9th panzer division http://www.militaryflashpatches.co.uk/index.php

The 9th Panzer Division was a panzer division of the Wehrmacht Heer. The division was only active during World War II, and came into existence after 4th Light Division was reorganized in January 1940. During its existence, the division was headquartered in Vienna, in the Germanmilitary district Wehrkreis XVII.

Originally raised from Austrian forces annexed into Germany during the war, the 9th Panzer Division was part of most of the German Army's early Blitzkrieg attacks into western Europe. Sweeping east, the division was then a component of Operation Barbarossa, the German attack on the Soviet Union, where it was badly mauled at the Battle of Kursk.

Returning to France to rebuild in 1944, the division was rushed to counter Operation Overlord. It was destroyed several successive times by British and American forces as the German Army was pushed back across Europe. The division suffered massive casualties in armor and personnel until it finally collapsed in March 1945. The division's few survivors were pushed into the Ruhr Pocketwhere they surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war.

Organization

In 1942, the division was organized around three regiments. Its Panzer tanks were organized into the 33rd Panzer Regiment, which was supported by two regiments of panzergrenadiers, ormechanized infantry. These were the 10th Panzer Grenadier Regiment and the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. Also assigned to the division were the 102nd Panzer Artillery Regiment, the 9th Motorcycle Battalion, the 9th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, the 50th Panzer Jager Battalion, the 86th Panzer Pionier Battalion, the 81st Panzer Signal Battalion, the 287th Army Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and the 60th Panzer Divisional Supply Troops.

History

Following the Anschluss annexation of Austria in 1938, the 4th Light Division was formed in Viennaafter converting a mobile division of the Austrian army in April of that year. It initially consisted of the 33rd Panzer Battalion, the 102nd Motorized Artillery Regiment, and the 10th and 11th Motorized Cavalry Regiments. In 1939 it fought in the Invasion of Poland, on the right flank of Army Group South, attacking out of Slovakia, pushing over the San River on 10 September and capturingKrakowiec on 12 September. It then moved to establish a bridgehead over the Bug River at Krylowon 14 September. The division then turned west, blocking the escape of several units of the Polish Army. In the process the division took tens of thousands of prisoners. On October 24, the division departed Salzberg, returning to Vienna by train. That winter it was converted to the 9th Panzer Division and formally redesignated 3 January 1940. It consisted of the 9th Rifle Brigade, the 33rd Panzer Battalion, the 102nd Panzer Artillery Regiment, and several other divisional units.

Early campaigns

Following its reorganization, the division was sent to the Western Front to participate in the Battle of the Netherlands, playing a major role in conquering the northern Netherlands in only six days, pushing back the Dutch forces with the 18th Army to the Netherlands. In the battle, the Germans inflicted 3,000 killed and 7,000 wounded, easily defeating the Dutch with assistance from theLuftwaffe despite the fact that the division was equipped with Czech tanks. The division was the only German mechanized force used in the Netherlands, and was designed primarily to spearhead a swift advance to The Hague. At this time, it was under the command of XXXIX Motorized Corps. The division then pushed on to battles around Antwerp, Brussels, Arras, and Dunkirk, pushing Allied forces from the cities.

Following the evacuation of Dunkirk, the 9th Panzer Division was assigned to Panzer Group Guderian and participated in the Battle of France. It pushed through the Weygand Line towards Paris, crossing the Oise River, Aisne River, Marne River and Loire River and taking thousands of prisoners in the process. By the time of the French surrender, the 9th Panzer Division was in Lyon. During the Western campaign, the division is credited with covering more ground than any other German division.

The division returned to Vienna in July, 1940. There, it continued to reorganize and grow, adopting the organization that it kept for most of the war with one tank regiment, two panzergrenadier regiments and one artillery regiment. In September it was sent to Poland with the XL Panzer Corps.

In the spring of 1941, the 9th Panzer Division participated in the Balkans Campaign. It was shipped to Romania, and was made the armored spearhead of the 12th Army. It and employed the blitzkrieg strategy through the Balkans, pushing through Greece and separating the Greek Armyfrom the Royal Yugoslav Army, then attacking into Yugoslavia itself. As part of the 12th Army, the 9th Panzer Division pushed back the main British Army, Greek and Australian Army forces. Once these armies were in full retreat, the division was sent to Romania in preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

Operation Barbarossa

Once Operation Barbarossa was launched, the 9th Panzer Division, part of XIV Panzer Corps (Germany) of the Army Group South, pushed through Ukraine on June 28, heading to Kiev. The division broke through the Stalin Line on July 7, took part in the encirclement of Uman, and captured Krivoy Rog and Nikopol on August 17. The 9th Panzer Division then captured the Dnieper River Dam at Zaporizhia on August 25. From there, it was made the spearhead of Panzer Group Kleist, driving to Kiev from the south while Panzer Group Guderian drove behind the city from the north. The two groups linked up on September 15, encircling five field armies of the Soviet Army. The division was part of the force that captured 667,000 Soviet prisoners and 900 tanks in the city.

Following the capture of Kiev, the 9th Panzer Division was made a part of Panzer Group Guderian for the advance on Moscow. The division then took part in the encirclement of Bryansk and, despite delays due to adverse terrain and weather, captured Kursk on November 2. It was halted near the Kursk Oblast settlement of Tim. From there the division held a sector near Shchigry on the southern sector, facing the Soviet winter offensives of 1941 and 1942. The division remained on this sector until Russian attacks abated in March 1942.

During a lull in hostilities in early 1943, the division was again reorganized and reequipped, sent toOrel and transferred to Army Group Center, where it participated in Operation Citadel and the Battle of Kursk in the summer of that year as a part of XLVII Panzer Corps, 9th Army. Fighting alongside the 2nd, 4th and 20th Panzer divisions and the 6th Infantry Division, it tried unsuccessfully to break through the Soviet defensive belt. The division fought on the front for an extended period of time, suffering heavy casualties. In one engagement, the division lost 70 Panzer tanks to Russian Ilyushin Il-2 aircraft in just 20 minutes. After an advance of only 15 km and suffering heavy casualties, it abandoned its attempt to reach Kursk.

Following the German defeat at Kursk, the 9th Panzer Division was heavily engaged in the German retreat to the Mius-Front, a line of German fortifications along the Mius River. It covered the retreat of the 2nd Panzer Army and the 9th Army, north of Orel and Kirov, then fought in a series of battles east of Bryansk at the end of August. The division participated in fights at Stalino, Zaporozhye,Odessa, and Dnieper. During these fights it suffered mounting losses, and by January 1944 it was reduced to 13 tanks and far understrength infantry and artillery formations. It continued a slow retreat across the Ingulez and the Ingul, until it was pulled out of the fighting in April.

Western Front

The division was subsequently sent to Nimes, France to rebuild, as many divisions mauled on the eastern front were. On May 1, 1944 it absorbed men and tanks of the 155th Reserve Panzer Division to return to its full strength. During this absorption it received 31 Panzer IIIs, 74 Panzer IVs, 20 assault guns, 15 Panther tanks and 200 other vehicles. The division then conducted training exercises up until June of that year. It was reassigned to an area on the Rhone River for a time. It was in better shape than many of the other divisions in the area, which were refitting, forming, or lacked transportation to move effectively.

Following the D-Day landings conducted by the Allies, the division was rushed to northern France to participate in the Battle of Normandy. At this time, its strength was up to 150 tanks and assault guns as well as 12,768 men. The division was sent to Avignon, before being sent to support the collapsing 7th Army in Normandy. The division arrived just as the army was encircled by American,British, and Canadian forces at Falaise. In the subsequent furious battle, the division was almost completely destroyed escaping the Falaise Pocket. By late August its strength was at around 1,500 organized in one infantry battalion, one artillery battalion, and 5 tanks. However, it continued to cover the escape of Army Group G from Normandy.

Following its near-destruction at Falaise, the division remained in the German Siegfried Line where it fought several engagements, most notably the Battle of Aachen. Over the next month it lost over 1,000 men, two-thirds of its combat strength. At the end of September 1944, the 9th Panzer Division was sent into Army Group B's reserve and rehabilitated. It was given 11,000 more replacements and 178 armored vehicles, including at least 22 Tiger I tanks and 50 Panther tanks. It was to reinforce German units countering Operation Market Garden, but by the time it arrived atArnhem, the allied forces had been pushed back. The 9th Panzer Division was returned to the line around Geilenkirchen and Aachen, where it launched a spoiling attack against US forces in the Peel Marshes in November, but only succeeded in losing 30 tanks in the process. It then reassembled west of the Ruhr River with a strength of 10,000 men, 28 Panther tanks and 14 Panzer IV tanks. It, along with elements of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division, fought a bitter six-day battle with theUS 2nd Armored Division in the Puffendorf-Immendorf sector, knocking out 76 tanks and inflicting 1,300 casualties while suffering 1,100 men and 86 tanks lost. Following this, the division was sent into the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht's reserve. It continued fighting to slow the progress of the First United States Army pushing from the west, destroying its 2,325th enemy tank near Geilenkirchen.

In December 1944, the 9th Panzer Division was assigned to XLVII Panzer Corps again as part of theFifth Panzer Army, Army Group B and was one of the units participating in the Battle of the Bulge. The Corps was part of the central attack route during the offensives, attacking the Ninth United States Army and pushing it back. The division initially advanced quickly, but once the tide of the campaign turned in the allies' favor, the division took extreme losses once again as Adolf Hitlerrefused to allow the German forces in the campaign to retreat in a timely manner. It was eventually pulled back to the German lines.

In early 1945, the division once again engaged the Allied in fighting around the Eifel mountain range. It also participated in fighting around the Erft River in February, where its armored force was reduced to 29 tanks and 16 assault guns. Late in the month, it launched an attack on the alliedRemagen Bridgehead over the Rhine River. The attack was a good showing for the German force, which fought tenaciously, but unsuccessfully to push to the Remagen Bridge. By the end of this fight, the division consisted of only 600 men and 15 tanks.

Destruction

The 9th Panzer Division's final combat assignment came in a battle near Cologne on March 6, as a part of the battered LXXXI Corps, alongside the 363rd Volksgrenadier Division and the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division which were in equally poor shape, and the entire corps was barely the strength of one division. Facing them was the US 3rd Armored Division. The division attempted to defend the town from attack, but was unable to make progress against American forces.

After its unsuccessful attack, the shattered 9th Panzer Division was counterattacked by strong Allied forces. The division engaged the Americans in the city center of Cologne, but were quickly pushed back, and the divisional commander was killed. Remnants of the division attempted to flee across the Rhine River. In the fighting that followed, the weak formation finally collapsed. Most of the remains of the division were forced into the Ruhr Pocket, continuing to suffer staggering losses while holding lines on the south flank of Army Group B until they surrendered to American forces in April 1945. By this time, the demoralized soldiers of the division were entirely out of ammunition and gasoline, and remaining troops surrendering without a fight. The division continued to exist briefly afterward; Major Halle, the division's adjutant, escaped the Ruhr encirclement with a small battle group, and joined the 11th Army in the Harz Mountains. There, on April 26, 1945, German commanders of OB West disbanded the 9th Panzer Division, absorbing its survivors into other units.

Commanding officers

The division was commanded by 11 people during its total history. This included General Friedrich Wilhelm von Mellenthin, who was acting division commander from December 1944 to February 1945 because General Harald Freiherr von Elverfeldt had been wounded in an Allied air attack.http://www.militaryflashpatches.co.uk/index.php

59th div staffordshire http://www.militaryflashpatches.co.uk/index.php

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It was Field Marshall Alan Brooke, later Viscount Allenbrooke, who was wise to the military danger presented by the bocage countryside. On retreat through France in 1939/40, the British Expeditionary Force had experienced both advantage and disadvantage from the high hedgerows and undulating fields. Used correctly, this terrain was perfect for defensive action.

In this final section, we should allow the Veterans to tell their own story. Once away from the beaches and into the hinterland, British divisions suffered casualty rates which had not been seen since the 1916 Somme battlefields. Two months after D-Day, the 59th Staffordshire Division took 90% casualties during the battle for Thury-Harcourt and its surroundings.

Albert Dillow – Royal Artillery

"Any man who landed in Normandy and said he wasn’t frightened was telling lies. You could smell the fear."

Our veterans explain the typical tactics used against them and held great respect for the fighting strength and quality of the German Army. Whenever the British offensive showed any sign of faltering as lines became extended, the enemy was quick to launch an effective counter attack. Every field was fought for and every advance was costly. Snipers were used to great effect, although their success was more perceived than actual.

British troops were directed to attack in the face of snipers; the reason being that dropping to the ground would draw devastating mortar fire and a counter attack. The prevailing military theory was: maintain your advance and the defenders will be unnerved enough to fall back.

The British & Canadian advance from Sword Beach moved swiftly towards Caen, the city being the main target after the beach head was secure. Despite the outstanding success of the Landings, the advance was halted just 3½ miles from Caen. The enemy brought up the 21st Panzer Division which put up a determined defence to protect the city approaches.

On 9th June Montgomery changed tactics and tried a pincer movement. The 51st Highland Infantry Division attacked the southeast at Cagny, whilst XXX Corps battled for the town of Tilly sur Seulles. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats) crossed the River Odon advancing to Evrecy. In retaliation, the Panzer Lehr Division fiercely defended, supported by the 12th SS Panzer Division. In the face of co-ordinated resistance, by 13th June the offensive to the east of Caen was called off.

John Shanahan – Royal Ulster Rifles

"The enemy was in strength but they’d retreated to their fall back position in the woodland inland of the beach area. This was terrain the French called ‘bocage’ – small fields with earth banks and thick hedgerows ideal for defensive action. Our progress was slow and we took a lot of casualties over the next month before we could get through to Caen. Rations were a problem too; some things never change in the Army. We’d been issued with 48 hour rations before the landing; after that we had to cadge ‘hardy’ biscuits from the tank crews whenever we found them. Of course we would forage for food.

Most villages had been abandoned so we would look out for what we could. We took a few casualties that way because the Germans would leave booby traps wherever there was food. Coming up against heavy armour was our biggest problem, but the infantry’s favourite reaction to this was to call in the Tiffys (RAF Typhoons). Rockets from one of the Tiffys could blow a tank turret clean off and drop it two fields away!"

Faced with a combination of American and British forces west of Caen, the Germans were forced to retreat. This opened a gap in their lines into which General Dempsey ordered the 7th Armoured Division to take Villers Bocage. After two days of intense fighting, the Desert Rats were withdrawn to be reinforced by the 33rd Armoured Brigade which was by that time just coming off the Mulberry Harbour roadways.

Eric Goldrein (Captain – Royal Artillery)

"We were of course constantly on the front line and were taking casualties from mortar fire all the time as the enemy naturally targeted the guns and supporting infantry. I think we were too busy to be frightened, but we didn’t dwell on the danger and just concentrated on the job we had to do."

Ron Pollitt – 59th Division 

"From the beach head we moved on into the Bocage countryside, this time we had about 10 tanks supporting us. They were not Shermans; they were English "Churchills". We were making rapid progress; they must have expected this as we were carrying heavy battle packs. Out of the blue, someone spotted a German Tiger Tank on a hill quite far in the distance. A moment later it fired its first shot. It out-gunned and out–armoured the Churchills and one by one it put every Churchill out of action. We were then very thin on the ground, without tanks or artillery support, so a rocket firing Typhoon was called up and it destroyed the Tiger. We were told to leave our heavy packs and withdraw."

Cyril Askew – 9th King’s Regiment

“We were on a road under heavy machine gun and mortar fire. There was also heavy artillery and air bursts. We called it incoming and outgoing mail; our shells were coming over from the ships in the Channel and the Jerry shells coming at us from in front. We came across a Tiger Tank which had just been put out of action and the crew with support troops; what was left of them were being taken away as prisoners. It was constant battle, with the enemy making good use of the bocage countryside, using it as perfect cover for resistance and counter attack.

The enemy held a chateau in the hinterland of the landing beach so they had good command of the terrain. We took it off them but it was hard fighting all the way. As darkness fell there was confusion and I found myself on my own entering the building, or what was left of it. After some poking about I came across a young officer who directed me forward, saying: ‘We’re under mortar fire but we’ve taken a German trench over there where you can get your head down for the night.’ Well, I had been soldiering long enough to know it was risky to occupy an enemy trench as they would have its co-ordinates exactly ranged. It seemed alright and I was tired out, so I took his advice. It was a very neat trench with duckboards laid in an orderly fashion. Sheltered from ground fire, given that it had been a long day, I nodded off straight away, although people were walking over me throughout the night!"

Wally Stockley – RHA

"The time spent in the Battle of Normandy lasted from the 6th June until 20th August a total of about 80 days. During this time the countryside was littered with carcasses of dead cattle. They were lying on their backs with their legs pointing up towards the sky, their bodies were bloated and blown up like balloons. As the weather was hot at this time of year the smell of rotting flesh was nauseating added to this there were flies everywhere which didn’t help matters."

Inevitably there was some degree of conflict between the main allies, British and American. Most of this was good hearted rivalry, yet there was significant loss to the prestige of Field Marshall Montgomery through the inability of the main British & Canadian Force to liberate Caen. Senior military commanders were aware of the tactical truths that German defensive priority was focused on Caen, allowing the Americans to take advantage of a lesser resistance to their advance. However, lower ranks were less informed, and American public opinion saw the lack of progress around Caen as a reason to blame Montgomery. American media more openly reported military news and it was easy for amateur strategists to find fault. Whilst all this had to be ignored, German propaganda was quick to attempt to drive a wedge between allied forces.

Les Baynton – Royal Engineers (Polar Bears)

"The 49th West Riding Division made a name for itself in the fighting to take Rauray. Lord Haw-Haw over the German radio called them the "Polar Bear Butchers". This was after they had dealt with the SS they encountered there. They were quite happy to be called that, however untrue, for they remembered how the SS had shot Canadian and British prisoners at the Chateau d’Audrieu.

In early August, we were moved to the left of Caen. This was a really poor situation as the enemy was able to oversee the whole region and form its positions on the hills to the south. Consequently we came in for a lot of shelling and there were signs on the roads saying 'Slow, dust means death'. At the end of August that we went through Mezidon, east of Caen and for the first time. We were attacked from the air by the Luftwaffe. Our 70th Brigade was broken up and replaced by the 56th Brigade as we pushed towards the River Seine.

One of the first three battalions in the 56 Brigade was the 2nd Essex, 'The Pompadours'. This proud battalion had landed with 50th Division on D-Day. The day we were landing, 12th June, they had come up against the Panzer Lehr Division. This was the best trained and most powerful armoured division in the German Army, and the Essex had no armoured support. Despite being fiercely attacked by the enemy armour including flame throwers mounted on half tracks, they held their positions."

Certainly it was control of the city of Caen which was the central battle. All sides in the conflict saw Caen as the pivotal point strategically. It was the regional city and the main cross roads of all routes. The occupying force was well dug in and held high ground with a commanding view of all military movements.

OPERATION WINDSOR was carried out by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade to break through strongly held German positions to take Carpiquet Airfield. Reinforced by other Canadian units, the 10th Armoured Regiment, RAF Typhoons along with gunfire from HMS Rodney, this offensive managed to break through heavy airfield defences. Carpiquest village was eventually taken on 5th July, followed by occupation of the airfield itself three days later.

OPERATION CHARNWOOD employed new tactics of combined tank and infantry assaults, whilst using RAF bombing across the north of the city. By 9th July British and Canadian patrols had penetrated the city limits and by late afternoon the northern half of the city was in British control. The widespread destruction prevented tanks manoeuvring, but it became apparent that German troops were crossing the river south in retreat.

Les Baynton – Royal Engineers (Polar Bears)

"We were ordered to move to a hamlet near Tilly–sur–Seulles called St. Pierre. Our platoon set off across country in a convoy of which we in our half-track were the last. However, we immediately came under heavy fire from mortars and snipers. NCOs were quickly blacking out chevron stripes so as not to be singled out as targets. One of the snipers had knocked out a couple of tiles in the roof of the nearby hours and was using the loft as a commanding vantage point. It took some time to locate him and eventually one of the Durham Light Infantry flushed him out. We found out later that there had been a sniper school in the area so that explained why so many came to be engaged against us. Nearby Tilly–sur–Seulles was the scene of bitter fighting and the town changed hands fifteen times. At one point 5 battalions of the Durham Light Infantry were in the line together: three of theirs and two of ours, plus our Tyneside Scottish, who before re-badging had been the 12th D.L.I. They were a great bunch, first class fighting men.

It wasn’t until 19 July, after the Germans had withdrawn across the whole division front, that the village was finally securely in British hands."

In order to build on this advance, in OPERATION JUPITER the Wessex Infantry Division attempted to take Hill 112 on 10th July. Tactically important to push the enemy off the higher ground, the operation came up against a well dug in defence force of five German infantry battalions, as well as elements of the 10th SS Panzer Division. The Wessex Division lost over 2,000 men in their attacks and were forced to withdraw.

Ralph Jackson – 59th Staffordshire Division

"Within about 10 days or so of our landing there was a huge bombing raid on Caen. We were instructed to dig in; this meant digging a hole big enough for me to drive the Bren Carrier into and to shelter the rest of us. Although we had been told to keep our heads down, the air attack was the most terrific sight. We were told it was a 450 bomber raid; throughout this we were standing on the Carrier shouting and cheering! Of course we knew this bombardment was going to make our task easier. This action was carried out by Halifax & Lancaster heavy bombers which crossed the city in waves, starting at about 22:30 on 7th July. The bombing was only about 1,000 yards ahead of the British lines so there was much concern about accurate bomb aiming and keeping ahead of Allied troops.

The German forces had retreated under this onslaught but fierce fighting continued as the Battle of Normandy slowly progressed South & East.

One evening we pulled in by a farm house. We put the netting up over the Carrier and set up the radio mast to get an update and receive orders. One side of the Carrier sank into the ground and we uncovered a food store. The locals had a habit of secreting food in such places and we pulled out a whole ham along with lots of other food. We had a real feast that night! In fact, having the Bren Carrier provided us with a very useful mobile larder and we used the storage bins for all sorts of goodies as we progressed through the countryside. It was just as well since we were rarely in the right place to get our issue of rations. Despite the heavy bombing, the retreating enemy remained in force and fighting was as tough as it could be. There were always casualties. The way I see it is that there were two main battles: Caen & Noyers Bocage."

Finally it was OPERATION GOODWOOD which led to the liberation of Caen. After American and RAF aerial bombing and a massed armoured advance, the city was at last in British and Canadian hands on 18th July. Although the city itself was widely devastated, troops report French citizens coming out in celebration once they knew the main battle was over.

Renée Olinger – resident

"Monday 6th June 1944 was the first day of our one week holiday from college. Along with my older sister and a girl friend of ours, I arrived at a country village 30km away from Caen where we would spend this deserved break. Suddenly we are woken by the noise of a strong bombardment far away, we thought perhaps in Caen. The noise became louder and louder and seemed it would never stop. Over Caen the sky was red, and we could hear different kinds of shooting becoming louder as it got nearer to us. Slowly we started to realise that it was not like the normal bombardments we were used to. We began to wonder whether it last it could be the Allied landing?

In the early morning, the German troops became very active. For many hours, convoys of military lorries, soldiers, ammunition, ambulances, canons of all kinds and infernal noisy tanks were moving in the direction of Caen. It was midday before we could get any information. The first refugees from Caen arrived, fleeing the intense bombardment. They were completely exhausted and the news they brought from the city was worse than we could ever have imagined.

They said the town was completely bombed out, standing in fire. The smoke was so thick one couldn’t breathe and there were already a few ten thousand victims. Yes, it seemed the Allied troops had landed, but they were in a terrible situation and with heavy losses they were ready to turn back!"

OPERATION COBRA was the codename of the American offensive to drive deep into Normandy. Under command of Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, the US 1st Army grasped the opportunity to launch their offensive whilst enemy forces were fully occupied in defence of Caen. The Americans had been held in the Cotentin Peninsula by organised and strong resistance put up by the defending German Army.

The Americans were having their first taste of the Normandy Bocage countryside and wanted to break out to clear their flanks. Poor weather, rain and storms, had made the countryside resistant to movement. The offensive started slowly on 25th July but built momentum as the overwhelming resources forced the defending German Army into retreat towards the Seine. The bloodiest phase of the battle raged during early August in the area around Mortain and Avranches.

In command of the German Army defences, and pressed almost insanely by Adolf Hitler to resist to the last man, Von Kluge tried to gather every available division for counter attack. Despite this maximum effort, the US Army achieved the strategic success needed to conclude the break-out to break the blockage of close contact fighting, leading to faster movement and on to the creation of the ‘Falaise Gap’.

Although Falaise is the big event, and certainly the memorable culmination of the Normandy Campaign leading to the sweep west to Paris, the small towns of Normandy all have their stories to tell. Just as combat troops took casualties, so did the French citizens of towns and villages across Normandy. The town of Thury Harcourt is a prime example, and one held dear to many British Veterans of the 59th Staffordshire Division.

Ralph Jackson – 59th Staffordshire Division

"After Caen, the 59th Division forced its way South against very strong and determined resistance. By the time we reached Thury Harcourt, South East of Noyers, it was mayhem. In the North & South Staffs we took 90% casualties. After we had taken the town, the enemy retreated across the River Orne which was to become our next obstacle."

The town of Thury Harcourt was taken in the early hours of the morning of 14th August. Casualties were so severe that Montgomery took the decision to disband the 59th Division, using the ranks to reinforce the 2nd Army which was by then well under strength. Ralph Jackson and Bob Laverty recall the campaign came to an end with the enemy trapped in an area of sunken roads at Falaise. This became known as the Battle of Falaise Gap, or in French ‘La Poche de Falaise’ where, after concentrated heavy shelling, the 59th Division joined with Polish, Free French and Canadian forces, the enemy was routed. Ralph explained the scene was just a mess of dead horses, troops and burned out armoured vehicles.

Renée Olinger – resident

"In the afternoon the German ambulancesreturned from Caen, passed through Thury-Harcourt, filled with wounded soldiers, with the dead piled up on top of each other on the roofs. Blood was running all around, it was a vision of horror. Later that evening Thury-Harcourt underwent its first bombardment which went on through the night. People decided to leave the village. We ran to the railway tunnel thinking we would be safe there. And as luck would have it, there were two railway wagons there so we could settle down and shelter for the night. We had no idea how long we would have to stay there or what the future would bring for us.

We teenagers who lived through those days of the invasion in the Summer of 1944 witnessed all the carnage, and will never forget what those men did for us. We will always be grateful and I want to say a big thank you to all the Normandy Veterans from a French teenager who owes them so much."

Ron Pollitt – 59th Division

"It was all clear ahead of us and we moved fast towards Falaise; this time I can remember the date as it was my 19th Birthday: 20th August 1944. Bocage country in Normandy is characterised by small fields, high hedgerows and sunken lanes. All the fighting in this area was by ambush. Obviously the attacking troops were at a disadvantage because we had to move forward. Each hedgerow across the axis of advance might conceal a nest of enemy resistance, in which good positions for flat-trajectory weapons could be quickly organised, with short but excellent fields of fire"

Cyril Askew – 9th King’s Regiment

"We re-grouped and had several bren carriers as we moved forward. Before long we were ahead of our lines and it was impossible to know where the boundaries were – what was ours and what was theirs. One of the carriers had a 2" mortar on board, another had a bren gun and another had a PIAT. We had plenty of grenades which we carried loose and more stored in the carriers.

After heavy aerial bombardment we took Caen, although the city was in ruins by that time. After that we moved on to what became known as the Falaise Gap where the enemy became trapped between British and American advances, with their escape routes very restricted. We managed to take the objective which was really just another hedge line in this treacherous bocage countryside. We had one prisoner and I was ordered to take him back to our main lines for interrogation. I made him walk slowly in front of me; there was no point trying to dodge around trying to remain completely out of sight, but I looked for cover wherever possible. I fixed my bayonet and held it firmly and close against the middle of his back. My belief was that I might be safe if the snipers believed I could run this chap through with my last breath. On my way back I was caught in the open and had to dive into the nearest trench. Everyone did the same and I soon had four or five men on top of me. I could hardly breathe and passed out for a while. I could see my bren carrier withdrawing and they were shouting my name. I ran like hell and managed to jump onto the back of the carrier."

Realising the remains of the German Army were on the run eastwards, General Bradley could declare: "This is an opportunity that comes to a Commander not more than once in a century. We’re about to destroy an entire hostile army and go all the way to the German border."

More fluid in movement now, the Allied intention was to trap the German 7th & 5th Panzer Divisions near the town of Falaise. By 19th August the encirclement was complete as American, British, Polish and Canadian forces operated in concert. With the ‘Poche de Falaise’ sealed, this closed the enemy’s escape. With this strategic victory, the Battle of Normandy came to an end.

It was estimated that around 100,000 German troops had escaped, yet they left behind nearly 50,000 taken prisoner and at least 10,000 killed in action. Weapons, tanks and self-propelled artillery pieces had been abandoned in huge quantities in the bid to escape before the Falaise Gap was closed off by the advancing Allies. On 25th August the French 2nd Armoured Division under US Army 5 Corps entered the outskirts of Paris. Agreement had been reached at the highest political level that it should be De Gaulle’s Free French who should symbolically enter Paris as liberators.