Canadian Military History Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 6 1993 Der Gegenangriff Vor Verrieres: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring,” 25–26 July 1944 Roman Johann Jarymowycz [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Recommended Citation Jarymowycz, Roman Johann "Der Gegenangriff Vor Verrieres: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring,” 25–26 July 1944." Canadian Military History 2, 1 (1993) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Jarymowycz: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring” Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1993 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 2 [1993], Iss. 1, Art. 6 Der Gegenangriff vor Verrières German Counterattacks during Operation "Spring": 25-26 July 1944 Roman Johann Jarymowycz In the area of Panzer Group West the enemy attempted and Operations "Charnwood," "Atlantic" and on the 25th and 26th July with 2 Canadian InfDiv "Goodwood," the German formations facing II and 1 Armoured Brigade to penetrate between Canadian Corps continued to create strong Bourquebus and the Orne on a 7 km wide front. After panzer reserves, but they were seldom the hard fighting and counterattacks, 1 st SS Panzer equivalent of a weak Canadian brigade group Korps gained a complete defensive victory. and more often comprised a strongly reinforced battalion. Field Marshal von Kluge, 31 July 1944 "Spring": Canadian Plans he Canadian effort in Operation "Spring" ieutenant-General Simonds planned has been well-documented by Canadian L"Spring" as a three-phase operation. The Tmilitary historians. July 25th is perhaps the first phase required the capture of the line most investigated Canadian operation fought Tilly-la-Campagne—Verrieres—May-sur-Orne. during World War II.1 The German defense of Phase 2 was the capture of line Fontenay-le- Verrieres Ridge was determined— Lieutenant- Marmion—Rocquancourt. On successful General G.G. Simonds' infantry paid dearly for completion of Phase 2, ideally at first light, each yard won. The enemy did not limit itself Simonds would order his armour to push to positional defense and blocking tactics. In forward and capture the high ground beyond the break-in battle, or kesselschlacht, German Verrieres—"The Cramesnil Spur" and doctrine called for counterattacks to be Cintheaux. With a little luck, a German collapse delivered as quickly as possible: and some determined leadership by the reconnaissance regiments, British armoured . surprise can overcome the enemy, without the cars could possibly reach the Laison River, if enemy artillery or air forces having a chance to not Falaise itself, by nightfall. intervene. .It is, therefore, essential to maintain reserves in at least every battalion sector, which come forward immediately after the barrage has There was later discussion regarding ended before the British artillery can register— Simonds' operational aims. Senior Canadian unsupported infantry will break.2 officers considered "Spring" a breakout attempt, but Simonds insisted after the war it was a 1 SS Panzer Korps delivered counterattacks "holding attack"4 designed to draw German at two levels: divisional reserve counterstrokes panzer divisions away from Operation "Cobra" (by dedicated kampfgruppes3) and the corps — General Omar Bradley's attack at St. Lo. operational reserve counterattack by the 9th The U.S. breakout was also scheduled for 25 SS "Hohenstaufen" Panzer Division. Severely July and was supported by what became the de reduced by the heavy fighting throughout June rigueur opening act for major Allied offensives in Normandy: massive air bombardment by heavy bombers. Opposite: Soldiers silhouetted against gunfire in the early morning of 25 July 1944 near Fleury-sur-Ome. (Photo by Michael M. Dean, NAC PA 131384) 75 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol2/iss1/6 2 Jarymowycz: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring” Guy Simonds' resources were Major- The Other Side of the Ridge General R.F.L. Keller's veteran 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and Major-General C. Foulkes' erman defence doctrine adhered to the relatively green 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. three level principle forged during the For armour Simonds had three powerful Gwaning years of the First World War: a thinly formations: the 2nd Canadian Armoured held forward zone, a center main defence area Brigade (2 CAB), the 7th British Armoured and a rear area comprised of reserves ready to Division (the "Desert Rats") and the Guards block or counterattack.7 Verrieres Ridge was 5 Armoured Division. Simonds was particularly held by two German Divisions: General well supported by indirect fire: the artillery of Schack's 272nd Grenadier and SS Generaimqjor the four Canadian and British divisions, as Theodor Wisch's 1st SS Leibstandarte Adolf well as three Army Groups Royal Artillery Hitler Panzer Division (1st SS LAH). (AGRA), for a total of twelve field, nine medium and three heavy regiments.6 Jagdpanzer V - Jagdpanther Simonds chose to distribute 2 CAB's The 272nd was one of the three "270" series regiments among the 2nd and 3rd Infantry raised in late-1943 and sent to France to train. Divisions. Foulkes and Keller further broke up It was composed of veterans and a varied mix their armour and allotted a squadron per of Germans and Osten Truppen (Russians and attacking brigade. The brigadiers assigned Poles). The division had spent the last six their squadrons to the two battalions tasked months training in the Perpignan area. In its with a Phase 2 objective—planned to be first battle—Operation "Atlantic," 18-23 July,8 captured at "First Tank Light." As 2 CAB was the 272nd had been roughly handled by the distributed throughout the Corps, 7th British 2nd Canadian Infantry Division but still Armoured moved to Ifs and its armoured deployed three weak grenadier regiments, the component, 22nd Armoured Brigade eventually Fusilier Battalion and its Panzer Jaeger concentrated in the area of Beauvoir Farm. Battalion (towed 75 mm Pak and Marder self- The Guards Armoured Division was moved propelled anti-tank guns). Its artillery was into the southern suburbs of Caen, just north mostly intact.9 of Ifs ready for the Phase 3 exploitation. It was never to be used. 76 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1993 3 Canadian Military History, Vol. 2 [1993], Iss. 1, Art. 6 The 1 st SS LAH was simply the best German battalion augmented with a company of the panzer division in the Third Reich. Its units' deadly JagdPanzer TVTank destroyers.10 battle honours included the campaigns in Poland '39, France '40, and Greece '41. It had Both German divisions were supported by fought as a complete division in Russia in the artillery of 1st SS Panzer Korps, recently 1942-43 and was rebuilding in Belgium when reinforced by 8th Werfer Brigade. LAH was the Allied invasion of Normandy began. The also reinforced by the 272nd's Fusilier Battalion LAH had its normal panzer regiment (two and 101 SS schwer Panzer abteilung (sch Pz battalions of main battle tanks: one with Abt)—an independent Tiger battalion. The Panthers; the second equipped with Mark IVs) 272nd was augmented by three units under and two infantry regiments (six battalions of command: the reconnaissance battalion of which one was mounted on half-track armoured 10th SS Panzer Division, an infantry battalion personnel carriers). For infantry support the from 9th SS Panzer Division and an armour- division had a Sturmgeschutz battalion (Stug heavy kampfgruppe from 2nd Panzer Division III). To kill armour the LAH had its Panzerjdeger which served as the divisional reserve/ 77 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol2/iss1/6 4 Jarymowycz: German Counterattacks during Operation “Spring” counterattack force. If this was not formidable supported by tanks or assault guns.16 Three enough, 503 schPzAbt (Tiger I and King Tiger Canadian battalion attacks were launched lib) was also under command.11 against these objectives: Lieutenant-Colonel C. Petch's North Nova Scotia Highlanders The left flank was protected by 10th SS attacked Tilly and were stopped dead. The Panzer Division and 102nd SS schPzAbt (Tiger presence of the 1st SS appears to have been a I) firing from the high ground west of the Orne. complete surprise, particularly the tanks dug In depth, the operational reserve for 1st SS into the village perimeter. Panzer Korps was 9th SS Panzer Division which had two kampfgruppes available south of Petch pleaded with the commander of 9th Verrieres directly behind 272nd and 1st SS. Brigade to reinforce him. Brigadier D.G. Also available, but under OKW control was the Cunningham ordered "B" Squadron from the recently arrived 116th Panzer Division, building Fort Garry Horse (10th Canadian Armoured up east of Cramesnil as well as the remainder Regiment), scheduled to advance with the of 2nd Panzer Division, south of May astride Highland Light Infantry during Phase 2, to the Orne.12 move forward and help the Novies.17 The Canadian Shermans boldly moved forward but suddenly found themselves in a killing zone. THE GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS SS Untersturmfuhrer Gehrard Stiller's 7th Panzer Company destroyed most of "B" 18 here were three separate counterattacks Squadron in a matter of minutes. Tduring Operation "Spring." Each was conducted by at least a reserve battlegroup Control of Tilly-la-Campagne meant that from one of three panzer divisions: 1st SS LAH; the 1 st SS could dominate the Caen—Falaise 9th SS Hohenstaujen and 2nd Weiner Panzer.13 highway as well as shoot directly into the flank It would be difficult to suggest which was the and rear of British or Canadian squadrons most effective. Kampfgruppes from LAH and trying to maneuver past Verrieres. When the 2nd Panzer savaged the North Nova Scotia Royal Regiment of Canada (RRC) attempted to Highlanders (NNS) and destroyed the Black advance on Rocquancourt, 1st SS Panzer Watch.