As much as I enjoyed the reading part, I could have done without Trump's take on this 🤥. He's once again wrong, (as he usually is) and obnoxious to boot. I visited Caen, Dieppe, Juno Beach as a teenager while living in Germany (my father was in the infantry, R22R). It has always rubbed me entirely the wrong way to see how Americans act as if "they alone" won the war/s. It is really sad that our younger generations only know the "Hollywood" version. Thanks for the post.
Thanks again for this very comprehensive explanation. And you are correct, the American world view has kept them ignorant about global affairs. This is both tragic and dangerous. And it has left them at the mercy of demagoguery.
Thank you for this description of what really happened. Canada’s contribution was significant and that cannot be lost. My father arrived in Normandy on D+6 so it’s all rather personal to our family.
It is never America alone unless we’re putting down “rebellion” as POTUS referred to the protests out in Los Angeles. This is possibly gonna be a long week full of stupid from DC.
I read that last year. A good read. Dusturbing how the 9th SS treated their prisoners (I'd known about the Abbeville Massacre long before I read this book).
Montgomery's strategy almost exactly recalls the words attributed to General Patton, to "hold the enemy by the nose while kicking him in the ass." By "fixing" the major German armored units in the north-east, the British and Canadian units were holding the nose, leaving the Americans to kick them in the butt. By Bradley's refusal to close the Falaise gap on the south, the British and Canadians were, in effect, left to do both.
Exactly so. As a planner myself, the strategy is obvious, but has somehow been lost in all the mythology. I’m not a huge fan of Montgomery’s (although the old-timers I used to speak with absolutely loved him), but he was exactly right here.
Great post. And thanks for finally explaining the reason for the ‘Infantry cross’ and ‘Armour oval’ symbols on military maps. It’s something I’ve always wondered about!
If anyone had the biggest part in the war, it definitely wasn’t the United States. It was the Soviet Union. They likely had the greatest impact due to the Eastern Front’s scale, where Germany lost most of its manpower (over 4 million dead or captured). The Red Army’s advance was relentless, and Germany’s defeat in the East sealed its fate.
Mmmm. Read Phillips O’Brien ‘How The War Was Won’ on this. He argues that while yes, the Red Army swallowed up 80% of the German Army (with massive lend / lease assistance from both the US and the U.K.) it was the US/UK combined bomber offensive that swallowed up 80% of German production, by what was destroyed, what resources were required to defend against it, what rare metals were required to produce its aircraft, the oil / gasoline used, the ammunition expended and so on. The staggeringly high casualty rates that the Russians suffered (more accurately the Ukrainians and Belorussians as the war was mostly fought there) was (and as we see today in Ukraine) a reflection of their complete indifference to their soldiers lives, not an indication of their fighting prowess.
Even getting across the channel was a largely British and Canadian effort. 1200 warships in total, 950 of which were Royal Navy or Royal Canadian Navy. The US Rangers were put ashore in the film by US Navy personnel, in reality the landing craft were skippered by Royal Naval helmsmen. Don’t even get me started on U-571 or Pearl Harbor.
That scene pisses me off. I’ve often wondered if they deliberately distorted the facts.
I’d add a few things to your excellent summary of the Normandy battle.
1) The Germans threw in all they could against the British and Canadians, including the 1st and 2nd SS armour divisions and the 2nd Panzer. The Canadians, all volunteers, proved themselves a match for the fanatical SS units.
2) The Soviet’s Operation Bagraton, launched June 22 swept through the German Army in the east. That severely limited the German reinforcements that could be sent to Normandy.
3) On the day Operation Cobra starts, the Canadians launched Operation Spring. For two days, the German high command thought the Canadians were the main attack. By the time they reacted to the Americans, it was too late. Operation Cobra’s success was paid for with Canadian blood.
4) The Sherman was not lackluster. It was a capable workhorse. When equipped with the 17-pounder, it won many a fight against the best German tanks.
Thanks for setting the record straight about Saving Private Ryan. Don’t get me started on A Bridge Too Far. Haha.
“The Sherman was not lackluster. It was a capable workhorse. When equipped with the 17-pounder, it won many a fight against the best German tanks.”
As a tanker, I beg to differ. Yes, the Firefly did fine, but didn’t come until later. The base Sherman was under gunned and under armoured. It had the benefits of being reliable and available in enormous numbers. That being said, German tanks had many issues of their own, mainly complexity and reliability. I’m glad not to have had to crew any of them.
As much as I enjoyed the reading part, I could have done without Trump's take on this 🤥. He's once again wrong, (as he usually is) and obnoxious to boot. I visited Caen, Dieppe, Juno Beach as a teenager while living in Germany (my father was in the infantry, R22R). It has always rubbed me entirely the wrong way to see how Americans act as if "they alone" won the war/s. It is really sad that our younger generations only know the "Hollywood" version. Thanks for the post.
Thank you most sincerely for this excellent analysis. I’m going to be at Juno Beach in August with my granddaughter and will share this with her. 🇨🇦
Thanks again for this very comprehensive explanation. And you are correct, the American world view has kept them ignorant about global affairs. This is both tragic and dangerous. And it has left them at the mercy of demagoguery.
Thank you for this description of what really happened. Canada’s contribution was significant and that cannot be lost. My father arrived in Normandy on D+6 so it’s all rather personal to our family.
It is never America alone unless we’re putting down “rebellion” as POTUS referred to the protests out in Los Angeles. This is possibly gonna be a long week full of stupid from DC.
Great piece. Too little known. This book gives more detail about what BC6 is talking about for those interested https://www.amazon.ca/Stopping-Panzers-Untold-Story-D-Day/dp/0700625240
I read that last year. A good read. Dusturbing how the 9th SS treated their prisoners (I'd known about the Abbeville Massacre long before I read this book).
Thank you for posting this.
THIS article is a perfect example of how you can take a sabbatical and return to find readership boosted…!
Thank you. I love your excellent analysis and insights, intelligent conclusions and the passion you bring to BC6.
Montgomery's strategy almost exactly recalls the words attributed to General Patton, to "hold the enemy by the nose while kicking him in the ass." By "fixing" the major German armored units in the north-east, the British and Canadian units were holding the nose, leaving the Americans to kick them in the butt. By Bradley's refusal to close the Falaise gap on the south, the British and Canadians were, in effect, left to do both.
Exactly so. As a planner myself, the strategy is obvious, but has somehow been lost in all the mythology. I’m not a huge fan of Montgomery’s (although the old-timers I used to speak with absolutely loved him), but he was exactly right here.
Great post. And thanks for finally explaining the reason for the ‘Infantry cross’ and ‘Armour oval’ symbols on military maps. It’s something I’ve always wondered about!
Soldiers like simple. Most tactical symbols are little pictures..😊
I have always had difficulty reading military maps, esp. WW1 maps. Thank you for your clarity.
If anyone had the biggest part in the war, it definitely wasn’t the United States. It was the Soviet Union. They likely had the greatest impact due to the Eastern Front’s scale, where Germany lost most of its manpower (over 4 million dead or captured). The Red Army’s advance was relentless, and Germany’s defeat in the East sealed its fate.
Mmmm. Read Phillips O’Brien ‘How The War Was Won’ on this. He argues that while yes, the Red Army swallowed up 80% of the German Army (with massive lend / lease assistance from both the US and the U.K.) it was the US/UK combined bomber offensive that swallowed up 80% of German production, by what was destroyed, what resources were required to defend against it, what rare metals were required to produce its aircraft, the oil / gasoline used, the ammunition expended and so on. The staggeringly high casualty rates that the Russians suffered (more accurately the Ukrainians and Belorussians as the war was mostly fought there) was (and as we see today in Ukraine) a reflection of their complete indifference to their soldiers lives, not an indication of their fighting prowess.
The looney losingest of losers lecturing about winning!?😒🙄😒🎃🤪
Even getting across the channel was a largely British and Canadian effort. 1200 warships in total, 950 of which were Royal Navy or Royal Canadian Navy. The US Rangers were put ashore in the film by US Navy personnel, in reality the landing craft were skippered by Royal Naval helmsmen. Don’t even get me started on U-571 or Pearl Harbor.
Putin also said that “Russia” won WW2 alone)
That scene pisses me off. I’ve often wondered if they deliberately distorted the facts.
I’d add a few things to your excellent summary of the Normandy battle.
1) The Germans threw in all they could against the British and Canadians, including the 1st and 2nd SS armour divisions and the 2nd Panzer. The Canadians, all volunteers, proved themselves a match for the fanatical SS units.
2) The Soviet’s Operation Bagraton, launched June 22 swept through the German Army in the east. That severely limited the German reinforcements that could be sent to Normandy.
3) On the day Operation Cobra starts, the Canadians launched Operation Spring. For two days, the German high command thought the Canadians were the main attack. By the time they reacted to the Americans, it was too late. Operation Cobra’s success was paid for with Canadian blood.
4) The Sherman was not lackluster. It was a capable workhorse. When equipped with the 17-pounder, it won many a fight against the best German tanks.
Thanks for setting the record straight about Saving Private Ryan. Don’t get me started on A Bridge Too Far. Haha.
“The Sherman was not lackluster. It was a capable workhorse. When equipped with the 17-pounder, it won many a fight against the best German tanks.”
As a tanker, I beg to differ. Yes, the Firefly did fine, but didn’t come until later. The base Sherman was under gunned and under armoured. It had the benefits of being reliable and available in enormous numbers. That being said, German tanks had many issues of their own, mainly complexity and reliability. I’m glad not to have had to crew any of them.
The Firefly was landed on D-Day, one in each troop of four.