SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROPE

• Founded in 1951: The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was officially established on April 2, 1951, as the headquarters for NATO's Allied Command Operations. • General Dwight D. Eisenhower: The first Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) was U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became President of the United States. • Original Location: SHAPE was initially located in Rocquencourt, near Versailles, France, before relocating to its current site in Casteau, near Mons, Belgium, in 1967. • Relocation Due to French Withdrawal: The move to Belgium occurred after France withdrew from NATO's integrated military command structure in 1966, prompting SHAPE’s relocation. • Operations Center of NATO: SHAPE is responsible for planning and executing all NATO military operations worldwide, including peacekeeping, deterrence, and crisis response. • Multinational Staff: SHAPE is staffed by military and civilian personnel from all NATO member countries, making it a symbol of alliance cooperation. • Cold War Role: During the Cold War, SHAPE’s primary mission was to coordinate the defense of Western Europe against a potential Soviet invasion. • Involvement in Kosovo: SHAPE directed NATO’s first major military intervention, Operation Allied Force, during the Kosovo crisis in 1999. • Directs ISAF and KFOR: SHAPE oversaw operations such as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in the Balkans. • Iconic SHAPE Insignia: The SHAPE badge features a sword and a shield, symbolizing readiness and defense, and its motto is Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.