British Army of the Rhine

There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after World War I, and the other after World War II.

The second British Army on the Rhine was formed on 25 August 1945 from 21st Army Group. Its original function was to control the corps districts which were running the military government of the British zone of occupied Germany. After the assumption of government by civilians, it became the command formation for the troops in Germany only, rather than being responsible for administration as well.

As the Soviet invasion threat increased, BAOR became more responsible for the defence of Germany than its occupation. It became the primary formation controlling the British contribution to NATO after the formation of the alliance in 1949. Its primary combat formation was British I Corps. From 1952 the commander-in-chief of the BAOR was also the commander of NATO's Northern Army Group NORTHAG in the event of a general war with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. The BAOR was formerly armed with tactical nuclear weapons.

The 1993 Options for Change defence cuts resulted in BAOR being replaced by the 25,000 strong British Forces Germany (BFG) in 1994.

Commanders-in-Chief

* Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1945 –1946
* Lieutenant General Sir Richard McCreery 1946 – 1947
* General Sir Brian Hubert Robertson 1947 –1948 (also British Military Governor 1947 – 1949)
* Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks 1948
* Lieutenant General Sir Charles Keightley 1948 – 1951
* General Sir John Harding 1951 – 1952
* General Sir Richard Nelson Gale 1952 – 1957
* General Sir Alfred Dudley Ward 1957 – 1960
* General Sir James Cassels 1960 – 1963
* General Sir William Gurdon Stirling 1963 – 1966
* General Sir John Hackett 1966 – 1968
* General Sir Desmond Fitzpatrick 1968 – 1970
* General Sir Peter Hunt 1970 – 1972
* General Sir Harry Tuzo 1973 – 1976
* General Sir Frank King 1976 – 1978
* General Sir William Scotter 1978 – 1984
* General Sir James Michael Gow 1980 – 1983
* General Sir Nigel Bagnall 1983 – 1985
* General Sir Martin Farndale 1985 – 1987
* General Sir Brian Kenny 1987 – 1989
* General Sir Peter Inge 1989 – 1993
* General Sir Charles Guthrie 1993 – May 1994 (command disbanded)

External links

* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part18.htm Royal Engineers Museum] Royal Engineers and the British Army of the Rhine
* [http://www.baor-locations.com BAOR Locations] British Army of the Rhine Locations

ee also

* British military history