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Forums - Research / WW2 |
This WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to WW2 (1939-1945) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Frank you ever read the operation plan? |  |
| Date: | Dec 3, 2004 |
| From: | Jeff Larkin | |
The one agreed upon before the landings? It said that the British were to draw the German defenses to set the stage for the Breakout by the Americans. As for Monties Ego yes it was large but he was running the whole show as the Ground commander! So any success was his and he was to get the credit. That would keep his Ego satisfied. It was thought that the Germans would see the British as the largest threat (As they considered them better troops) and thus mass against them.
Now that said both wings had aggressive timetables. and as I stated in the earlier post there were some items not accounted for! #1 Taking Caen on day one did not happen to threaten the German Defenses as planed. But the Germans still rushed reinforcements to the British sector. They took into account the Hedgerows where the Allied planners did not. The Bocage was not thought a problem before the landings. The Germans knew they cold hold there with minimum forces. The Allies thought they would sweep through(Again in the op order).
in Conclusion while the Normandy landings ended up working out on the map as planned the time table was knocked of track day one. When Operation Cobra was mounted to break out of the Bocage and the US wing started is flanking maneuver the German High Command saw too late the plan. They did try a counter attack but it was not successful as the Allies had total control of the Air and were pounding the units formed for the thrust. It was beaten off by the 30th Infantry Division and elements of the 3rd Armored Division. There is lots of information on the planning and operations orders for the Normandy campaign available and makes some good reading but the plan was as stated.
Cheers
Jeff Larkin |
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