DOCSLIB.ORG

German Defence of Normandy Tour Prices: 4 Day Tour £649 Per Guest Low Single Rooms Supplements £40 Per Night Deposit Just £100 Per Person

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
German Defence of Normandy Tour Prices: 4 Day Tour £649 Per Guest Low Single Rooms Supplements £40 Per Night Deposit Just £100 Per Person World War Two Tours German Defence of Normandy Tour Prices: 4 day tour £649 per guest Low Single Rooms Supplements £40 per night Deposit just £100 per person Next Trip Dates: June 12-15 2014 PLACES AVAILABLE What’s included: Bed & Breakfast Accommodation All transport from the official overseas start point The Germans’ first line of defence was the English Channel, a crossing that had confounded Accompanied for the trip duration foreign nations for centuries. Multiplying the invasion obstacles was the extensive Atlantic Wall, All Museum entrances which Adolf Hitler ordered to be constructed in his Directive 51. The “wall” stretched from Norway All Expert Talks & Guidance to Spain in varying degrees, but was most elaborate in the sectors facing the English Channel. Low Group Numbers Believing any invasion had to be defeated on the beaches and that any landings would be timed for high tide, Rommel had the entire wall fortified with pill boxes, artillery, machine gun positions and extensive barbed wire as well as laying hundreds of thousands of mines to deter landing “I just wanted to thank you for the craft. The Allies chose not to attack at Calais but at the more distant beaches of Normandy, which trip, it was a great experience & was also the sector boundary between the 7th and 15th German armies, on the extreme eastern both Nicky and I enjoyed it very flank of the former, to maximize the possible confusion of command responsibility during the much. Your depth of knowledge on German reaction. The landings sector that was attacked was occupied by four German divisions. the subject certainly brought the The attacks were timed for low tide because it minimized the effectiveness of landing obstacles past alive.” that were likely to have resulted in drowned troops; many landing craft would have been holed and sunk during the final approach. However, this stratagem exposed the infantry to defensive fire over a greater distance of beach. Military History Tours is all about the The German defences used an interlocking firing style, so they could protect areas that were ‘experience’. Naturally we take care of receiving heavy fire. They had large bunkers, sometimes intricate concrete constructions all local accommodation, transport and entrances but what sets us aside is our containing machine guns and large-calibre weapons. Their defence also integrated the cliffs and on the ground knowledge and contacts, hills overlooking the beaches. The defences were all built and refined over a four-year period, established over many, many years that enable you to really get under the and they remain to this day the most formidable defensive lines ever built- although, according surface of your chosen subject matter. to Rommel’s plans, they weren’t finished. By guiding guests around these historic locations we feel we are contributing History tell us the Allies made it off the beaches but what is not widely known is the incredible greatly towards ‘keeping the spirit alive’ of some of the most memorable events defensive actions fought by the Germans in land which in post war years would become the text in human history. book example used on NATO exercises to combat a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. On this Let their sacrifice not be in vain. trip we explore this lesser known but fascinating piece of history. Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory World War Two Tours ‘The Tanks Go In’, Sword Beach Erwin Rommel Bernard Montgomery Canadian Rifleman, Caen Highlanders advancing to Caen Day One guests are met at the Ferry Terminal in Portsmouth Upon arrival in France we will make our way to Sword Beach and by Major Bob Darby, formerly of 3 Para, and MHT Director Nigel set the scene for the defence of Normandy as a whole over the Meyer ready for the 08:15 sailing to Caen. Once on board and following few days. We then check in to our hotel in the Caen area under way Bob and Nigel give an introductory briefing to guests before heading off to dinner. about the subject matter in question as well as the trip itinerary Day Two we commence by looking at the German defence in particular. of Caen. The first operation intended to capture Caen was the We will look at the problems Rommel inherited as Commander of initial landings on Sword Beach by the 3rd Infantry Division but Army Group B and the conflict he experienced with his superiors the division was unable to reach the city, their final objectives as to the best tactics to employ to defeat the Allied armies. according to the plan, and in fact fell short by 6 km. The 21st Once the Allies were ashore and established the German Army Panzer Division launched several counter attacks during the fought hard to contain any Allied breakout from their Normandy afternoon which effectively blocked the road to Caen, the Bridgehead. Fighting the material battle was hopeless against linchpin to the German defence of Normandy. Operation Perch the overwhelming Allied resources both on the ground and in was the second attempt to capture Caen after the direct attack the air. However, the courage and determination of the German from Sword Beach on 6 June failed. Montgomery decided Caen soldier to fight to the end was never in doubt. We will follow would be taken by a pincer movement. The eastern arm would the course of the Battle for Normandy from the German side by consist of I Corps’ 51st (Highland) Infantry Division who would following the course of those British operations on the eastern cross into the Orne bridgehead and attack southwards to Cagny, flank of their Bridgehead around Caen and how the German Army to the southeast of Caen. XXX Corps would form the pincer’s with substantially less resources managed to blunt almost all of western arm; the 7th Armoured Division would advance east, the attacks until they were eventually destroyed by the Anglo- cross the Odon River to capture Évrecy and the high ground near Canadian American armies with the closing of the Falaise Pocket. the town (Hill 112). From here we observe the area commanding Although most of their equipment was lost enough soldiers the Falaise Plain behind Caen and guests will see why control of escaped to fight another day. the area was so important to both sides. Email [email protected] Phone 0845 835 0644 Web www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk Mobile 07899 083611 For the latest news and tour information follow @MilitaryHistory World War Two Tours Knocked out Panzer IV, Panzer Lehr Division SS-Panzergrenadiers Reg 25 12 SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” Michael Wittmann German Anti Tank Gun in operation Painting of King Tiger, Operation Goodwood We explore the area where the Panzer-Lehr Division and elements Day Three we follow the route of British VIII Corps during of the 12th SS Panzer Division battled with XXX Corps for control Operation Goodwood, a British offensive that took place between of the town of Tilly-sur-Seulles, the result being the allied forces 18 and 20 July 1944. British VIII Corps, with three armoured became bogged down in the bocage, unable to overcome the divisions, launched the attack aiming to seize the German-held formidable resistance offered. When the Highlanders launched Bourguébus Ridge, while also destroying as many German tanks its attack, it faced stiff resistance from the 21st Panzer Division as possible. On 18 July, British I Corps conducted an advance to in its efforts to push south; with the Highlanders unable to make secure a series of villages and the eastern flank of VIII Corps. progress, by 13 June the offensive east of Caen was called off. On VIII Corps’ western flank, Canadian II Corps launched a coordinated attack (codenamed Operation Atlantic) aimed at The Germans considered the Caen area to be the linchpin of capturing the remaining German-held sections of the city of Caen their position in Normandy and were determined to maintain a south of the Orne River. However, the first day of Goodwood the defensive arc from the English Channel to the west bank of the British lost almost 300 tanks, we will explore the reasons why. Orne. On 15 July German military intelligence warned Panzer When Goodwood ended on 20 July, the armoured divisions had Group West that from 17 July onwards a British attack out of the broken through the initial German defences and advanced seven Orne bridgehead was likely. It was thought that the British would miles before halting in front of the Bourguébus Ridge, although push south-east towards Paris. To meet this threat, General armoured cars had penetrated further south and over the ridge. Heinrich Eberbach, the commanding officer of Panzer Group West, designed a defensive plan, with its details worked out by We will travel along the axis Caen-Falaise and study developing his two corps and six divisional commanders. A belt of at least operations towards Falaise by the Anglo-Canadian armies 16 km depth was constructed, organised into four successive codenamed Operations Totalise and Tractible in August 1944. lines. Villages within the belt were fortified and anti-tank guns The German tactics in defence against overwhelming armoured emplaced along its southern and eastern edges. To allow their superiority were subsequently to adopted by the post war British tanks to move freely within the belt, the Germans decided not Army on the Rhine as the defensive posture against a possible to establish anti-tank minefields between each defensive line. massed Soviet armoured attack in post war Europe.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • VERSION 1.1 Scenarios
    VERSION 1.1 Scenarios Scenario List General Scenario Comments Learning Scenario For the scenarios, please remember the following: “The Black Baron” ...........................................................3 All Units start at full strength, unless otherwise noted. Introductory Scenarios “Storming Gold” ..............................................................4 Leaders stack with any of their Units at set-up, unless other- “Storming Juno” ..............................................................8 wise noted. “Storming Sword” ..........................................................11 All Units may set up mounted or not, In Column or not at the “To The Sea” .................................................................14 owning player’s choice, except when otherwise noted. Terrain “Day of the Tiger” ..........................................................18 and stacking restrictions (no more than one Unit In Column “On to Bayeux” ..............................................................20 in a hex) are in force. Intermediate Scenarios No reinforcements may start piggy-backed unless otherwise “Day of Days” ................................................................22 noted. “The Race For Caen” ....................................................25 “Saga of the 6th Airborne” ............................................29 Where several Units set up together or arrive as a single group of reinforcements, the number of Units is noted in pa- “O Canada” ...................................................................33
    [Show full text]
  • Blitzkrieg: the Evolution of Modern Warfare and the Wehrmacht's
    East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2021 Blitzkrieg: The Evolution of Modern Warfare and the Wehrmacht’s Impact on American Military Doctrine during the Cold War Era Briggs Evans East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Evans, Briggs, "Blitzkrieg: The Evolution of Modern Warfare and the Wehrmacht’s Impact on American Military Doctrine during the Cold War Era" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3927. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3927 This Thesis - unrestricted is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Blitzkrieg: The Evolution of Modern Warfare and the Wehrmacht’s Impact on American Military Doctrine during the Cold War Era ________________________ A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of History East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in History ______________________ by Briggs Evans August 2021 _____________________ Dr. Stephen Fritz, Chair Dr. Henry Antkiewicz Dr. Steve Nash Keywords: Blitzkrieg, doctrine, operational warfare, American military, Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, World War II, Cold War, Soviet Union, Operation Desert Storm, AirLand Battle, Combined Arms Theory, mobile warfare, maneuver warfare. ABSTRACT Blitzkrieg: The Evolution of Modern Warfare and the Wehrmacht’s Impact on American Military Doctrine during the Cold War Era by Briggs Evans The evolution of United States military doctrine was heavily influenced by the Wehrmacht and their early Blitzkrieg campaigns during World War II.
    [Show full text]
  • Les « Vampir
    1944-45 Allemagne NACHTJÄGER Les « Vampir » du Reich ! La Panzerwaffe et ses dispositifs de combat nocturne Par Yann Mahé L’auteur tient à adresser ses plus sincères remerciements à Petr Pechar, sans qui cet article n’aurait pu voir le jour. Note : le lecteur voudra bien nous pardonner quelques lacunes iconographiques mineures tant il est, encore aujourd’hui, extrêmement difficile de se procurer des clichés corrects sur ce type de dispositifs et, surtout, sur les unités allemandes les ayant utilisés ! Nous vous réservons néanmoins quelques « scoops visuels », à l’instar de ces rarissimes clichés de tenues Leibermuster présentés dans nos colonnes ! 1 Nachtjäger, les « Vampir » du Reich ! La Seconde Guerre mondiale, conflit qui a vu les différentes nations belligérantes accomplir des progrès remarquables dans le domaine de la technologie militaire, reste surtout associée à la bombe atomique, aux avions à réaction, aux fusées balistiques ou aux radars. Ces innovations concernent principalement la troisième dimension. Mais l’on oublie bien souvent que des avancées tout aussi spectaculaires ont vu le jour au sein de diverses armées de terre. C’est ainsi que plusieurs puissances se sont intéressées à la technologie infrarouge, seul le III. Reich ayant sérieusement étudié la possibilité de munir ses chars de moyens de détection autorisant le combat de nuit. Dans ce domaine, au fil des mois, les ingénieurs et penseurs militaires allemands vont mettre au point un système d’armes complet et ultramoderne. Et, de fait, les Panzer parviendront à remporter des succès locaux prometteurs contre les Alliés durant les derniers mois de la guerre. Comme bien souvent, l’aversion des hauts responsables de la Wehrmacht pour les nouvelles technologies et les incessants raids aériens anglo-américains sur les usines allemandes n’ont permis que l’introduction tardive et à une échelle négligeable de ces équipements précurseurs de ceux des armées d’aujourd’hui.
    [Show full text]
  • This Copy of the Thesis Has Been Supplied on Condition That Anyone Who
    University of Plymouth PEARL https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk 04 University of Plymouth Research Theses 01 Research Theses Main Collection 2014 The British Way of War in North West Europe 1944-45: A Study of Two Infantry Divisions Devine, Louis Paul http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/3014 Plymouth University All content in PEARL is protected by copyright law. Author manuscripts are made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the details provided on the item record or document. In the absence of an open licence (e.g. Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher or author. This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and that no quotation from the thesis and no information derived from it may be published without the author's prior consent. 1 THE BRITISH WAY OF WAR IN NORTH WEST EUROPE 1944-45: A STUDY OF TWO INFANTRY DIVISIONS By LOUIS PAUL DEVINE A thesis Submitted to Plymouth University in partial fulfilment for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of Humanities May 2013 2 Louis Paul Devine The British Way of War in North West Europe 1944-45: A Study of two infantry divisions Abstract This thesis will examine the British way of war as experienced by two British Infantry Divisions - the 43rd ‘Wessex’ and 53rd ‘Welsh’ - during the Overlord campaign in North West Europe in 1944 and 1945. The main locus of research centres on the fighting components of those divisions; the infantry battalions and their supporting regiments.
    [Show full text]
  • (British) Bibliography
    World War 2 (British) Bibliography Pegasus Bridge – Stephen E Ambrose *** Breaking the Panzers – The Bloody Battle For Rauray, Normandy, 1 July 1944 – Kevin Baverstock ***** Gunners At War 1939-1945 – Peter Beale ** Tank Tracks – 9th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment At War 1940-45 – Peter Beale **** Bataille de Caen – Jean-Pierre Benamou **** Battalion – A British Infantry Unit’s Actions From El Alamein To VE-Day – Alistair Borthwick **** Armoured Guardsmen – Robert Boscawen *** The British Soldier – From D-Day to VE-Day (Vols 1 & 2) – Jean Bouchery **** The Churchill Tank – Peter Chamberlain & Chris Ellis ** The Black Bull – From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division – Patrick Delaforce **** Churchill’s Desert Rats – From Normandy to Berlin with the 7th Armoured Division – Patrick Delaforce **** Churchill’s Desert Rats 2 – North Africa, Italy and Burma with the 7th Armoured Division – Patrick Delaforce **** Churchill’s Secret Weapons – Patrick Delaforce *** Fighting Wessex Wyverns – From Normandy to Bremerhaven with the 43rd Division – Patrick Delaforce **** Marching To the Sound Of Gunfire – Patrick Delaforce ** Monty’s Highlanders – 51st (Highland) Division in WW2 – Patrick Delaforce *** Monty’s Ironsides – From the Normandy Beaches to Bremen with the 3rd Division – Patrick Delaforce **** Monty’s Marauders – ‘Black Rat’ 4th Armoured Brigade & ‘Red Fox’ 8th Armoured Brigade – Patrick Delaforce *** The Polar Bears (Monty’s Left Flank) – From Normandy to the Relief of Holland with the 49th Division – Patrick Delaforce ****
    [Show full text]
  • Memorial Day 2015
    Memorial Day 2015 Good morning and thank you for coming. It is an honor to see so many people here on a day like this. I would like to thank the students—the students who recited the Gettysburg address and Logan’s General orders so that we will never forget the sacrifice of the men and women who fought 151 years ago this year to keep us free in the civil war, and students who entertained us …. Today, I would like to thank all the veterans who have served us in all wars, and ask all those who have served, in war and in peace, to please raise their hands and be recognized. I want to pause today to recall one specific group of veterans, and one particular day in history, that day, 70 years ago on June 6 and a small beachhead in France at a place that few people at that time had ever heard of – a place called Normandy. This June marks the 70th anniversary of the greatest amphibious landing ever attempted, before or since, the landing at Normandy. Let me take you back to those days in World War 2. America had been in the war for only two and a half years—less than that really since it takes time to train men, deploy them and put them in to battle. It is hard to imagine today, but the war had not gone well at first for the Allies. Allied forces had been driven from Belgium, from Czechoslovakia, France had been overrun, Paris was run by Nazi soldiers, Italy was run by Mussolini-- a Nazi ally, 340,000 British soldiers had been forced to retreat from Europe back to Britain at Dunkirk.
    [Show full text]
  • Errors in American Tank Development in World War II Jacob Fox James Madison University
    James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Spring 2013 The rW ong track: Errors in American tank development in World War II Jacob Fox James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Fox, Jacob, "The rW ong track: Errors in American tank development in World War II" (2013). Masters Theses. 215. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/215 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Wrong Track: Errors in American Tank Development in World War II Jacob Fox A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of History May 2013 ii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................... iii Introduction and Historiography ....................................................................... 1 Chapter One: America’s Pre-War tank Policy and Early War Development ....... 19 McNair’s Tank Destroyers Chapter Two: The Sherman on the Battlefield ................................................. 30 Reaction in the Press Chapter Three: Ordnance Department and the T26 ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Omaha Beach- Normandy, France Historic Trail
    OMAHA BEACH- NORMANDY, FRANCE HISTORIC TRAIL OMAHA BEACH-NORMANDY, FRANCE HISTORIC TRANSATLANTICTRAIL COUNCIL How to Use This Guide This Field Guide contains information on the Omaha Beach- Normandy Historical Trail designed by members of the Transatlantic Council. The guide is intended to be a starting point in your endeavor to learn about the history of the sites on the trail. Remember, this may be the only time your Scouts visit the Omaha Beach area in their life so make it a great time! While TAC tries to update these Field Guides when possible, it may be several years before the next revision. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to [email protected] or post them on the TAC Nation Facebook Group Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/27951084309/. This guide can be printed as a 5½ x 4¼ inch pamphlet or read on a tablet or smart phone. Front Cover: Troops of the 1st Infantry Division land on Omaha Beach Front Cover Inset: Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial OMAHA BEACH-NORMANDY, FRANCE 2 HISTORIC TRAIL Table of Contents Getting Prepared……………………… 4 What is the Historic Trail…………5 Historic Trail Route……………. 6-18 Trail Map & Pictures..…….…..19-25 Background Material………..26-28 Quick Quiz…………………………..…… 29 B.S.A. Requirements…………..……30 Notes……………………………………..... 31 OMAHA BEACH-NORMANDY, FRANCE HISTORIC TRAIL 3 Getting Prepared Just like with any hike (or any activity in Scouting), the Historic Trail program starts with Being Prepared. 1. Review this Field Guide in detail. 2. Check local conditions and weather. 3. Study and Practice with the map and compass.
    [Show full text]
  • REFERENCE BOOK Table of Contents Designer’S Notes
    REFERENCE BOOK Table of Contents Designer’s Notes ............................................................ 2 31.0 Mapmaker’s Notes ................................................. 40 26.0 Footnoted Entries ........................................... 2 32.0 Order of Battle ....................................................... 41 27.0 Game Elements .............................................. 13 33.0 Selected Sources & Recommended Reading ......... 48 28.0 Units & Weapons ........................................... 21 29.0 OB Notes ....................................................... 33 30.0 Historical Notes ............................................. 39 GMT Games, LLC • P.O. Box 1308, Hanford, CA 93232-1308 www.GMTGames.com 2 Operation Dauntless Reference Book countryside characterized by small fields rimmed with thick and Designer’s Notes steeply embanked hedges and sunken roads, containing small stout I would like to acknowledge the contributions of lead researchers farms with neighbouring woods and orchards in a broken landscape. Vincent Lefavrais, A. Verspeeten, and David Hughes to the notes Studded with small villages, ideal for defensive strongpoints…” appearing in this booklet, portions of which have been lifted rather 6 Close Terrain. There are few gameplay differences between close liberally from their emails and edited by myself. These guys have terrain types. Apart from victory objectives, which are typically my gratitude for a job well done. I’m very pleased that they stuck village or woods hexes, the only differences are a +1 DRM to Re- with me to the end of this eight-year project. covery rolls in village hexes, a Modifier Chit which favors village and woods over heavy bocage, and a higher MP cost to enter woods. Furthermore, woods is the only terrain type that blocks LOS with 26.0 Footnoted Entries respect to spotting units at higher elevation. For all other purposes, close terrain is close terrain.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Introduction
    Notes 1 Introduction 1. Donald Macintyre, Narvik (London: Evans, 1959), p. 15. 2. See Olav Riste, The Neutral Ally: Norway’s Relations with Belligerent Powers in the First World War (London: Allen and Unwin, 1965). 3. Reflections of the C-in-C Navy on the Outbreak of War, 3 September 1939, The Fuehrer Conferences on Naval Affairs, 1939–45 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990), pp. 37–38. 4. Report of the C-in-C Navy to the Fuehrer, 10 October 1939, in ibid. p. 47. 5. Report of the C-in-C Navy to the Fuehrer, 8 December 1939, Minutes of a Conference with Herr Hauglin and Herr Quisling on 11 December 1939 and Report of the C-in-C Navy, 12 December 1939 in ibid. pp. 63–67. 6. MGFA, Nichols Bohemia, n 172/14, H. W. Schmidt to Admiral Bohemia, 31 January 1955 cited by Francois Kersaudy, Norway, 1940 (London: Arrow, 1990), p. 42. 7. See Andrew Lambert, ‘Seapower 1939–40: Churchill and the Strategic Origins of the Battle of the Atlantic, Journal of Strategic Studies, vol. 17, no. 1 (1994), pp. 86–108. 8. For the importance of Swedish iron ore see Thomas Munch-Petersen, The Strategy of Phoney War (Stockholm: Militärhistoriska Förlaget, 1981). 9. Churchill, The Second World War, I, p. 463. 10. See Richard Wiggan, Hunt the Altmark (London: Hale, 1982). 11. TMI, Tome XV, Déposition de l’amiral Raeder, 17 May 1946 cited by Kersaudy, p. 44. 12. Kersaudy, p. 81. 13. Johannes Andenæs, Olav Riste and Magne Skodvin, Norway and the Second World War (Oslo: Aschehoug, 1966), p.
    [Show full text]
  • Deutsche Generäle in Britischer Gefangenschaft 1942–1945. Eine
    289 Von vielen deutschen Generälen des Zweiten Weltkriegs sind häufig nur die Laufbahndaten bekannt; Briefe und Tagebücher liegen nur wenige vor. Für die For­ schung sind sie oft genug nur eingeschränkt zugänglich. So fällt es nach wie vor schwer, zu beurteilen, wie die Generale selbst die militärischen und politischen Geschehnisse der Zeit zwischen 1939 und 1945 rezipiert haben und welche Folgerungen sie daraus zogen. Wichtige Aufschlüsse über ihre Kenntnisse von den nationalsozialistischen Massenmorden oder ihr Urteil über den deutschen Widerstand gegen Hitler bieten jedoch die Abhörprotokolle deutscher Stabsoffiziere in britischer Kriegsgefangen­ schaft. Sönke Neitzel Deutsche Generäle in britischer Gefangenschaft 1942-1945 Eine Auswahledition der Abhörprotokolle des Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre UK Die deutsche Generalität hat sich der öffentlichen Reflexion über ihre Rolle wäh­ rend des Zweiten Weltkrieges weitgehend verschlossen. Das Bild, das sie vor allem in ihren Memoiren von sich selbst zeichnete, läßt sich verkürzt auf die Formel bringen: Sie hat einen sauberen Krieg geführt, hatte von Kriegsverbrechen größe­ ren Ausmaßes keine oder kaum Kenntnis, und die militärische Niederlage war zu einem Gutteil den dilettantischen Eingriffen Hitlers als Obersten Befehlshaber in die Kriegführung zuzuschreiben. Es erübrigt sich näher darauf einzugehen, daß dieses Bild von der Geschichts­ wissenschaft längst gründlich widerlegt worden ist. Aber nach wie vor wissen wir wenig darüber, wie die Generäle die Zeit zwischen 1939 und 1945 rezipiert haben, welche Kenntnis sie von den militärischen und politischen Geschehnissen hatten, die über ihren engen Arbeitsbereich hinausgingen, und welche Schlußfolgerungen sie hieraus zogen. Zur Durchleuchtung dieses Komplexes ist vor allem der Rück­ griff auf persönliche Quellen wie Briefe und Tagebücher notwendig, die allerdings nur von einem kleinen Personenkreis vorliegen und zudem oft auch nur beschränkt zugänglich sind, da sie sich in Privatbesitz befinden1.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Report No. 131 HISTORICAL OFFICER CANADIAN MILITARY
    HISTORICAL OFFICER CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS ---------- OPERATION "NEPTUNE" AND ITS SEQUEL: CANADIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATIONS IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 6 JUN - 31 JUL 44 (PRELIMINARY REPORT) ---------- CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTORY 1 CONCEPTION AND PLAN 2 GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE OPERATIONS 8 THE ASSAULT 10 THE DEFENCE OF THE BRIDGEHEAD 20 THE GENERAL SITUATION AT 30 JUN 22 OPERATION "WINDSOR" - THE CAPTURE OF CARPIQUET 24 OPERATION "CHARNWOOD" - THE CAPTURE OF CAEN 25 OPERATION " ATLANTIC" - CLEARING THE EAST BANK OF THE ORNE 27 OPERATION "SPRING" - THE ABORTIVE THRUST UP THE FALAISE ROAD 31 FIRST CDN ARMY BECOMES OPERATIONAL 34 APPENDICES APPX "A" - ORDER OF BATTLE FOR ASSAULT PHASE (6 JUN 44) APPX "B" - GROUPING OF FORCES (29 JUN 44) 1 Report No. 131 APPX "C" - TOTAL CANADIAN ARMY CASUALTIES - Normandy Battle Area, 6 Jun - 31 Jul 44 and 6 Jun - 24 Jun 44 APPX "D" - SITUATION 3 CDN INF DIV, LAST LIGHT, 6 JUN 44 (Map) APPX "E" - SITUATION 3 CDN INF DIV, 2200 HRS, 11 JUN 44 (Map) APPX "F" - SITUATION FIRST CDN ARMY FRONT, 2000 HRS, 31 JUL 44 (Map) APPX 'G' - SECTION OF 1: 100,000 MAP (AREA OF CANADIAN OPERATIONS, JUNE - JULY, 1944) 2 Report No. 131 REPORT NO. 131 HISTORICAL SECTION CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS REVISED Operation "NEPTUNE" and its Sequel: Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 6 Jun - 31 Jul 44 (Preliminary Report) 1. This report is a strictly preliminary outline of the early operations of the Canadian component of the Allied Force which began landing in Normandy in the early hours of 6 Jun 44, and which in an eleven-month campaign thereafter liberated western Europe from German domination.
    [Show full text]