Lyman Lemnitzer

Lyman Lemnitzer

Early Years

Lyman Louis Lemnitzer (1899–1988) was a prominent American Army general whose career profoundly influenced 20th-century military strategy. Born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, he graduated from West Point in 1920, serving with distinction in World War II, notably in planning the North African campaign. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1960–1962), Lemnitzer was linked to Operation Northwoods, a controversial 1962 proposal involving staged attacks to justify military action against Cuba, which was rejected by President Kennedy. Later, as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO (1963–1969), he strengthened Western defenses, cementing his legacy as a key Cold War military leader.

Key Roles and Contributions Under Eisenhower Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ), North Africa (1942–1943) Context: After the U.S. entered World War II, Eisenhower was appointed commander of the European Theater of Operations and later led Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. Lemnitzer, then a brigadier general, was assigned to Eisenhower’s staff at the Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) in Algiers.

Role and Actions: As a senior staff officer, Lemnitzer was instrumental in planning and coordinating the complex logistics and operations for Operation Torch. His work involved integrating British and American forces, managing supply lines, and ensuring operational cohesion across diverse Allied units. He earned praise for his ability to navigate the challenges of coalition warfare, including reconciling differing military cultures and priorities.

Impact: Lemnitzer’s planning expertise helped ensure the success of the North African campaign, which secured key territories from Vichy French and Axis forces. His work laid the groundwork for subsequent Allied operations in the Mediterranean, including the invasion of Sicily.

Deputy Chief of Staff, AFHQ (1943–1944) Context: As the North African campaign progressed, Eisenhower’s responsibilities expanded to include planning for Operations Husky (invasion of Sicily, 1943) and Avalanche (invasion of Italy, 1943). Lemnitzer was promoted to deputy chief of staff at AFHQ, working closely with Eisenhower and other senior Allied commanders.

Role and Actions: In this role, Lemnitzer oversaw detailed operational planning for the invasions of Sicily and mainland Italy. He coordinated intelligence, logistics, and troop movements, ensuring that Eisenhower’s strategic vision was translated into executable plans. His ability to manage complex staff operations was critical during the rapid pace of the Mediterranean campaigns, where Allied forces faced fierce German resistance.

Impact: Lemnitzer’s contributions were vital to the success of the Sicilian campaign and the initial stages of the Italian campaign, which weakened Axis control in southern Europe. His work under Eisenhower earned him a reputation as a reliable and strategic thinker, setting the stage for his later wartime roles.

Context: In early 1945, as the war in Europe neared its end, Eisenhower, as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, sought to secure the surrender of German forces in northern Italy to hasten the collapse of Axis resistance. Lemnitzer, now a major general, was selected for a highly sensitive covert mission.

Role and Actions: Lemnitzer was a key figure in Operation Sunrise (also known as Operation Crossword), a secret negotiation with SS General Karl Wolff, facilitated by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Working alongside British General Terence Airey and OSS officer Allen Dulles, Lemnitzer represented Eisenhower in talks held in Switzerland. The negotiations aimed to secure the surrender of German Army Group C in Italy before the final Allied offensive.

Lemnitzer’s diplomatic skills were critical in navigating the delicate talks, which faced challenges from Soviet suspicions of a separate peace deal and German hesitancy to defy Hitler. He ensured that the negotiations aligned with Eisenhower’s broader strategy of maintaining Allied unity while pressuring German forces.

To maintain secrecy, Lemnitzer and Airey traveled covertly, using false identities and OSS safehouses. The talks culminated in the unconditional surrender of German forces in Italy on May 2, 1945, just days before Germany’s total capitulation.

Impact: Operation Sunrise was a significant diplomatic and strategic success, saving countless lives by ending the Italian campaign early. Lemnitzer’s role earned him high praise from Eisenhower and the Distinguished Service Medal for his “exceptional ability in planning and diplomacy.” However, the operation also sparked Soviet distrust, as Stalin was not fully informed, foreshadowing Cold War tensions.

Member of the Strategic Survey Committee, Joint Chiefs of Staff (1945–1947) Following the end of World War II, Lemnitzer was assigned to the Strategic Survey Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This role involved high-level strategic planning and policy analysis to shape U.S. military strategy in the emerging postwar world. The committee advised the Joint Chiefs on global military and geopolitical issues, reflecting Lemnitzer’s expertise in planning and operations from his wartime experience under General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Deputy Commandant of the National War College (1947–1949) Lemnitzer served as the deputy commandant of the National War College in Washington, D.C. In this position, he helped oversee the education and training of senior military officers and government officials in national security strategy and policy. This role aligned with his reputation as a scholarly officer and planner, contributing to the development of future military and diplomatic leaders during the early Cold War period.

Director of Foreign Military Assistance, Department of Defense (1949) In 1949, Lemnitzer was appointed director of foreign military assistance for the newly established Department of Defense. This role involved coordinating U.S. military aid programs to allied nations, a critical task as the U.S. sought to counter Soviet influence through initiatives like the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. His diplomatic experience from wartime negotiations, such as Operation Sunrise, made him well-suited for this position.

Clandestine Operations History

Lyman Lemnitzer, during World War II, Lemnitzer contributed to covert planning for Operation Torch, the 1942 Allied invasion of North Africa, coordinating clandestine efforts to secure Vichy French (the fascist element of the French population supportive of Hitler) cooperation.

Additionally, during his time as a high ranking U.S. Army general, was involved in several covert operations, most notably Operation Northwoods during his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1960–1962). This 1962 proposal, developed him and his staff on the Joint Chiefs, outlined plans for false-flag operations, including staged terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and against American interests, to be blamed on Cuba to justify a full scale ground invasion by the US military. The plan was rejected by President John F. Kennedy.

As Supreme Allied Commander of NATO (1963–1969), he oversaw covert aspects of NATO’s stay-behind operations, such as Operation Gladio designed to counter potential Soviet invasions through guerrilla warfare and sabotage in Europe. NATO supplied stay behind unit assassins and terrorist around the world to different intelligence operations. The Allied Clandestine Committee was under Gen Lemnitzer's purview as NATO commander. In addition, the CIA’s covert operations were overseen by the Special Group (later the 303 Committee), which approved 163 projects from 1961 to 1963 and 23 of 35 proposals in early 1964. These included political manipulation, propaganda, and paramilitary actions worldwide, targeting communist regimes and supporting U.S.-friendly governments.

Operation Gladio

Lyman Lemnitzer (August 29, 1899 – November 12, 1988), a four-star U.S. Army General, was a key figure in Operation Gladio, NATO’s clandestine “stay-behind” program designed under the premise of countering Soviet influence in Western Europe during the Cold War. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1960–1962), Lemnitzer endorsed aggressive anti-communist strategies, including the infamous Operation Northwoods, a 1962 proposal for staged terrorist acts to justify a U.S. invasion of Cuba. Rejected by President Kennedy, this led to Lemnitzer’s reassignment. In 1963, he became Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO (SACEUR), where he directly oversaw Gladio’s operations until 1969.

Gladio, initiated post-World War II, involved secret paramilitary units trained and armed to resist Soviet occupation or conduct guerrilla warfare. Under Lemnitzer’s command, these networks, particularly in Italy, Turkey, and Greece, were coordinated through NATO’s Allied Clandestine Committee and Clandestine Planning Committee. Beyond defense, Gladio units allegedly executed a “Strategy of Tension,” orchestrating false flag attacks, assassinations, and political subversion to destabilize leftist governments and suppress communist influence.

In Italy, Gladio was linked to terrorist acts like the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and the 1980 Bologna massacre, with connections to neo-fascist groups and the Propaganda Due P2 Masonic lodge.

Lemnitzer’s tenure saw Gladio’s expansion and its controversial ties to anti-communist regimes and figures. He reportedly supported plots to undermine French President Charles de Gaulle, who opposed NATO’s U.S.-centric structure, including assassination attempts tied to Gladio operatives. Lemnitzer’s oversight also involved collaboration with intelligence agencies, organized crime, and far-right militants, fostering networks that later fueled Europe’s Years of Lead. Declassified documents and Italian investigations, particularly the 1990 revelations by Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, confirmed Gladio’s existence and Lemnitzer’s role, though he faced no formal accountability. His legacy remains tied to the ethical controversies of covert warfare and its unintended consequences.