ) Solomon Islands campaign New Guinea campaign Salamaua -- Lae campaign Admiralty Islands campaign Philippines Campaign ( 1944 -- 45 ) Borneo campaign ( 1945 ) Japan campaign Recalled from retirement prior to the start of the Pacific war. Early on in World War II, received the Medal of Honor for extreme bravery. Was disappointed to relinquish the Philippines to the Japanese. Promising to return, he did so in 1945 and whilst in Manila, prepared for war in Japan itself. MacArthur presided over the Japanese Unconditional Surrender in 1945. His strategy of maneuver, air strikes and force avoidance meant that soldiers under his command faced relatively low casualties. Omar Bradley General of the Army Distinguished Service Medal ( Army and Navy ). Became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Battle of Hill 609 Western Front ( World War II ) Operation Cobra Operation Lüttich Falaise pocket Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine Battle of Hürtgen Forest Operation Queen Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany This former infantry school instructor entered the war under Patton, later becoming his boss. Towards the end of the war, led a force of over 1.3 million troops ( America 's largest to serve under one man ). Mark W. Clark General Distinguished Service Medal ( Army and Navy ). Became head of the Citadel Allied invasion of Italy Bernhardt Line Battle of San Pietro Infine Battle of Monte Cassino Operation Shingle Battle of Cisterna Gothic Line Operation Grapeshot Led the triumphal entry into Rome. Served under General Harold Alexander. Ordered the destruction of the religious abbey at Monte Cassino. Was commander - in - chief in Italy from late 1944. George S. Patton, Jr. General Distinguished Service Cross Died in a road accident 4 months after the end of the war. Operation Torch Battle of El Guettar Operation Vulcan Battle of Sicily Battle of Chambois Falaise pocket Battle of Fort Driant Battle of Metz Battle of the Bulge An aggressive general whose ferocious military thrusts earned him admiration and respect from all participants in the war ( and at times endangered his military career ). Successfully used the German tactic of armored blitzkrieg against the Germans. Navy Ernest King Fleet Admiral Navy Cross Retired on December 15, 1945. Battle of the Atlantic United States Chief of Naval Operations. Chester W. Nimitz Fleet Admiral Legion of Honour, Distinguished Service Medal Served as Chief of Naval Operations. Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Battle of Midway Solomon Islands campaign Philippines Campaign ( 1944 -- 45 ) Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign Mariana and Palau Islands campaign Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign Japan campaign After the attack on Pearl Harbor, took command of the Pacific Ocean areas, and turned around USA 's fortunes in the Battle of Midway. Closed the war with operations in the Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. William Halsey, Jr. Fleet Admiral Navy Cross Retired 1947. Marshalls -- Gilberts raids Solomon Islands Campaign Guadalcanal campaign New Georgia Campaign Philippines Campaign ( 1944 -- 45 ) Bombing of Kure ( July 1945 ) Commander of South Pacific Area 1942 - 1944. Commander of United States Third Fleet 1944 - 1945. Frank Jack Fletcher Admiral Medal of Honor Chairman of the General Board, retired in 1947. Marshalls -- Gilberts raids Battle of Coral Sea Battle of Midway Solomon Islands Campaign Battle of the Eastern Solomons Recipient of the Medal of Honor for saving hundreds of refugees during the United States occupation of Veracruz in April 1914 during the Mexican Revolution. Operational commander at the pivotal Battles of Coral Sea and of Midway ; nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. In November 1942, he became Commander, Thirteenth Naval District and Commander, Northwestern Sea Frontier. A year later, he was placed in charge of the Northern Pacific area. Raymond A. Spruance Admiral Navy Cross Served as President of the Naval War College. Battle of Midway Solomon Islands Campaign Mariana and Palau Islands campaign Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign Japan campaign Commander of two of the most significant battles of the war, Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. USAAF Henry Arnold General of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Member of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff committees. Ira C. Eaker General Distinguished Service Medal ( Army, Navy and Air Force ) Became deputy commander of the Army Air Forces until retirement in 1947. Interception of the Rex Operation Cockade Strategic bombing campaign Commander of the 8th US Bomber command. Carl Spaatz General Air Force Cross Replaced Arnold in September 1947 to become chief of the US Air Force. Operation Flax Strategic bombing during World War II Combined Bomber Offensive Pointblank directive Bombing of Kassel in World War II One of the pioneers of US military aviation, Spaatz advocated the use of scientific analysis to bombing raids, and made effective use of long range fighters, tactics which helped the Allies achieve air superiority over Europe. Soviet Union Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Georgy Zhukov Marshal of the Soviet Union Twice an Order of Victory, four times Hero of the Soviet Union Became Soviet member of the Allied Control Council for Germany, Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union 1955 - 57 Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Case Blue Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Kursk Dnieper -- Carpathian Offensive Kamenets - Podolsky pocket Operation Bagration Vistula -- Oder Offensive Operation Solstice Battle of Berlin Involved in nearly every major battle on the Eastern Front. He successfully led the defense of Moscow and later relieved Leningrad. After vying with Rokossovsky for overall command, he led all Soviet armies in the closing stages of the war and at the Battle for Berlin. Aleksandr Vasilevsky Marshal of the Soviet Union Twice an Order of Victory, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Soviet Defence Minister Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Second Battle of Kharkov Case Blue Battle of Stalingrad Operation Bagration East Prussian Offensive Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation Soviet -- Japanese War Stalin 's strategic specialist who planned and carried through many successful Soviet operations as overall commander, particularly the encirclement at Stalingrad and the grand plan for Bagration. Commander - in - Chief of Soviet Forces in the Far East during Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation. Konstantin Rokossovsky Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland Order of Victory, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Polish Defense Minister Eastern Front Case Blue Battle of Stalingrad Third Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Battle of Dnieper Dnieper -- Carpathian Offensive Operation Bagration East Prussian Offensive East Pomeranian Offensive Battle of Berlin Decisive role in the Battle for Moscow, led encirclement forces at Stalingrad, broke German counter-attack at Kursk, advanced into Poland and eventually linked up with the Americans at Wismar. Boris Shaposhnikov Marshal of the Soviet Union Three Orders of Lenin Commandant of the Voroshilov Military Academy. Died in 1945. Pre-emptive war Chief of the General Staff 1937 - 1940, 1941 - 1942. Organized pre-war buildup of the Red Army. Ivan Bagramyan Marshal of the Soviet Union Twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Soviet Army commander Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Battle of Moscow Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Siege of Leningrad Operation Bagration Baltic Offensive East Prussian Offensive Battle of Memel Battle of Königsberg Bagramyan 's experience in military planning as a chief of staff allowed him to distinguish himself as a capable commander in the early stages of the Soviet counter-offensives against Nazi Germany. Nikolai Vatutin General of the Army Hero of the Soviet Union Killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Eastern Front Battle of Stalingrad Third Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Battle of Kiev ( 1943 ) Dnieper -- Carpathian Offensive Kamenets - Podolsky pocket Korsun - Cherkassy Pocket Deputy of the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army. Played a decisive role at Kursk, outmanoeuvered German commander Manstein and later routed German forces in Korsun salient. Ivan Konev Marshal of the Soviet Union Order of Victory, Hero of the Soviet Union Appointed head of the Soviet forces in East Germany. Served as chief of the Soviet Armed Forces and Warsaw Pact. Eastern Front Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk Battle of the Dnieper Battle of Kiev ( 1943 ) Dnieper -- Carpathian Offensive Kamenets - Podolsky pocket Uman -- Botoşani Offensive First Jassy -- Kishinev Offensive Lvov -- Sandomierz Offensive Battle of the Dukla Pass Vistula - Oder Offensive Battle of Berlin Prague Offensive Play a pivotal role in the War, retaking much of Eastern Europe. Helped in the capture of Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. Konev was also a competitor of leading star, Marshal Georgy Zhukov. Semyon Timoshenko Marshal of the Soviet Union Order of Victory, twice a Hero of the Soviet Union. Soviet Army commander in Belarus Invasion of Poland Winter War Battle of Summa Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Battle of Smolensk ( 1941 ) Second Battle of Kharkov Case Blue Defence Commissar till 19 July 1941. Chairman of the Stavka ( Soviet High Command ). A capable commander in the early stages of World War II. Played a decisive role in the Winter War and the invasion of Poland. After the disaster at Kharkov, Timoshenko was removed by Stalin from front - line command but given overall commanders in different fronts of the USSR. Soviet Navy Ivan Isakov Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Hero of the Soviet Union Commander - in - Chief of the Naval Forces. Eastern Front Baltic Sea campaigns Battle of the Caucasus Nikolay Kuznetsov Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Hero of the Soviet Union People 's Commissar of the Navy during The Second World War Eastern Front Yalta conference Ivan Yumashev Admiral Hero of the Soviet Union Commander of Soviet Pacific Fleet Pacific War Soviet -- Japanese War Soviet Aviation Sergei Khudyakov Marshal of Aviation of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Chief of Staff of the Air Forces of the Soviet Union, deputy commander of the Red Air Force Eastern Front Battles of Rzhev Battle of Kursk Yalta conference Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation Soviet -- Japanese War Alexander Novikov Chief Marshal of Aviation of the Soviet Union Two times Hero of the Soviet Union Commander - in - Chief of the Air Forces of the Soviet Union Chief of the High school of civil aviation Eastern Front Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kursk Battle of Stalingrad Pacific War Republic of China Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Chiang Kai - shek Generalissimo Order of National Glory After the war against Japan, resumed Chinese Civil War against the communists. Retreated to Taiwan and led the Kuomintang ( KMT ) government there until his death. Supreme Leader of the China Front Was both the head of the Republic of China and the supreme Allied commander in the China Theatre. Led the nation to total war from his temporary capital at Chongqing. Mao Zedong Great Leader of Chinese resistance movements Honour Sabre of the Awakened Lion Defeated the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War and established the People 's Republic of China. Organized Chinese guerrilla resistance in Japanese - held territories. Second Sino - Japanese War Greatly expanded communist base areas during the war, and eventually usurped control of China from Kuomintang. Yan Xishan General Order of Blue Sky and White Sun Fought on the side of the Republic of China in the civil war. Second Sino - Japanese War Operation Chahar Battle of Taiyuan Battle of Xinkou Warlord of Shanxi Chen Cheng General Order of Blue Sky and White Sun Became the Chief of the general staff Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Shanghai Battle of Wuhan 1st Battle of Changsha Battle of West Hubei Burma theatre Zhu De Generalissimo Honour Sabre of the Awakened Lion Became the commander - in - chief of the People 's Liberation Army. Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Taiyuan Battle of Pingxingguan Battle of Xinkou Hundred Regiments Offensive Military leader of the Communist Eighth Route Army. Xue Yue General Order of Blue Sky and White Sun Fought on the side of the Republic of China in the civil war. Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Wuhan Battle of Wanjialing Battle of Nanchang 1st Battle of Changsha 1939 -- 40 Winter Offensive 2nd Battle of Changsha 3rd Battle of Changsha 4th Battle of Changsha Australia Armed Force Name Highest Rank held during World War II Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Vernon Sturdee Lieutenant General Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Sturdee served as the Chief of General Staff and commanded the First Australian Army ( 1939 - 1945 ). On 6 September 1945 he was the senior Allied officer present at the surrender of Japanese Forces in Rabaul in the South West Pacific theatre. On 1 December 1945 Sturdee was appointed Commander in Chief of the Australian Military Forces, overseeing the demobilisation of the wartime army. He was mentioned in despatches for a third time on 6 March 1947. Chief of General Staff and then Commander in Chief Army Brudenell White General Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Killed in the Canberra air disaster, 1940. Chief of the General Staff Chief of the General Staff ( March -- August 1940 ) Thomas Blamey General Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Promoted to Field Marshal in 1950. Became an author and promoted welfare of ex-servicemen. Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Battle of Greece South West Pacific theatre of World War II New Guinea campaign Kokoda Track campaign Battle of Wau Landing at Nadzab Commander - in - chief of Australian Armed Forces and commander - in - chief of Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific Area. Edmund Herring Lieutenant General Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Later Chief Justice of Australia. Received KCMG in 1949 South West Pacific theatre of World War II Kokoda Track campaign Landing at Nadzab Battle of Buna -- Gona Commander of Australian forces in the Kokoda Track campaign. Leslie Morshead Lieutenant General Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Became General Manager of the Orient Steam Navigation Company. Western Desert Campaign Siege of Tobruk Battle of Sio South West Pacific theatre of World War II Borneo campaign Led the famous Australia defence against Rommel 's in siege of Tobruk. Commander at the Battle of El Alamein. Australia forces took 22 percent of the casualties there. After learning the art of jungle warfare, was a very competent commander of operations against the Japanese in New Guinea. Air Force Charles Burnett Air Chief Marshal Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath RAF officer loaned to Australia and served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1940 to 1942. Oversaw a 20-fold increase in the size of the RAAF which supported the Empire Air Training Scheme. Returned to Great Britain in 1942 and while suffering poor health worked in the RAF 's cadet organisation, the Air Training Corps. Died of a coronary thrombosis months before the end of the War. Chief of Air Force Fighter ace during the First World War. Deputy Commander of RAF in the Middle East. Air Force Peter Roy Maxwell Drummond Air Marshal Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Died in an air crash at sea, 1945. Air Officer Commanding - in - Chief Middle East Fighter ace during the First World War. Deputy Commander of RAF in the Middle East. Navy John Gregory Crace Vice Admiral Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Commanded Chatham Dockyard in Britain. Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Battle of the Coral Sea Commanded the Australian navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Commander of the Allied Naval Squadron, ANZAC Force. New zealand Armed Force Name Highest Rank held during World War II Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg Lieutenant General Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, Distinguished Service Order Holder of the Victoria Cross plus three other Distinguished Service Orders ( World War I ) Returned to New Zealand and later became Governor - General Battle of Greece Battle of Thermopylae ( 1941 ) Battle of Crete North African Campaign Tunisia Campaign Italian Campaign ( World War II ) A veteran of the Mexican Revolution and Victoria Cross recipient during the First World War. First soldier on beach for the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War and the youngest general in the British Army during the First World War. He liked to be in the thick of action -- Churchill called him `` the Salamander '' due to his love of fire. Involved in the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Greece. Again defeated as the Allied Commander in the Battle of Crete after Churchill failed to provide enigma intelligence. Very successful as a commander in various campaigns in the North African Campaign, including the Battle of El Alamein. Defeated again at the Battle of Cassino as a Corps Commander ( this is nonsense - the Germans lost at Cassino - how could Freyberg be defeated ? ). Relieved Padua and Venice, and was first to enter Trieste in the race for Trieste, and successfully confronted Josip Broz Tito 's Partisans there. By the end of World War II, Freyberg had spent ten and a half long years fighting the Germans ( 1940 - 1945 plus 1916 - 1918 equals 7 years - he fought the Turks in 1915 ). Air Force Arthur Coningham Air Marshal Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Missing in Bermuda Triangle. North African Campaign Western Desert Campaign First Battle of El Alamein Second Battle of El Alamein Operation Torch Italian Campaign North - West Europe Campaign Normandy campaign A high scoring air ace in World War I. Air force Commander working with famous Major General George Patton during Operation Torch. Commander of tactical Air Forces for Operation Husky and D - Day. Keith Park Air Chief Marshal Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Returned to New Zealand Battle of France Battle of Britain Battle of Malta Pacific Theatre of Operations A veteran of World War I and air ace. Served under Hugh Dowding and commanded the defense of London during the Luftwaffe attacks. Dowding and Park are credited with winning the Battle of Britain. Led the defense of Malta. Roderick Carr Air Marshal Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Air Officer Commanding Indian Air Force, 1946 Battle of Britain RAF Bomber Command Served in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. Commander of Northern Ireland RAF. Bomber Command Commander 4 Group. Deputy Chief of Staff ( Air ), SHAEF. Poland Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Edward Rydz - Śmigły Marshal of Poland Order of the White Eagle Suffered heart attack before he could participate in the Polish resistance. Invasion of Poland Fighting Poland Movement Was commander - in - chief of Poland during its invasion by German and Russian troops. Władysław Sikorski General Order of the White Eagle Died in plane crash July 1943. Polish Armed Forces in the West Served as Commander - in - Chief of the Polish government in exile, and formed the Polish Armed Forces. Władysław Anders General Order of the White Eagle Became Inspector - General of the Polish Armed Forces in Exile. Polish Armed Forces in the East Founder & commander of the Polish Forces Armed in Iran ( 1942 ), better known as Anders Army. Michał Rola - Żymierski Marshal of Poland Order of the Builders of People 's Poland He was a member of the Polish United Workers Party Eastern Front ( World War II ) People 's Army of Poland. Was commander - in - chief of the Polish Army fighting alongside the Soviet Union. Tadeusz Bór - Komorowski Lieutenant General Order of the White Eagle Elected Prime Minister of Polish government in Exile. Polish Resistance Warsaw Uprising Commanded the main part of the Warsaw Uprising. Czechoslovakia Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Ludvík Svoboda General People 's Hero of Yugoslavia, Hero of the Soviet Union Later president of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Eastern Front Battle of Sokolovo Battle of the Dukla Pass Commander of the Czechoslovak military units on the Eastern front Ján Golian Brigadier General Czechoslovak War Cross Executed by the Germans in a concentration camp in Flossenburg. Slovak National Uprising Led the insurgent Slovak Army during the Slovak National Uprising. Greece Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Alexander Papagos Field Marshal the Commander 's Cross of the Cross of Valour Deported to Dachau Concentration Camp, led Greek army in Greek Civil War, later Field Marshal and Prime Minister of Greece. Balkan Campaign ( World War II ) Greco - Italian War Capture of Klisura Pass Italian Spring Offensive Battle of Greece Commander - in - Chief of the Greek Army in 1940 - 41. Aris Velouchiotis Corporal ( actual rank ) Major of Artillery ( assumed rank ) Committed suicide after the Second World War. Greek Resistance Operation Harling Founder and chief leader of the Greek People 's Liberation Army ( ELAS ). Stefanos Sarafis Major General Later MP for the United Democratic Left, died in a car accident in 1957. Greek Resistance Chief military officer of the Greek People 's Liberation Army after April 1943. Napoleon Zervas Lieutenant Colonel Twice minister, died in 1957. Greek Resistance Operation Harling Commander of the National Republican Greek League resistance army. Navy Alexandros Sakellariou Vice Admiral the Commander 's Cross of the Cross of Valour MP, Navy and National Defense Minister after the war. Died in 1982. Battle of the Mediterranean Chief of staff of the Royal Hellenic Navy 1940 - 41, Minister for National Defence, 1951 -- 52 Netherlands Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Henri Winkelman General Military William Order Died in 1952. Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Maastricht Battle for The Hague Battle of Zeeland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Was Commander - in - Chief of the Netherlands army during the Battle of the Netherlands. Hein ter Poorten Lieutenant General He spent the rest of the war in various prisoner of war camps, and in 1945 returned to the Netherlands. Died in 1968. Netherlands East Indies campaign Battle of Java island Commander of the ABDA land forces in early 1942. Navy Conrad Helfrich Vice Admiral Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Died in 1962. Netherlands East Indies campaign Battle of the Java Sea Commander of the ABDA Naval forces in 1942. Karel Doorman Rear admiral Knight of the Military William Order Died in Battle of the Java Sea. Netherlands East Indies campaign Battle of Makassar Strait Battle of Badung Strait Battle of the Java Sea Commander of the combined American, British, Dutch and Australian ( ABDA ) fleet in the Dutch East Indies. Yugoslavia Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Draža Mihailović General of the Army Legion of Merit Executed by Communists in 1946. World War II in Yugoslavia Chetniks Led the Chetniks. Josip Broz Tito Marshal Order of the National Hero Became President of Yugoslavia World War II in Yugoslavia Yugoslav Partisans Led the People 's Liberation Army. Canada Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Harry Crerar General Order of the Companions of Honour Became a diplomat, postings in Czechoslovakia, Netherlands and Japan. Operation Tractable Falaise pocket Operation Astonia Siege of Dunkirk ( 1944 -- 45 ) Battle of the Scheldt Operation Veritable De facto commander - in - chief of the Canadian military. Guy Simonds Lieutenant General Companion of the Order of Canada In 1951 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff Operation Atlantic Battle of Verrières Ridge Operation Spring Operation Totalize Operation Tractable Battle of the Scheldt Operation Infatuate Devised the Kangaroo armoured personnel carrier. Andrew McNaughton Lieutenant General Order of the Companions of Honour First President of the United Nations Security Council Minister of National Defense A noteworthy scientist and inventor of a direction finding device for artillery, a precursor to Radar. Fought in Vimy Ridge during World War I and was a lieutenant colonel. Commander of the Canadian troops until 1943. Was defeated in the Dieppe Raid. Opposed the breaking up of the Canadian Army, and insisted it fight as a single unit. Grandfather of Lieutenant - General Andrew Leslie of Canada. South Africa Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Jan Smuts Field Marshal Légion d'honneur Croix de Commandeur Helped drafting of the United Nations Charter, died 11 September 1950 Imperial War Cabinet Smuts signed the Paris Peace Treaty, resolving the peace in Europe, thus becoming the only signatory of both the treaty ending the First World War, and that ending the Second. Luxembourg Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Émile Speller Major - Commandant Arrested by Germany in 1940 following the invasion of Luxembourg but later released, died 17 January 1952 German invasion of Luxembourg Axis forces Germany Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Wilhelm Keitel Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Executed in 1946. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Chief of the OKW during World War II. Was convicted of war crimes in the Nurembeg Trials and executed by the Allies. Alfred Jodl Colonel General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Executed in 1946. Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Chief of the Operations Staff of the OKW. Heinrich Himmler Reichsführer - SS Blood Order, Golden Nazi Party Chief of the SS during World War II. Suicide, 1945. Operation Konserve Operation Nordwind Colmar Pocket Western Allied invasion of Germany Military commander and a leading member of the Nazi Party ( NSDAP ) of Nazi Germany. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler later appointed him Commander of the Replacement ( Home ) Army and General Plenipotentiary for the administration of the entire Third Reich. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and one of the persons most directly responsible for the Holocaust. Walther von Brauchitsch Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1948. Oberkommando des Heeres Operation Barbarossa Commander - in - Chief of the German Army 1938 - 1941. Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist Field Marshal Knight 's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Died in 1954 in a Soviet prison. Most senior German officer to die in a Soviet prison. Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Sedan ( 1940 ) Battle of Dunkirk Battle of Rostov ( 1941 ) Battle of Brody ( 1941 ) Case Blue An aristocrat and senior commander in World War I. Commander of tank armies in the German Army in World War II. Fought in most of the actions involving blitzkrieg techniques. Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1956. German occupation of Czechoslovakia Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Exemplary service in World War I. Given the command of Army Group North in Operation Barbarossa. Was in charge of the unsuccessful siege of Leningrad, which lasted nearly 1000 days. Gerd von Rundstedt Field Marshal Died in 1953. Invasion of Poland Battle of Belgium Battle of France Battle of Sedan ( 1940 ) Battle of Dunkirk Dunkirk evacuation Operation Barbarossa Battle of Uman Dieppe Raid Battle of Kiev ( 1941 ) Battle of Rostov ( 1941 ) Battle of Normandy Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany Pointe du Hoc A Kriegsakademie graduate of the Prussian nobility, and a major World War I veteran, Rundstedt distinguished himself as commander of numerous fronts of World War II including the Western and Eastern fronts of Europe. Günther von Kluge Field Marshal Knight 's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Committed suicide in 1944. Operation Mars Battle of Kursk Battle of Smolensk ( 1943 ) Operation Atlantic Operation Goodwood Battle of Verrières Ridge Operation Cobra Operation Lüttich Falaise Gap Commander of many successful operations including the invasion of Poland, France and the Soviet Union. Involved in the failed Hitler assassination, he decided to commit suicide. Georg von Küchler Field Marshal Knight 's Cross with Oak Leaves Arrested in 1948 and sent to the Soviet Union by the Americans. Released in 1953. Battle of France Battle of the Netherlands Battle of the Lys ( 1940 ) Siege of Leningrad Leningrad -- Novgorod Offensive Relieved von Leeb as commander of the siege of Leningrad. After this failed, withdrew Army Group North, which saved them. Fedor von Bock Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Was killed by a British fighter pilot in 1945 and became the only one of two of Adolf Hitler 's field marshal 's to die from enemy fire. Invasion of Poland Battle of the Netherlands Battle of Belgium Battle of France Operation Barbarossa Battle of Białystok - Minsk Yelnya Offensive Battle of Smolensk ( 1941 ) Battle of Moscow Second Battle of Kharkov Case Blue Recipient of the Pour le Mérite from World War I, rose rapidly in rank to field marshal by the fall of France. Took command of Army Group Centre, whose Panzer groups penetrated the furthest into Russia. Was one of the senior Wehrmacht commanders before the outbreak of war. Play a decisive role in the defeat of Poland and France. Bock was German Army Group Center commander during Operation Barbarossa, after the defeat at Moscow was relieved of command by Hitler. After Reichenau death, he was appointed to take over Army Group South. He was instructmental in defeating Marshal Timoshenko forces at Kharkov. However, Hitler was displeased with Bock and dismissed him. Played no further part in the war Erich von Manstein Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Swords Imprisoned after war, later released and served as senior advisor to the Bundeswehr. Battle of France Battle of Sevastopol Siege of Odessa ( 1941 ) Case Blue Battle of Stalingrad Operation Winter Storm Third Battle of Kharkov Battle of Kursk Battle of the Dnieper Battle of Kiev ( 1943 ) Kamenets - Podolsky pocket The master of mobile battle, authored the original Sichelschnitt plan, a plan which enabled Germany to capture France with minimal casualties. Manstein was one of the ablest general Hitler had. Manstein captured Sevastapol and was responsible for shoring up the Southern Front after the defeat at Stalingrad. He later recaptured Kharkov and gave the Soviets a beating. After the defeat at Kursk, he skillfully handled his army group retreat. However, he was dismissed by Hitler after frequently clashing with him in 1944. He then played no further part in the war from then on. Erwin Rommel Field Marshal Pour le Mérite, Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds Committed suicide after being implicated in the Valkyrie plot. Official cause of death by the State was succumbing to wounds from an Allied air attack. Battle of France Battle of Arras ( 1940 ) Siege of Lille ( 1940 ) North African Campaign Western Desert Campaign Operation Sonnenblume Siege of Tobruk Operation Brevity Operation Battleaxe Operation Crusader Battle of Gazala Battle of Bir Hakeim First Battle of El Alamein Battle of Alam Halfa Second Battle of El Alamein Battle of El Agheila Tunisia Campaign Battle of the Kasserine Pass Battle of Medenine Battle of Normandy Battle for Caen A legend in his own time, The Desert Fox headed the German campaign of North Africa. Rommel was highly decorated in World War I with the Pour le Mérite, Germany 's highest award. During World War II, he made an immediate impact in the Saharan desert, conquering all of West Africa and threatening to reach Suez. A number of factors such as stretching supply lines and the reinforcement of Allied military power ( both in Morocco and Egypt ) turned the tide in the favour of the Allies, and his forces were routed in the Battle of Tunisia in 1943. Before he could counterattack, German high command reassigned him to defend the Atlantic Wall. Rommel failed to stop the allied invasion of Normandy. Though typically linked to the assassination of Hitler, Rommel probably did not take part in the July 20 plot as he did not want future generations to think that the Axis lost the war due to backstabbing. Nevertheless, Rommel had to commit suicide, lest he face a mock - trial which would have surely ended in the death of him, his family and his aides. Walter Model Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds Committed suicide in 1945. Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Battle of Kursk Leningrad -- Novgorod Offensive Operation Tractable Battle of Chambois Hill 262 Falaise pocket Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine Operation Market Garden Operation Bagration Battle of Hürtgen Forest Operation Queen Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany German Army officer whose expertise in defensive warfare earned him the nickname of the ' Führer 's fireman ' Heinz Guderian Colonel General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Died in 1954. Oberkommando des Heeres Battle of Wizna Battle of Kobryń Invasion of Luxembourg Battle of France Battle of Sedan ( 1940 ) Battle of Montcornet Battle of Boulogne ( 1940 ) Battle of Smolensk ( 1941 ) Operation Wotan Battle of Moscow Main creator of Blitzkrieg tactics. Chief of OKH General Staff 1944 - 1945. Friedrich Paulus Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Soviet captivity until 1953. Became a vocal critic of the Nazi regime. Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of Stalingrad Operation Uranus Commander of the disastrous campaign in the Battle of Stalingrad. Josef Dietrich SS - Oberst - Gruppenführer Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds Sentenced to life, reduced to 25 years imprisonment in 1946. Promoted welfare of ex-servicemen on release. Battle of Vevi ( 1941 ) Battle of Kleisoura Pass Operation Perch Operation Epsom Operation Charnwood Operation Goodwood Battle of Verrières Ridge Operation Spring Battle for Caen Battle of the Bulge Operation Spring Awakening Before World War II, Dietrich was very close to Hitler, and played a part in the Night of the Long Knives. Later in World War II he became the commander of 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, General of the Waffen - SS and member of the Prussian state council. Dietrich came into prominence for his role in the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944. He later commanded the defense of Vienna. He was a widely respected person in Germany both during and after the war. Air force Hermann Göring Reichsmarschall Grand Cross of the Iron Cross Committed suicide after being sentenced to death for war crimes. Oberkommando der Luftwaffe Rotterdam Blitz Battle of France Battle of Britain Battle of the Atlantic Battle of Berlin Was a high scoring air ace and took over the Red Baron 's famous squadron, and won the prestigious Pour le Mérite in World War I. Hitler 's second in charge. Commander - in - Chief of Luftwaffe 1935 - 1945. During World War II, he did not live up to his prior high standards. He was involved with the running of Germany and the war, and the central decision making, including implementation of the Holocaust. Albert Kesselring Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds Died in 1960 at the age of 75. Oberkommando der Luftwaffe Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Battle of Moscow Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II North African Campaign Tunisia Campaign Siege of Malta ( World War II ) Italian Campaign ( World War II ) Western Allied invasion of Germany Was commander - in - chief of Luftwaffe South ( 1941 -- 1943 ), then South - west ( 1943 -- 1945 ), then West Europe ( 1945 ). Was a very competent commander as chief of the defense of Italy against the allies, when he caused plenty of problems, even though heavily outnumbered, including at the prolonged battles of Anzio and Monte Cassino. Was a leader in the defense of Germany at the end of the war. Kesselring was widely admired and acknowledged on both sides as a `` fair fighter '' and was responsible for protecting priceless artworks and even the City of Rome from destruction. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Died in 1945. Battle of France Battle of Montcornet Case Blue Battle of Greece Battle of Stalingrad Robert Ritter von Greim Field Marshal Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds Committed suicide in 1945. Western Front ( World War II ) Eastern Front ( World War II ) An ace of World War I and winner of the prestigious Pour Le Merite award. Before World War II, went to China to help build their air force. A commander of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Poland. He was loyal to Hitler to the end, flying in on 26 April 1945 with Hanna Reitsch. He and Hanna Reitsch said `` It was the blackest day when we could not die at our Führer 's side. ''. Kurt Student General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves Held as a Prisoner of War by the British and freed in 1948. Battle of Rotterdam Balkan Campaign ( World War II ) Battle of Crete Operation Market Garden Battle of Overloon An ace of World War I. Before World War II, trained troops in airborne operations. Commanded the successful airborne operations in the Battle of Crete. Commanded the highly successful operation to free Benito Mussolini. Successful again in the defense against airborne landings near Arnhem. Navy Erich Raeder Grand Admiral Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1960. Oberkommando der Marine German occupation of Norway Battle of the Atlantic Operation Sea Lion Commander - in - Chief of Kriegsmarine 1936 - 1943. Karl Dönitz Grand Admiral Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Briefly became President of Germany. Spent 10 years in prison. Died in 1980. Oberkommando der Marine Battle of the Atlantic Commander - in - Chief of Kriegsmarine 1943 - 1945. Italy Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Pietro Badoglio Marshal of Italy Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Succeeded Mussolini and arranged an Armistice of his country with the Allies. Died in 1956 of natural causes ( Cardiac asthma ). Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Adriatic Campaign of World War II Was not in favour of Italy 's alliance to Germany, and resigned after the Battle of Greece. Rodolfo Graziani Marshal of Italy Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Graziani was sentenced to 19 years in jail but only 4 months were served. Died in 1955. North African Campaign Italian Campaign Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Viceroy of Italian East Africa, Governor - General of Italian Libya, Minister of Defense of RSI. Ugo Cavallero Marshal of Italy Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Committed suicide in 1943 after alienating both Germany and non-fascist Italy. Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Adriatic Campaign of World War II North African Campaign Balkan Campaign ( World War II ) Greco - Italian War Capture of Klisura Pass Battle of Greece Chief of the Italian Supreme Command 1940 - 1943. Giovanni Messe Marshal of Italy Grand Officer of the Military Order of Savoy Became a member of the Italian Senate. Died in 1968. North African Campaign Battle of Petrikowka Tunisia Campaign Operation Pugilist Battle of El Guettar Battle of Wadi Akarit Operation Vulcan Balkan Campaign ( World War II ) Commander of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia Ettore Bastico Marshal of Italy Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Marshal of Italy and high rank officer during North Africa Campaign. Died in 1972. North African Campaign Governor of the Italian Aegean Islands and Libya. Mario Roatta General Silver Medal of Military Valor ( 3 ) Removed from service by Badoglio in 1943 under Allies ' request. He later fled to Spain living under protection of Francisco Franco. In Italy he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment but his sentence was overturned in 1948. Died in 1968. Battle of Málaga Battle of Guadalajara World War II in Yugoslavia Invasion of Yugoslavia Case White General of the Italian Second Army known for his cruelty against civilians in the Italian - occupied Yugoslavia and for the deportation of many Slavs to the Rab concentration camp. Alfredo Guzzoni General Commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Died in 1965. Italian invasion of France Allied invasion of Sicily Commander - in - Chief of Army Group Liguria. Vittorio Ambrosio General Commander of the Military Order of Savoy Was Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. Was demoted to Inspector - General of Army by Badoglio because the Allies did n't trust him. Died in 1958. Invasion of Yugoslavia Served an instrumental role in the fall of Benito Mussolini and the shattering of the alliance between Italy and Germany. Giuseppe Castellano General Bronze Medal of Military Valor Negotiated the armistice between Italy and the Allied armed forces in September 1943. Died in 1977. Invasion of Yugoslavia Emilio de Bono Marshal of Italy Knight of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation He was one of the members of the Fascist Grand Council who voted oust Benito Mussolini. After Mussolini was put in charge of the Italian Social Republic, de Bono was sentenced to death after the Verona trial in 1944. Second Italo - Ethiopian War Navy Arturo Riccardi Admiral Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Removed from office by Badoglio. Died in 1966. Battle of the Mediterranean Served as Chief of staff of the Italian Navy. Angelo Iachino Admiral Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy Died in 1976. Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of Cape Spartivento Battle of Cape Matapan First Battle of Sirte Second Battle of Sirte Operation Vigorous Operation Halberd Commander of the Italian Naval Academy Junio Valerio Borghese Frigate captain Knight of the Military Order of Savoy Died under mysterious circumstances in 1974. His death could be compatible with arsenic poisoning. Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Raid on Alexandria Known for his neofascist activism in post-war Italy and for the Golpe Borghese. Inigo Campioni Admiral Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Executed by a firing squad at Parma on 24 May 1944 after being convicted of high treason by the military tribunal of the Italian Social Republic. Battle of the Mediterranean Battle of Calabria Battle of Taranto Operation White Battle of Cape Spartivento Dodecanese Campaign Giuseppe Fioravanzo Admiral Military Order of Italy Died in 1975. Operation Harpoon Battle of Cape Matapan Alberto Da Zara Admiral Military Order of Italy Died in 1951. Operation Pedestal Operation Harpoon Air Force Italo Balbo Marshal of the Air Force Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Killed by friendly fire over Tobruk in 1940. North African Campaign Governor - General of Libya, Commander - in - Chief of Italian North Africa. Rino Corso Fougier Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Served as the commander of the Corpo Aereo Italiano. Served as the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force between 1941 and 1943. Died in 1963. Battle of Britain Commanded the Regia Aeronautica between 1941 and 1943. Francesco Pricolo Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Military Order of Savoy Served as the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force from 1939 to 1941. Died in 1980 Siege of Malta Japan Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Hideki Tojo General Order of the Rising Sun Executed in 1948. Supreme War Council Second Sino - Japanese War Pacific War Prime minister of Japan 1941 - 1944 was also a military commander. Chief of the Army General Staff in 1944. Hajime Sugiyama Field Marshal Order of the Rising Sun Committed suicide shortly after the end of the war. Supreme War Council Second Sino - Japanese War Pacific War Chief of the Army General Staff 1940 - 1944. Prince Kotohito Kan'in Field Marshal Order of the Chrysanthemum Died in 1945 Supreme War Council Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Wuhan Pacific War Chief of staff of the Army, 1931 -- 1940 Hisaichi Terauchi Field Marshal Order of the Rising Sun Died in a prisoner of war camp in Malaya June 1946. South West Pacific theatre of World War II Kokoda Track campaign South - East Asian theatre of World War II Battle of Mount Song Son of former PM Terauchi Masatake, became the senior officer of the Imperial Japanese after the coup of 1936. Was at one time considered as Tojo successor after the latter 's resignation. Shunroku Hata Field Marshal Order of the Rising Sun Sentenced to imprisonment. Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Taierzhuang Battle of Wuhan Zhejiang - Jiangxi Campaign Battle of Henan - Hunan - Guangxi Commanded the Second General Army, based in Hiroshima from 1944 to 1945 in preparation for the anticipated Allied invasion of the Japanese home islands. Tomoyuki Yamashita General Order of the Rising Sun Executed at 1946. South - East Asian theatre of World War II Japanese invasion of Thailand Malayan Campaign Battle of Kampar Battle of Singapore Invasion of Sumatra Battle of Leyte Battle of Ormoc Bay Invasion of Lingayen Gulf Battle of Luzon Battle of Bessang Pass Raid at Cabanatuan Battle of Maguindanao Forced the surrender of the allies in the Battle of Singapore. Defender of the Philippines against MacArthur. an American military tribunal in Manila tried General Yamashita for war crimes relating to the Manila Massacre and many atrocities in the Philippines and Singapore against civilians and prisoners of war, such as the Sook Ching massacre, and sentenced him to death. This controversial case has become a precedent regarding the command responsibility for war crimes and is known as the Yamashita Standard. Iwane Matsui General Order of the Rising Sun Retired 1938, executed in 1948. Second Sino - Japanese War Battle of Shanghai Battle of Nanjing Arrested by the American occupation authorities after the surrender of Japan, Matsui was charged with war crimes in connection with the actions of the Japanese army in China also known as The Nanking Massacre. In 1948, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East ( IMTFE ) found him guilty of class B and C war crimes, and he was hanged that December at Sugamo Prison, alongside six others, including Hideki Tojo. He was 70 at the time of his death. Navy Osami Nagano Fleet Admiral Order of the Rising Sun Died of a heart attack in 1947. Supreme War Council Pacific War Chief of the Navy General Staff, 1941 - 1944. Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu Fleet Admiral Order of the Chrysanthemum Died in 1946. Supreme War Council Pacific War Chief of staff of the Navy, 1932 - 1941. Isoroku Yamamoto Fleet Admiral Order of the Chrysanthemum The plane carrying him was shot down in 1943. Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor Battle of Midway Solomon Islands campaign Invasion of Tulagi ( May 1942 ) Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Savo Island Battle of the Eastern Solomons Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of Rennell Island Operation Ke Operation I - Go Commander of the Dec. 7, 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Commander - in - Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1939 - 1943. Isoroku Yamamoto, was killed on Bougainville Island when his transport bomber aircraft was shot down by United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft operating from Kukum Field on Guadalcanal. Mineichi Koga Fleet Admiral Order of the Rising Sun Killed in plane crash 1944. Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Battle of Hong Kong Bombing of Rabaul ( November 1943 ) Commander - in - Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1943 - 1944. Soemu Toyoda Admiral Order of the Rising Sun Died in 1957 at the age of 73. Supreme War Council Pacific War Commander - in - Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1944 - 1945, Chief of staff of the Navy 1945. Chūichi Nagumo Admiral Order of the Rising Sun Committed suicide in 1944 during the battle of Saipan. Attack on Pearl Harbor Indian Ocean raid Bombing of Darwin Battle of Midway Battle of the Eastern Solomons Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Battle of Saipan Torpedo specialist and commander of the Carrier Striking Task Force that attacked Pearl Harbor. Successful raids at Darwin and the Indian Ocean were reversed at the Battle of Midway. Although he had tactical victories in the Guadalcanal campaigns, his battle strength was severely depleted, and was switched to the defence of the Mariana Islands. Jisaburō Ozawa Vice Admiral Order of the Sacred Treasure Died in 1966. Invasion of Sumatra ( 1942 ) Battle of Palembang Battle of the Philippine Sea Battle of Leyte Gulf Replaced Toyoda in 1945 to become commander - in - chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet Hungary Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Gusztáv Jány Colonel General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Sentenced to death in 1947. Battle of Voronezh Battle of Stalingrad Ostrogozhsk -- Rossosh Offensive Operation Little Saturn Commanders of the Hungarian Second Army at Battle of Stalingrad. Dezső László Colonel General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Sentenced to death in 1949. Battle of the Dukla Pass Battle of Budapest Commanders of the Hungarian First Army at Battle of Budapest Géza Lakatos Colonel General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1967, Australia at the age of 77. militarily organized corps Was a colonel general in the Hungarian Army during World War II who served briefly as Prime Minister of Hungary, under governor Miklós Horthy from 29 August 1944, until 15 October 1944. Ferenc Szombathelyi Colonel General Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary Died in 1946. Operation Barbarossa Hungarian occupation of Yugoslav territories Served as Chief of Army Staff of the Royal Hungarian Army. Ferenc Feketehalmy - Czeydner Colonel General Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary Died in 1946. Hungarian occupation of Yugoslav territories Had a significant role in the Novi Sad massacre. Béla Miklós Colonel General Order of Vitéz Died in 1948. Operation Panzerfaust Commanded the Hungarian First Army. He supported leaving the Axis powers and joining the Red Army. Thailand Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Order of the Nine Gems Later ousted after the defeat of the Japanese, only to return to power in 1948 and become Prime Minister until 1957. South - East Asian theatre of World War II French - Thai War Japanese invasion of Thailand Malayan Campaign Burma Campaign Prime Minister and dictator of Thailand during the war, eventually commanding Thai forces during the French - Thai War. Jarun Rattanakun Seriroengrit Lieutenant general Order of the Crown of Thailand Commander of an infantry battalion and took part in the invasion and occupation of the Shan States in Burma. Japanese conquest of Burma Commander of Phayap Army during the Pacific War. Romania Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Ion Antonescu Marshal of Romania Order of Michael the Brave Executed in 1946. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Operation München Second Jassy -- Kishinev Offensive Took control of Romania when Carol II abdicated, and established a fascist dictatorship with the Iron Guard Party. Acted as Commander - in - Chief of the Romanian Army and Conducător of Romania, recapturing Bessarabia and northern Bucovina, then appointed himself marshal. When his forces were decimated at Stalingrad, he started negotiating for peace. His career ended in 1944 when he was arrested by King Michael, who signed an armistice with the Allies. Petre Dumitrescu General Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Died in 1950 after a bout with cancer. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Operation München Battle of Stalingrad Dnieper -- Carpathian Offensive First Jassy -- Kishinev Offensive Second Jassy -- Kishinev Offensive Commanded the Romanian Third Army for a period. Constantin Constantinescu - Claps General Order of Michael the Brave Died in 1961. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Battle of Stalingrad Commanded the Romanian Fourth Army before being relieved of his assignment in 1943. Gheorghe Avramescu General Order of Michael the Brave and German Cross in Gold. Died in 1945. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the Romanian Mountain Corps during the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa. Ioan Mihail Racoviță Major General Order of Michael the Brave Died in 1954. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the Romanian Cavalry Corps during the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa. Vasile Atanasiu General Order of Michael the Brave, Order of the White Lion and Order of Suvorov Died in 1964. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Prague Offensive Commanded the 3rd Army Corps in the military actions for the liberation of Bessarabia in the battle for the beachhead of Albiţa on the Prut River, and then in the advance to the Dniester at Tiraspol. In 1945, he took command of the Romanian First Army, taking part in the battles on the Czechoslovakian front in the Javorina, between the rivers Hron and Morava and thereafter in Bohemia. Mihail Lascăr General Order of Michael the Brave and Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Died in 1959. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Crimean Campaign Battle of Stalingrad Commanded the 1st Mountain Brigade, an elite military unit of the Romanian Third Army. He took charge of the 6th Division of the Romanian Third Army in 1942 and became commander of the Romanian Fourth Army in 1945. Ioan Arbore General Died in 1954. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Battle of Stalingrad Commanded the 2nd Fortress Brigade in 1941 and as the 3rd Mixed Fortress Brigade later that year. Constantin Sănătescu General Died in 1948. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 4th Army Corps from 1941 to 1943. Commanded the Romanian Fourth Army from 1943 to 1944. Major participant in King Michael 's Coup of 1944. Constantin Nicolescu Lieutenant General Order of Michael the Brave Died in 1972. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Military commander of Bucharest in 1942. Was among the generals who prepared the King Michael Coup, and from November 1944 until the abolition of the monarchy in December 1947 served as head of the royal household. Corneliu Dragalina Lieutenant General Order of Michael the Brave and Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1949. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 6th Army Corps from 1940 to 1943. Aurel Aldea Lieutenant General Died in 1949. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 2nd Army Corps in during the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa. Coordinated a `` National Resistance Movement '' in opposition to the communist regime. Ioan Dumitrache Major General Order of Michael the Brave and Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1977. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 2nd Mountain Division during World War II. Was promoted to major general in 1944 and took command of the Romanian Mountain Corps. Gheorghe Manoliu Major General Order of Michael the Brave and Knight 's Cross of the Iron Cross Died in 1974. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 4th Mountain Division during World War II. Was promoted to major general in 1943 and took command of the 4th Army Corps. Emanoil Bârzotescu Major General Died in 1968. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 1st Infantry Division from 1940 to 1942, and retired in 1942. In 1945, he was first recalled, then put into reserve, and finally served as General Officer Commanding 6th Corps Area. Ilie Antonescu Major General Died in 1974. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 6th Calarasi Cavalry Regiment in 1941, and moved to the 55th Exploration Group and then to the 6th Calarasi Cavalry Regiment that year. Dumitru Dămăceanu Brigadier General Died in 1978. Eastern Front ( World War II ) Commanded the 10th Roşiori Cavalry Regiment from 1941 to 1942. Major participant in King Michael 's Coup of 1944. Slovakia Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Ferdinand Čatloš Major General Was briefly imprisoned, set free in 1948, died in 1972. Invasion of Poland Eastern Front ( World War II ) Slovak National Uprising Slovakian Minister of Defence and Chief General Staff. Bulgaria Air force Stoyan Stoyanov Others Finland Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Marshal of Finland Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty Succeeded Risto Ryti as President of Finland. Died in 1951 Winter War Battle of Summa Continuation War Vyborg -- Petrozavodsk Offensive Eastern Front ( World War II ) Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Was Commander - in - Chief of Finnish army during World War II. Organised the Mannerheim Line in the Karelian Peninsula. Karl Lennart Oesch Lieutenant General Mannerheim Cross Died in 1978 Finnish reconquest of the Karelian Isthmus ( 1941 ) Eastern Front ( World War II ) Vyborg -- Petrozavodsk Offensive Battle of Tienhaara Battle of Tali - Ihantala Was one of the most important Finnish generals. II Corps and III Corps of the Finnish ground forces were under his command at the end of the Continuation War. Ruben Lagus Lieutenant General Mannerheim Cross Died in 1959. Winter War Continuation War Lapland War Battle of Taipaleenkylä Battle of Ylimaa Battle of Rovaniemi Commanded the Finnish Armoured Division ( Panssaridivisioona ) during the Lapland War. Erik Heinrichs General Mannerheim Cross Died in 1965. Winter War Continuation War Battle of Taipale Commanded the Army of Karelia and the Army of the Isthmus. Vilho Nenonen General Mannerheim Cross Died in 1960. Winter War Continuation Wa r He was extremely influential in the development of the Finnish Army 's artillery. The trajectory calculation formulas he developed are still in use today by all modern artillery. Paavo Talvela General Mannerheim Cross Died in 1973. Winter War Battle of Tolvajärvi Continuation War Finnish reconquest of Ladoga Karelia ( 1941 ) He commanded the Finnish III Corps in the Winter War from February 1940 to the end of the WInter War. Burma Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Aung San Major General Order of the Star of the Revolution Arranged for the establishment of Burmese independence, assassinated under mysterious causes in 1947. South - East Asian theatre of World War II Burma Campaign Led the Burma National Army and the Anti-Fascist Organisation. Switzerland Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Henri Guisan General Special war time four star General of Swiss Armed Forces Retired in Switzerland feeling his mission was fulfilled, 1945 Operation Tannenbaum General Guisan developed his famous Swiss National Redoubt concept in summer 1940, He made it very clear that Switzerland would resist any Nazi invasion. If they ran out of bullets they were to resort to the bayonet. He said that Switzerland would defend itself against any invader and would never surrender. Indeed, Swiss citizens had been instructed to regard any surrender broadcast as enemy lies and resist to the end. Ukraine Armed Force Name Highest Rank Highest Award Fate Casualties inflicted Theatres / Battles Army Roman Shukhevych General Gold Cross of Combat Merit First Class, the Cross of Merit in gold Died fighting NKVD forces in Lviv in 1950. Ukraine anti partisan operations Supreme commander of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. See also World War II portal Allied leaders of World War II Axis leaders of World War II References ^ Jump up to : I.C.B Dear ; M.R.D. Foot ( 2005 ). Oxford Companion to the Second World War ( paperback ed. ). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 280666 - 6. Jump up ^ Lord Ismay ( 2001 ). NATO, the first 5 years. NATO archives. Jump up ^ CA Portal_P Jump up ^ Ossad, Steven L., Command Failures : Lessons Learned from Lloyd R. Fredendall, Army Magazine, March 2003 Jump up ^ `` Fleet Admiral Halsey Jr Profile at Naval Historical center ''. Retrieved 2007 - 01 - 03. Jump up ^ Youngest General WW1 Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Freyberg - Archives from Italy Jump up ^ `` Décès du Colonel E. Speller, Aide de Camp de S.A.R. Madame la Grande - Duchesse de Luxembourg : '' ( PDF ). Grand Duché de Luxembourg Ministére D'État Bulletin D'Information ( in French ). 8 ( 12 ). Luxembourg : Service information et presse. 29 February 1952. p. 30. Jump up ^ Incerti, Corrado. `` Borghese : indigestione o veleno ? '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 8 December 2014. World War II Asia and the Pacific China South - East Asia North and Central Pacific South - West Pacific Europe Western Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East North Africa East Africa Italy West Africa Atlantic North America South America Casualties Military engagements Conferences Commanders Participants Allies ( leaders ) Australia Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czechoslovakia Denmark Ethiopia France Free France ( from June 1940 ) Greece India Italy ( from September 1943 ) Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines ( Commonwealth ) Poland South Africa Southern Rhodesia Soviet Union United Kingdom United States Puerto Rico Yugoslavia Axis and Axis - aligned ( leaders ) Albania Bulgaria Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China Independent State of Croatia Finland Germany Hungary Free India Iraq Italy ( until September 1943 ) Italian Social Republic Japan Manchukuo Philippines ( Second Republic ) Romania Slovakia Thailand Vichy France Armed neutrality Resistance Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech lands Denmark Estonia Ethiopia France Germany Greece Hong Kong Italy Japan Jewish Korea Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malaya Netherlands Northeast China Norway Philippines Poland Anti-communist Romania Thailand Soviet Union Slovakia Western Ukraine Vietnam Yugoslavia Monarchists Timeline Prelude Africa Asia Europe 1939 Poland Phoney War Winter War Atlantic Changsha China 1940 Weserübung Netherlands Belgium France Armistice of 22 June 1940 Britain North Africa West Africa British Somaliland North China Baltic States Moldova Indochina Greece Compass 1941 East Africa Yugoslavia Shanggao Greece Crete Iraq Soviet Union ( Barbarossa ) Finland Lithuania Syria and Lebanon Kiev Iran Leningrad Gorky Moscow Sevastopol Pearl Harbor The outbreak of the Pacific War Hong Kong Philippines Changsha Malaya Borneo ( 1941 -- 42 ) 1942 Burma Changsha Java Sea Coral Sea Gazala Dutch Harbor Attu ( occupation ) Kiska Zhejiang - Jiangxi Midway Rzhev Blue Stalingrad Singapore Dieppe El Alamein Guadalcanal Torch 1943 Tunisia Kursk Smolensk Gorky Solomon Islands Attu Sicily Cottage Lower Dnieper Italy Armistice of Cassibile Gilbert and Marshall Islands Burma Northern Burma and Western Yunnan Changde 1944 Monte Cassino / Shingle Narva Korsun -- Cherkassy Tempest Ichi - Go Overlord Neptune Normandy Mariana and Palau Bagration Western Ukraine Tannenberg Line Warsaw Eastern Romania Belgrade Paris Dragoon Gothic Line Market Garden Estonia Crossbow Pointblank Lapland Hungary Leyte Ardennes Bodenplatte Philippines ( 1944 -- 1945 ) Burma ( 1944 -- 45 ) 1945 Vistula -- Oder Iwo Jima Western invasion of Germany Okinawa Italy ( Spring 1945 ) Borneo Syrmian Front Berlin Czechoslovakia Budapest West Hunan Guangxi Surrender of Germany Project Hula Manchuria Manila Borneo Taipei Atomic bombings Debate Kuril Islands Shumshu Surrender of Japan End of World War II in Asia Aspects General Famines Bengal famine of 1943 Chinese famine of 1942 -- 43 Greek Famine of 1941 - 1944 Dutch famine of 1944 -- 45 Vietnamese Famine of 1945 Air warfare of World War II Blitzkrieg Comparative military ranks Cryptography Diplomacy Home front United States Australian United Kingdom Lend - Lease Manhattan Project Military awards Military equipment Military production Nazi plunder Opposition Technology Allied cooperation Total war Strategic bombing Puppet states Women Art and World War II Aftermath Expulsion of Germans Operation Paperclip Operation Osoaviakhim Operation Keelhaul Occupation of Germany Territorial changes of Germany Soviet occupations Romania Poland Hungary Baltic States Occupation of Japan First Indochina War Indonesian National Revolution Cold War Decolonization Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany Popular culture War crimes Allied war crimes Soviet war crimes British war crimes United States war crimes German ( Forced labour ) / Wehrmacht war crimes Holocaust Aftermath Response Prosecution Italian war crimes Japanese war crimes Unit 731 Prosecution Croatian war crimes against the Serbs against the Jews Romanian war crimes Wartime sexual violence German military brothels Camp brothels Rape during the occupation of Japan Sook Ching Comfort women Rape of Nanking Rape of Manila Rape during the occupation of Germany Rape during the liberation of France Rape during the liberation of Poland Prisoners Finnish prisoners of war in the Soviet Union German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union German prisoners of war in the United States Italian prisoners of war in the Soviet Union Japanese prisoners of war in the Soviet Union Japanese prisoners of war in World War II German mistreatment of Soviet prisoners of war Polish prisoners of war in the Soviet Union Romanian prisoners of war in the Soviet Union Soviet prisoners of war in Finland Bibliography Category Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commanders_of_World_War_II&oldid=835605206 '' Categories : Military leaders of World War II Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links CS1 French - 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Question: who was the leader of italy during the second world war
Answer: Benito Mussolini