World War II Biographies: Mark Clark (United States, 1896-1964)


Figure 1.--Here we see the Clark family in 1899. His father rose to the rank of colonel. Mark at age 2 is sitting on his mnother's lap. His sister is n the white dress by their father The girl in the plaid dress is a playmate.

Mark Clark is one of the most controversial of the great American World War II commanders. General Eisenhower brought him to England (1941) and assisted in the planning of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa (November 1941). Clark worked with OSS operative Robert Murphy to bring the Vichy forces in North Africa into the Allied camp. Clark negotiated the deal with Vichy leader Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan which proved very controversial. Clark was promoted to major general (three stars), the youngest to receive that rank (October 1942). He was given command of the 5th Army in North Africa. After Sicily, the Allies invaded Italy (September 1943). Montgomery with the British 8th Army landed at the Toe of Italy. Clark and the American 5th Army landed further north at Salerno, near Naples. German General Albrecht Kesselring focused his forces on the Americans at Salerno, but withdrew when he was unable to dislodge the American bridgehead. Both the British and Americans tooked substantial casualties. Clark and Alexander have been criticised for lackluster leadership. This may have been a factor, but another factor was that the Allied force had been weakened to focus on the cross-Channel invasion of France. The Anzio invasion failed to dislodge the Germans, Allied troops led by Polish and French units finally broke throuh at Casino (May 1944). In the ensuing Allied offensive, Clark has been criticized for the glory of liberating Rome (June 1944) rather than cutting off retreating German forces. Kesselring was able to set up another strong defensive poiton in northern Italy--the Gothic Line. Clark replaced Alexander as commander of the 15th Army Group in Italy (December 1944). He was promoted to full general with his fouth star (March 1945). He ovrsaw the Allied offensive which breached the Golthic Line and the collapse of German resistance. Generl Kael Wolff surrendered unilaterally. Clark served as commander of the U.S. occupation forces in Austria.

Parents

Mark Clark was born into a military family in 1896. His father was an infantry colonel. The family was related to famed Revolutionary War commander General George Rogers Clark. Clark was also a cousin of General George Marshall. His parents met while his father was on duty in Arizona Territory. His mother was related to some of the first Jewish settlers in the American southwest. They are believed to have immifrated from Romania.

Childhood

Mark was born in Madison Barracks, New York, Much of his childhood was in Illinois. His older sister Janet was born in 1896. (Who would be courted by Douglas MacArthur.) When Mark was born his mother called him "Boy". He was frail, byr made friends easily. He grew up in a stable loving family. He does not report any descriminaion within the army family toward his mother. [Blumenson, Martin, pp. 11-12.]

Education

Mark at age 12 he spent a year at a boarding school. He attended the West Point Military Academy during World War I. He graduated 110th in his class (out of 139) from the (1917).

World War I (1917-18)

Clark upon graduating from West Point was commision in the U.S. Army. The United States only a few months earlier had declared war on Germany. He joined the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). He was promoted to captain and fought on the Western Front in France. He was assigned to the5th Division and was seriously wounded whle leading an infantry company.

Army Career (1919-40)

After the War he served as a major and hd a range of assignments. One of which was the deputy commander of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) district in Omaha, Nebraska. The CCC was an important New Deal agency. After differet staff assignments, Clark attended the Command and General Staff School (1935) and the Army War College (1937). He impressed General George Marshall who recomended him for a staff position at the War College. The U,S. Congress at President Roosevelt's appeal instituted a draft (1940). The United States began to rapidly expand the Army. Rapid promotions followed and Clark rose to brigadier general.

North Africa (1941-42)

General Eisenhower brought him to England (1941) and assisted in the planning of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa (November 1941). Clark as Deputy Commander of Torch, worked with OSS operative Robert Murphy to bring the Vichy forces in North Africa into the Allied camp. He landed secretly by submarine before the actul invasion to negotiate with the Vichy French at Cherchell (October 21–22). Clark negotiated the deal with Vichy leader Admiral Jean-Francois Darlan which proved very controversial. Clark was promoted to major general (three stars), the youngest to receive that rank (October 1942). He was given command of the 5th Army in North Africa.

Italy (1943-45)

After Sicily, the Allies invaded Italy (September 1943). Montgomery with the British 8th Army landed at the Toe of Italy. Clark and the American 5th Army landed further north at Salerno, near Naples. German General Albrecht Kesselring focused his forces on the Americans at Salerno, but withdrew when he was unable to dislodge the American bridgehead. Nontgomery was reca;;ed to Britain to work on the Cross-Channel invasion with Eisenhower. The Italian campaign was put in the hands of Field Marshal Harold Alexander. The Allies pushed north, but were stopped by the German ???? Line which included Casino. Clark's generalship has been criticised for his fixation on Casino. Both the British and Americans tooked substantial casualties. Clark and Alexander have been criticised for lackluster leadership during the Italian campaign. This may have been a factor, but another factor that has to be considered is that the Allied force had been weakened to focus on the cross-Channel invasion of France. The Anzio invasion failed to dislodge the Germans, Allied troops led by Polish and French units finally broke throuh at Casino (May 1944). In the ensuing Allied offensive, Clark has been criticized for the glory of liberating Rome (June 1944) rather than cutting off retreating German forces. This led many military historians to see Clark as glory hound. Clark's focvus on Rome led to him bring called Markus Aurelius Clarkus. Kesselring was able to set up another strong defensive poiton in northern Italy--the Gothic Line. This meant that the Allies were forced to crack a third German line and took substantial casualties. A further tragedy was that the provisional governments and safe areas that the Allies pushed the the Italian Partisans to established was targeted by the German Army with great losses by the partisans. Clark replaced Alexander as commander of the 15th Army Group in Italy (December 1944). He was promoted to full general with his fouth star (March 1945). He ovrsaw the Allied offensive which breached the Golthic Line and the collapse of German resistance. Generl Kael Wolff surrendered unilaterally.

Occupation of Austria (1945- )

Clark served as commander of the U.S. occupation forces in Austria.

Sources

Clark, Mark. Mark Clark: The Last of the Great World War II Commanders (Congdon & Weed: New York, 1984), 306p.






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Created: 7:17 AM 5/23/2006
Last updated: 7:17 AM 5/23/2006