2KATÜ BED ' • - *•1 '

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROHS F3 PARIS, FRANCE.

AG 0931 OT 1955

SUBJECT : SHAPE Planning Guidance for Land Forces.

TO : Minister of National Defence, Brussels, .

1 • All nations were furnished copies of the letter, SHAPE/737/54, subject, "Organisation of NATO Land Forces", dated 21 December 1954, which SAGEUR sent to his major subordinate commanders. In this letter, he stated that guidance to the nations, on the broad pattern of assigned and earmarked forces as required as a result of the Capabilities Studies, would be issued early in 1955»

2, Since dispatch of this letter the replies of the commanders- in-chief to the Capabilities Study have been received and studied and as a result, SHAPS has arrived at the overall composition of the Belgium Land Forces (Annex A), which best fits the needs of SACEUR and which appears to be attainable by Belgium.

3* SHAPE hopes that the Belgian authorities will be able to see their way clear to accept this pattern.and accordingly, take the necessary steps to assure:

a. That the overall composition of the Belgian Land Forces on 1 January 1957 conform to that given in Annex A.

b. That these forces conform to the principles stated in SHAPE/450/54.

DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE c. That units be assigned or earmarked for assignment in accordance with timing stated in Annex A.

FOR THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE:

Vf. L. DAWSON 1 Encl : Air Marshal, RAF Annex A, "Future Pattern Deputy Chief of Staff of the Belgian Land Plans and Operations, 3R-1955 Forces", * DISTRIBUTION: See Reverse side. AG CENTRSL FSLES CGFY NATO SECRET NATO SECRET

DISTRIBUTION :

Eng Fr*

S GN 21 9 SGLO . 7 1 MOD Belgium 4 2 NMR (SHAPE) Belgium 1 1 CINCENT 2 •1 OQM^NDCENT * 1 COMAffiCENT 2 1 C0MAVŒOT 2 1 KMR (SHAPE) US (for MDAP) 3 SHAPE; SACEUR BSACEUR DEPAIR DEPNAV 1 HAWi M DCPO DCLA 1 2 OANDT 5 2 PPAHDO 1 2 LOG 1 PANDA 1 SECT 1 1 CSIGO 3 AR Office 1 1 OCOFS EX NMR 1 1 1

DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE AG File

* French translation follows»

NATO SECRET 1Jny NATO SEORE I ANNEX A

FUTURE PATTERN" QF THE BELGIiJI UKD FORCSS

The Baokground of the Belgian Problem

1. As part of the Northern , the Belgian Land Forces must

have efficiency and strength on M-Day to engage and defeat the enemy as

far East as possible^ to cover national mobilization, and to hold defensively

the Rhine-Yssel back-stop position.

2. The New Approach concept requires a Belgian Army of the following

pattern based on tho principles outlined in SHAPE/450/54.

a, M-Day Forces g

An Army Corps consisting ofs

1 Infantry Division 1 Armoured.Division, and Balanced combat and service support.

b. Post M-Day Forcess

1 Infantry Division for tho Army Corps of the 'Shield'. 1 Army Corps consisting cf 3 Infantry Divisions, and Balanced combat and service support,

3. The Belgian Land Forces should contribute active and reserve elements

to the integrated headquarters of the army group and army to which tho Bolgx an

Forces will belong.

Tho Future Pattern of the Belgian Land Forces

4. The M-Day Forces of the tShieldf. Those should consist of the forces

in 2a above,, all maintained at a minimum of 75$ of war strength.

DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE 5. These forces must be supported by adequate combat and service support

units,

6. The build-up of this M-Day Element is the first priority and all units

must measure up fully to the characteristics in SHiiPS/450/54.

7» These forces must be assigned in peacotimo.

8. The First Echelon Elements of the 'Shioldt. This echelon should bc

composed of one infantry division immediately available to back up the active

Army Corps of the 'Shield1, and maintained in peace at 65$ of war strength.

9. The state of training in peacetime of this unit must be of such a

standard that, when mobilized, it will bc capable of entering battle against

a first class enemy without any further training.

NATO SECRET NATO SECHET

10. The minimum requirements of first echelon units are the following?

a. The command echelon of all units must he in heing so that the

whole command machine of these forces of the 'Shield1 can he geared permanently

to a high level of efficiency.

b. A rapid system of mobilization must be planned and checked.

g. The reservists must be recalled for training for a minimum period

of three to four weeks yearly5 and the whole division must be assembled at ; i *i operational strength every year.

11. The second priority of effort must be given to the build-up, training

and system of mobilisation of first echelon units.

12. First echelon units must be assigned or earmarked for assignment

immediately on mobilization.

13# The Second Echelon Forces. Those consist of headquarters Army Corps

and two infantry divisions with essential combat and service support units.

14* These forces should have a defensive capability on mobilisation*

15. This is the third priority and the minimum requirements are as follows?

a. A nucleus command echelon down to battalion headquarters must

exist in peace.

b. The minimum regular cadre on mobilization should not be less than

20$ but preferably 30$ of war strength and this cadre must be concentrated

annually for a three week's actual training period. c. Each division should assemble as a second echelon division annually i DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE but, if this is impracticable, then full CPX training from division through

battalion must be carried out annually and the full divisions concentrated at \ war strength for four weeks every second year. i

d. Capable of mobilization in a few days.

16." These forces should be earmarked for assignment just after having

finished mobilization.

17. Third Echelon Forces. This should consist of one infantry division

which later joins the original Second Echelon Corps. 18. This division must be reduced to an absolute skeleton basis required

%o maintain equipment.

• * '

t \ In Conclusion

19. The future pattern of the Belgian Land Forces and the comparison

with the present is given in diagrammatic form at Appendix A.

20. Briefly the organization of land forces should he as follows:

a. M-Day Forcess An Army Corps consisting ofs

1 Infantry Division Maintained at 1 Armoured Division, and 75$ of War Balanced combat r,nd service support Strength.

h. First Echelon Forces g

1 Infantry Division maintained at 65$ of war strength.

c. Second Echelon Forcess

Axi Army Corps consisting of s

2 Infantry Divisions, and Balanced combat and service support.

d« Third Echelon Forcess

1 Infantry Division

21. The order of priority in the build-up of units is s » a. M-Day Forces.

b. First Echelon Forces.

» c. Second Echelon Forces.

22. The essential basic needs in the readjustment of the Belgian Land

Forces to meet these future requirements are s

a. To maintain the active forces of the rShieId1 at the highest

DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE state of manning and readiness, including the First Echelon Elements.

b. To adVfince the standard of training and readiness of the Second

Echelon Forces.

NATO SECRET NATO SECRET APPENDIX THE BELGIAN ARMY

LEGEND 1954 1957 M DAY UNITS INF X X X X -75 % X X X X RESCItve UNITS (TODAY) - 75 X X INF -80 %

I ST ECHELON (FUTURE) INF

Z ND ECHELON (FUTURE) M X X -2 % -69 * CSI 90

S RD ECHELON (IFUTURE) INF )( X X X -? * % ACTIVE STRENSTH ISI rs

DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE (FEACE) -8 % 90 X X SKELETON BASIS ONLY

TOTAL TOTAL 6 OIV HQ (ACTIVE) I CORPS HQ (RESERVE) NATO SECRET