There are not many people in this world I would like to meet to just to shake hands, if at all possible. Nobel Prize physicists are different but not comparable.
I was born during the end of WW II in occupied territory, the northern Netherlands, being liberated by Canadian and Tommies, the Amies going for some bridge near Remagen or something like that.
I grew up with the history of WW I and WW II and feel I have covered more history including military history than most. This summer, my wife and I cruised the Atlantic Coast of France, the second time for me. I still remember the pockmarked buildings in Caen from the early sixties.
Operation Market Garden is deeply ensconced in my generation and so is that 'Bridge Too Far. Working for the US Government in DC metro I wore the lanyard of the 82nd Airborne. No, I did not serve, I wore it to recognize the 82nd for the highest casualty ratio in their history, causing them to still have rubber raft boat races using real paddles every year in September in Fort Bragg NC, now Fort Liberty.
Visiting Normandy, I realized that there are a large number of German war cemeteries nearby the sizes of which dwarf the US cemetery near Omaha Beach, not an option on anyone's visiting schedule. The death count, not covered by anyone, is overwhelming.
I visited the Aberdeen tank display many years ago when it was still there, currently sitting in Richmond.
There is no one in your league as a military historian. I am grateful for everything you have written. Thank you.
Dear Serge, you seem to be one of the few to extract some wisdom out of that carnage that was the battles of WW2. Far too many analyses of engagements sound like Homer's catalogue of ships - just a boring (for the not initiate reader) compilation of forces and movements.
Your accounts instead are reflection and thorough analysis to actually grab the heart of the matter.
But to blame for that is also the peculiar state of historiography after WW2: the victor is far too often not very much interested in actual truth, the looser glosses over his failures and seeks someone or something else to blame.
The fact that the US sought the advice of - of all guys! - the german chief of staff Franz Halder to write the history of the war definitely blocked all real analysis for generations.
Did not have a clue. Thx. In many ways reminds me of the same delusions in the face of Ukraines total annihilation; to fight to the last Ukrainian. #OhCanaNazi! adoration of a former SS UkraNazi is indicative of the west’s arrogance, hubris, and stupidification, leading inevitably to self immolation.
Fascinating and exceptional article by Big Serge, yet another in a distinguished series I hope will expand to a full book.
The sad part is that if American historians could look past their infatuation with the D-Day landing, they would discover a much more important and meaningful episode of US arms just 6 weeks later. Unfortunately, this great achievement remains unknown to most Americans.
I calculated that 160,000 100lb. fragmentation bombs evenly distributed on a 3.4 mile wide "box" 1 mile deep allows about one bomb per 25' x 25' square. That's crazy. Even if the box was as deep as it was wide, it would have been a ridiculous overkill.
Very interesting essay. One minor quibble however : the satellite views of eastern Normandy which you used are (of course) modern views. I bet (and I know) that the land was far from being so open in 1944. For instance, you yourself noted that the small town where the Brittish army was crushed by The Germans is called Villiers-Bocage and as you noted, bocage is the French term for hedgerows. As a matter of fact, openfields were almost a thing unknown in France before 1945, contrary to the USA. Since, the agricultural policy has constantly been to erase hedges everywhere we can grow cereals and other cultures. The main difference with actual western Normandy ("le Cotentin" as we call it) is that the lands are much poorer and unfit for agriculture (mainly heathes or meadows with livestock) and therefore they were left almost unchanged.
D-Day is relatively well remembered but not sure it's the best. What about the Battle of Little Bighorn, or Washington's crossing of the Delaware, or Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg? What about the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan? Or Pearl Harbor?
There are not many people in this world I would like to meet to just to shake hands, if at all possible. Nobel Prize physicists are different but not comparable.
I was born during the end of WW II in occupied territory, the northern Netherlands, being liberated by Canadian and Tommies, the Amies going for some bridge near Remagen or something like that.
I grew up with the history of WW I and WW II and feel I have covered more history including military history than most. This summer, my wife and I cruised the Atlantic Coast of France, the second time for me. I still remember the pockmarked buildings in Caen from the early sixties.
Operation Market Garden is deeply ensconced in my generation and so is that 'Bridge Too Far. Working for the US Government in DC metro I wore the lanyard of the 82nd Airborne. No, I did not serve, I wore it to recognize the 82nd for the highest casualty ratio in their history, causing them to still have rubber raft boat races using real paddles every year in September in Fort Bragg NC, now Fort Liberty.
Visiting Normandy, I realized that there are a large number of German war cemeteries nearby the sizes of which dwarf the US cemetery near Omaha Beach, not an option on anyone's visiting schedule. The death count, not covered by anyone, is overwhelming.
I visited the Aberdeen tank display many years ago when it was still there, currently sitting in Richmond.
There is no one in your league as a military historian. I am grateful for everything you have written. Thank you.
Dear Serge, you seem to be one of the few to extract some wisdom out of that carnage that was the battles of WW2. Far too many analyses of engagements sound like Homer's catalogue of ships - just a boring (for the not initiate reader) compilation of forces and movements.
Your accounts instead are reflection and thorough analysis to actually grab the heart of the matter.
But to blame for that is also the peculiar state of historiography after WW2: the victor is far too often not very much interested in actual truth, the looser glosses over his failures and seeks someone or something else to blame.
The fact that the US sought the advice of - of all guys! - the german chief of staff Franz Halder to write the history of the war definitely blocked all real analysis for generations.
Another great piece, keep’em coming!
As usual, test on Friday?
Did not have a clue. Thx. In many ways reminds me of the same delusions in the face of Ukraines total annihilation; to fight to the last Ukrainian. #OhCanaNazi! adoration of a former SS UkraNazi is indicative of the west’s arrogance, hubris, and stupidification, leading inevitably to self immolation.
Another great article. I look forward to each new one.
Another quality addition. Thank you for analyzing the things we never learned from anywhere.
Fascinating and exceptional article by Big Serge, yet another in a distinguished series I hope will expand to a full book.
The sad part is that if American historians could look past their infatuation with the D-Day landing, they would discover a much more important and meaningful episode of US arms just 6 weeks later. Unfortunately, this great achievement remains unknown to most Americans.
Fantastic lesson, sir. Another that I will share with my instructor staff. I thank the gentleman.
The longest day is such a good movie. Great write up as usual.
I calculated that 160,000 100lb. fragmentation bombs evenly distributed on a 3.4 mile wide "box" 1 mile deep allows about one bomb per 25' x 25' square. That's crazy. Even if the box was as deep as it was wide, it would have been a ridiculous overkill.
Very interesting essay. One minor quibble however : the satellite views of eastern Normandy which you used are (of course) modern views. I bet (and I know) that the land was far from being so open in 1944. For instance, you yourself noted that the small town where the Brittish army was crushed by The Germans is called Villiers-Bocage and as you noted, bocage is the French term for hedgerows. As a matter of fact, openfields were almost a thing unknown in France before 1945, contrary to the USA. Since, the agricultural policy has constantly been to erase hedges everywhere we can grow cereals and other cultures. The main difference with actual western Normandy ("le Cotentin" as we call it) is that the lands are much poorer and unfit for agriculture (mainly heathes or meadows with livestock) and therefore they were left almost unchanged.
Maybe Operation Cobra would have a different outcome if Bradley was up against Manstein rather than von Kluge.
Outstanding History and research.
Thank you for posting this record.
Grace and Peace to you Amigo!
D-Day is relatively well remembered but not sure it's the best. What about the Battle of Little Bighorn, or Washington's crossing of the Delaware, or Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg? What about the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan? Or Pearl Harbor?
Question: is there a paragraph missing before the one that starts “ Thus was born Operation Luttich.”?
Great essay, thanks as always.