Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force

Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF)
SHAEF shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1943–1945
Country	United States United Kingdom  Canada  Free France  Poland  Norway  Australia  New Zealand  Netherlands  Belgium  Czechoslovakia
Allegiance	Allies
Type	Combined Headquarters
Role	Theater of Operations
Part of	Combined Chiefs of Staff
Nickname(s)	SHAEF
Engagements	World War II
Disbanded	14 July 1945
Commanders
Supreme Commander	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Deputy Supreme Commander	Arthur Tedder

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF; /ˈʃeɪf/ SHAYF) was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of SHAEF throughout its existence. The position itself shares a common lineage with Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Atlantic, but they are different titles.

Eisenhower transferred from command of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations to command SHAEF, which was formed in Camp Griffiss, Bushy Park, Teddington, London, from December 1943; an adjacent street named Shaef Way remains to this day. Southwick House was used as an alternative headquarters near Portsmouth. Its staff took the outline plan for Operation Overlord created by Lieutenant General Sir Frederick E. Morgan, COSSAC (Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander Allied Forces), and Major General Ray Barker. Morgan, who had been appointed chief of staff to the Supreme Allied Commander (designate) in mid-March 1943 began planning for the invasion of Europe before Eisenhower's appointment. and moulded it into the final version, which was executed on 6 June 1944. That process was shaped by Eisenhower and the land forces commander for the initial part of the invasion, General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery.