This Day in History: NATO formally established on August 24, 1949

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - After World War II, the United States, Canada and several western European nations signed a treaty for mutual defense in the event of an attack on any member state.

On August 24th, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty organization was officially established.

NATO has served to deter Soviet expansion, discourage European nations from invading each other, and encourage communication between its members. Future U.S. President General Dwight Eisenhower was its first supreme commander.