The Generals of WWII

 

About the project

This project attempts to create a biographical database, which covers the army generals of all participating countries of the Second World War. At the moment the database contains 28114 short biographical sketches of the army generals of World War 2.

However, taking into account the scope of the project, the information on each general will vary in detail. Some generals have only been identified and listed with their last names, while others are listed with full names and sketches of their military careers. I am engaged in the quest for further biographical information on the generals and as a result there will be continual updates.

To find information on a specific general use the Search function or just click on The Generals and then choose the country of origin.

I hope that you will find this a useful reference tool.

General of the day

Portrait of General Frank Schaffer Jr. Besson

Besson, Frank Schaffer Jr.

General

* 30th of May 1910

† 15th of July 1985

(Regular Army)

Flag for USA

Promotions

1942-10-19 Lieutenant-Colonel (Army of the United States)
1944-02-26 Colonel (Army of the United States)
1945-01-24 Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)
1948-07-15 Lieutenant-Colonel
1950-05-01 Major-General (Army of the United States)
1953-08-03 Colonel
1958-03-17 Major-General (Dated back to 1955-04-15)
1962-04-02 Lieutenant-General (Army of the United States)
1964-05-27 General (Army of the United States)
1970-10-31 General (Retired)

Service

1942-01-26 1943-11-30 Chief of Development Board, Supply Division, Corps of Engineers
1943-12-01 1944-04-30 Assistant Director of 3rd Military Service, Persian Gulf Command
1944-05-01 1945-05-17 Director of 3rd Military Railway Service, Persian Gulf Command
1945-06-XX 1945-07-XX Chief of Railway Division, Army Forces Western Pacific
1945-07-XX 1945-08-20 Deputy Chief Transportation for Operations, Army Forces Western Pacific
1945-08-21 1946-03-04 Director of Military Railway Service, Service Command
1946-03-05 1946-07-31 Transportation Officer, 8th Army [Japan]
1946-08-01 1948-11-14 Transportation Officer, Far Eastern Command
1946-08-01 1948-11-14 Chief of Civil Transportation Section, Supreme Command Allied Powers Far East
1948-11-23 Assistant Chief of Transportation, Department of the Army
Assistant Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
1952-XX-XX Assistant Chief of the Transportation Corps for Operations, Department of the Army
1953-XX-XX Deputy Chief of the Transportation Corps for Operations, Department of the Army
1953-XX-XX 1958-XX-XX Commandant of Transportation Center & School, Fort Eustis
1958-03-17 1962-03-25 Chief of the Transportation Corps, Department of the Army
1962-05-08 1969-03-09 Commanding General Army Material Command
1969-03-10 1970-10-31 Chairman of the Joint Logistics Review Board
1970-10-31 Retired
Picture source: From: "Spearhead of Logistics: A History of the United States Army Transportation Corps" by Benjamin King & Richard C. Biggs, 2016
 

Contact

Any comments, suggestions or corrections please feel free to contact me at:
webmaster@generals.dk

Best Regards
Steen Ammentorp, Librarian DB., M.L.I.Sc.