​​​​The abbey is a 12th-century gothic building located in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, west of Caen, with towers that form an ideal observation point overlooking the area north of Caen and out to sea. On 7 June 1944, Kurt Meyer, leader of the German 25th Panzer Grenadier regiment of the 12th SS, moved his HQ here, in part due to this view.​That day, in the midst of the Battle of Caen, Meyer could see from atop the abbey that the Canadian troops were progressing, and so decided to launch his counter-attack. The troops of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were launched into the Battle of Authie, a nearby village. The battalion of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division left Buron on the morning of 7 June, in the direction of Carpiquet and its airfield.​During the fighting at Authie, held by German troops in the afternoon, 84 Canadian soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Twenty Canadian soldiers were taken prisoner and sent to the Abbaye d’Ardennes: eleven of these were executed that afternoon and buried in the abbey’s gardens, while the others were taken to Bretteville-sur-Odon. Five of the eleven men who were executed belonged to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the other six to the 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment). On 8 June 1944, seven additional prisoners of war from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were taken to the abbey and interrogated by the SS, before being executed with a shot to the head. It was only in late winter that year, and early spring of 1945, that the bodies of all the soldiers were recovered. The crimes were attributed to Meyer’s unit. &nbsp;​The abbey, severely damaged by the fighting, was taken by the Canadian Army in the evening of 8 July. Years later, on 6 June 1984, a memorial was unveiled in the garden where the tragedy took place, near the southwest wall. The memorial garden was set up by the Canadian authorities, with the help of the Vico family who lived there during the occupation and even after the war. The garden has an oratory, in memory of the eighteen soldiers massacred there by the SS, and every year on 7 June a commemoration is organised there.​A total of 156 Canadian soldiers were executed by the 12th SS in the days and weeks following D-Day.​​​

View of the Ardennes Abbey​

​Memorial in the Garden of Remembrance​

Observers of the Hitlerjugend at the Ardennes Abbey​

​​The Massacre of Abbey d’Ardenne 

​​​​The abbey is a 12th-century gothic building located in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, west of Caen, with towers that form an ideal observation point overlooking the area north of Caen and out to sea. On 7 June 1944, Kurt Meyer, leader of the German 25th Panzer Grenadier regiment of the 12th SS (German: Schutzstaffel, Protection Squadron), moved his HQ here, in part due to this view.​That day, in the midst of the Battle of Caen, Meyer could see from atop the abbey that the Canadian troops were progressing, and so decided to launch his counter-attack. The troops of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were launched into the Battle of Authie, a nearby village. The battalion of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division left Buron on the morning of 7 June, in the direction of Carpiquet and its airfield.​During the fighting at Authie, held by German troops in the afternoon, 84 Canadian soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Twenty Canadian soldiers were taken prisoner and sent to the Abbaye d’Ardenne: eleven of these were executed that afternoon and buried in the abbey’s gardens, while the others were taken to Bretteville-sur-Odon. Five of the eleven men who were executed belonged to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the other six to the 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment). On 8 June 1944, seven additional prisoners of war from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were taken to the abbey and interrogated by the SS, before being executed with a shot to the head. It was only in late winter that year, and early spring of 1945, that the bodies of all the soldiers were recovered. The crimes were attributed to Kurt Meyer’s unit. &nbsp;​The abbey, severely damaged by the fighting, was taken by the Canadian Army in the evening of 8 July 1944. Years later, on 6 June 1984, a memorial was unveiled in the garden where the tragedy took place, near the southwest wall. The memorial garden was set up by the Canadian authorities, with the help of the Vico family who lived there during the occupation and even after the war. The garden has an oratory, in memory of the eighteen soldiers massacred there by the SS, and every year on 7 June a commemoration is organised there.​A total of 156 Canadian soldiers were executed by the 12th SS in the days and weeks following D-Day.​​​ Édifice gothique du 12e siècle situé à Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, à l’ouest de Caen, cette abbaye et ses tours constituent un promontoire idéal pour observer la zone s’étendant au nord de Caen, jusqu’à la mer. C’est une des raisons pour laquelle le chef du 25e régiment de Panzer Grenadier de la 12e SS (allemand: Schutzstaffel, escadron de protection), Kurt Meyer, s’y installe avec son quartier général le 7 juin 1944. Ce jour-là, en pleine bataille de Caen, il peut constater du haut de l’édifice que les Canadiens sont en pleine progression. Il décide donc de lancer sa contre-attaque.Pour son baptême du feu, les troupes du North Nova Scotia Highlanders ont été lancées dans la bataille d’Authie, le village voisin. Il s’agit d’un bataillon de la 3e division d’infanterie canadienne, parti de Buron le matin du 7 juin en direction de Carpiquet et de son aérodrome. Dans les violents combats d’Authie repris par les Allemands dans l’après-midi, 84 soldats Canadiens et sept civils trouvent la mort. Vingt soldats canadiens sont faits prisonniers et conduits à l’abbaye d’Ardennes. Onze d’entre eux sont exécutés dans l’après-midi et enterrés dans les jardins de l’abbaye tandis que les autres sont conduits à Bretteville-sur-Odon. Cinq hommes appartenaient au North Nova Scotia Highlanders, les six autres au 27 régiment blindé canadien (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment). Le 8 juin 1944, sept autres prisonniers de guerre du North Nova Scotia conduits à l’abbaye sont exécutés à leur tour d’une balle dans la tête après avoir été interrogés par les SS.Les corps de tous ces soldats seront retrouvés à la fin de l’hiver et a début du printemps 1945. Ces crimes sont imputés à l’unité de Kurt Meyer.Gravement endommagée par les combats, l’abbaye est prise par l’armée canadienne le 8 juillet 1944 au soir. Près du mur d’enceinte, au sud-ouest, un monument commémoratif est dévoilé le 6 juin 1984 dans le jardin où s’est déroulé le drame. Ce jardin du souvenir aménagé par les autorités canadiennes avec l’aide de la famille Vico qui résidaient sur les lieux durant l’occupation et encore après la guerre, présente un oratoire, en souvenir des dix-huit soldats massacrés ici par les SS. Tous les ans, chaque 7 juin, une commémoration y est organisée.Au total ce sont 156 soldats canadiens qui ont été exécutés par la 12e SS dans les jours et les semaines ayant suivi le Jour J. Die Abtei ist ein gotisches Gebäude aus dem 12. Jahrhundert in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, westlich von Caen, mit Türmen, die einen idealen Beobachtungspunkt bilden, um das Gebiet nördlich von Caen und das Meer zu überblicken. Am 7. Juni 1944 verlegte Kurt Meyer, der Führer des deutschen 25. Panzergrenadierregiments der 12. Schutzstaffel, sein Hauptquartier unter anderem wegen dieser Aussicht hierher.An diesem Tag, mitten in der Schlacht um Caen, konnte Meyer von der Abtei aus den Vormarsch der kanadischen Truppen beobachten und beschloss, einen Gegenangriff zu starten. Die Truppen der North Nova Scotia Highlanders wurden in die Schlacht von Authie, einem nahe gelegenen Dorf, geschickt. Das Bataillon der 3. kanadischen Infanteriedivision verließ Buron am Morgen des 7. Juni in Richtung Carpiquet und dessen Flugplatz.Bei den Kämpfen in Authie, das am Nachmittag von den deutschen Truppen gehalten wurde, wurden 84 kanadische Soldaten und sieben Zivilistinnen und Zivilisten getötet. Zwanzig kanadische Soldaten wurden gefangen genommen und in die Abtei d'Ardenne gebracht: Elf von ihnen wurden noch am selben Nachmittag hingerichtet und in den Gärten der Abtei begraben, während die anderen nach Bretteville-sur-Odon gebracht wurden. Fünf der elf hingerichteten Männer gehörten zu den North Nova Scotia Highlanders, die anderen sechs zum 27. kanadischen Panzerregiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment). Am 8. Juni 1944 wurden sieben weitere Kriegsgefangene der Highlanders in die Abtei gebracht und von der SS verhört, bevor sie mit einem Kopfschuss hingerichtet wurden. Erst im Spätwinter desselben Jahres und im frühen Frühjahr 1945 wurden die Leichen aller Soldaten geborgen. Die Verbrechen wurden der Einheit von Kurt Meyer zugeschrieben.Die durch die Kämpfe schwer beschädigte Abtei wurde am Abend des 8. Juli 1944 von der kanadischen Armee eingenommen. Jahre später, am 6. Juni 1984, wurde in dem Garten, in dem sich die Tragödie abgespielt hatte, in der Nähe der Südwestmauer ein Denkmal eingeweiht. Der Gedenkgarten wurde von den kanadischen Behörden mit Hilfe der Familie Vico angelegt, die dort während der Besetzung und auch nach dem Krieg lebte. Der Garten verfügt über ein Oratorium zum Gedenken an die achtzehn Soldaten, die dort von der SS massakriert wurden, und jedes Jahr am 7. Juni findet dort eine Gedenkfeier statt.Insgesamt 156 kanadische Soldaten wurden von der 12. Schutzstaffel in den Tagen und Wochen nach den D-Day-Landungen hingerichtet. De abdij is een 12e-eeuws gotisch gebouw in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, ten westen van Caen, met torens die een ideaal uitkijkpunt vormen over het gebied ten noorden van Caen en de zee. Op 7 juni 1944 verplaatste Kurt Meyer, leider van het Duitse 25e Panzer Grenadier regiment van de 12e SS (Duits: Schutzstaffel, beschermingsafdeling), zijn hoofdkwartier hierheen, deels vanwege dit uitzicht.Die dag, midden in de Slag om Caen, kon Meyer vanaf de abdij zien dat de Canadese troepen vooruitgang boekten en besloot daarom zijn tegenaanval in te zetten. De troepen van de North Nova Scotia Highlanders werden gelanceerd in de Slag om Authie, een nabijgelegen dorp. Het bataljon van de 3de Canadese Infanteriedivisie verliet Buron op de ochtend van 7 juni, in de richting van Carpiquet en zijn vliegveld.Tijdens de gevechten bij Authie, dat 's middags in handen was van Duitse troepen, werden 84 Canadese soldaten en zeven burgers gedood. Twintig Canadese soldaten werden gevangen genomen en naar de Abbaye d'Ardennes gestuurd: elf van hen werden die middag geëxecuteerd en begraven in de tuinen van de abdij, terwijl de anderen naar Bretteville-sur-Odon werden gebracht. Vijf van de elf geëxecuteerde mannen behoorden tot de North Nova Scotia Highlanders, de andere zes tot het 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment). Op 8 juni 1944 werden nog zeven krijgsgevangenen van de North Nova Scotia Highlanders naar de abdij gebracht en ondervraagd door de SS, voordat ze werden geëxecuteerd met een schot door het hoofd. Pas in de late winter van dat jaar en in het vroege voorjaar van 1945 werden de lichamen van alle soldaten teruggevonden. De misdaden werden toegeschreven aan Meyers eenheid.De abdij, zwaar beschadigd door de gevechten, werd in de avond van 8 juli 1944 ingenomen door het Canadese leger. Jaren later, op 6 juni 1984, werd een gedenkteken onthuld in de tuin waar de tragedie plaatsvond, vlakbij de zuidwestelijke muur. De herdenkingstuin werd aangelegd door de Canadese autoriteiten, met de hulp van de familie Vico die er tijdens de bezetting en zelfs na de oorlog woonde. De tuin heeft een oratorium, ter nagedachtenis aan de achttien soldaten die daar door de SS werden afgeslacht, en elk jaar wordt er op 7 juni een herdenking georganiseerd.In totaal werden 156 Canadese soldaten geëxecuteerd door de 12e SS in de dagen en weken na D-Day. L'abbazia è un edificio gotico del XII secolo situato a Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, a ovest di Caen, con torri che formano un punto di osservazione ideale sulla zona a nord di Caen e sul mare. Il 7 giugno 1944, Kurt Meyer, capo del 25° reggimento Panzer Grenadier tedesco della 12ª SS, trasferì qui il suo quartier generale, in parte grazie a questa vista.Quelgiorno, nel bel mezzo della battaglia di Caen, Meyer poté vedere dall'alto dell'abbazia che le truppe canadesi stavano avanzando e decise quindi di lanciare il suo contrattacco. Le truppe del North Nova Scotia Highlanders furono lanciate nella battaglia di Authie, un villaggio vicino. Il battaglione della 3ª Divisione di fanteria canadese lasciò Buron la mattina del 7 giugno, in direzione di Carpiquet e del suo campo d'aviazione.Durante icombattimenti ad Authie, tenuta dalle truppe tedesche nel pomeriggio, 84 soldati canadesi e sette civili furono uccisi. Venti soldati canadesi furono fatti prigionieri e inviati all'Abbaye d'Ardennes: undici di questi furono giustiziati nel pomeriggio e sepolti nei giardini dell'abbazia, mentre gli altri furono portati a Bretteville-sur-Odon. Cinque degli undici uomini giustiziati appartenevano al North Nova Scotia Highlanders, gli altri sei al 27° Reggimento corazzato canadese (Reggimento fucilieri Sherbrooke). L'8 giugno 1944, altri sette prigionieri di guerra del North Nova Scotia Highlanders furono portati all'abbazia e interrogati dalle SS, prima di essere giustiziati con un colpo alla testa. Solo alla fine dell'inverno di quell'anno e all'inizio della primavera del 1945 furono recuperati i corpi di tutti i soldati. I crimini furono attribuiti all'unità di Meyer.L'abbazia, gravemente danneggiata dai combattimenti, fu presa dall'esercito canadese la sera dell'8 luglio. Anni dopo, il 6 giugno 1984, fu inaugurato un monumento commemorativo nel giardino in cui si era consumata la tragedia, vicino al muro di cinta sud-ovest. Il giardino commemorativo è stato allestito dalle autorità canadesi, con l'aiuto della famiglia Vico che viveva lì durante l'occupazione e anche dopo la guerra. Il giardino è dotato di un oratorio, in memoria dei diciotto soldati massacrati lì dalle SS, e ogni anno il 7 giugno vi si organizza una commemorazione.Untotale di 156 soldati canadesi furono giustiziati dalle 12esime SS nei giorni e nelle settimane successive al D-Day.

 Le massacre de l’abbaye d’Ardenne ​​The Massacre of Abbey d’Ardenne Het bloedbad van de Abdij d'Ardenne Das Massaker der Abtei d'Ardenne Il massacro di Abbey d'Ardenne

On 6 June 1944, Caen was the main strategic objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division which had landed on Sword Beach. Firmly positioned to the north and west of the city, two German tank divisions prevented the Allies from capturing the city in the first two days. The next few days British General Bernard Montgomery attempted to take Caen with a pincer movement and attacked the city from the northeast and southwest. On 13 June the offensive was stalled in Villers-Bocage by German Tiger tanks.A further attack was planned by the British 8th Corps. The so called Epsom Operation brought together 60,000 men with the intention of moving around Caen across the Odon River. Within a few days the offensive was stopped at the foot of hill 112. A few weeks later General Montgomery decided to capture Caen in a head-on attack, that became known as Operation Charnwood. In the morning of 8 July 1944, 115,000 men and 500 tanks of the British 1st Corps attacked the French city of Caen. The previous day the town had been bombarded by 450 bombers of the Royal Air Force and 2,600 tons of bombs had been dropped, killing 300 civilians. During Operation Charnwood the British and Canadian troops reached the bridges of the Orne on 9 July. The river's left bank was liberated, together with the Îlot sanitaire, an emergency hospital and refuge, which sheltered some 20,000 civilians. Montgomery launched Operation Goodwood to capture the right bank of the Orne as well. At dawn on 18 July, 6,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped over eastern Caen. With the simultaneous Operation Atlantic, entrusted to the Canadian forces, the town was entirely liberated on 19 July 1944. Instead of one day, it took the Allies six weeks to capture the city.It was a Pyrrhic victory, with a devastating toll. 30,000 Anglo-Canadian soldiers were killed. 80 percent of the town was destroyed and it lost 3,000 of its inhabitants.

On D-Day Caen was an important Allied objective as it was an essential road hub, strategically astride the Orne River and Caen Canal. The Germans defended this stronghold with all their power. It took six weeks of fighting and heavy shelling to capture the capital of Normandy. 30,000 Anglo-Canadian soldiers and 3,000 civilians lost their lives.

On 6 June 1944 Caen was the main objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division, that had landed on Sword Beach. Firmly positioned to the north and west of the city, two Panzer Divisions prevented the Allies from capturing the city in the first two days. The next few days General Montgomery attempted to take Caen by a pincer movement and attacked the city from the northeast and southwest. On 13 June the offensive was stalled in Villers-Bocage by German Tiger tanks.

A further attack was planned with the British 8th Corps. The so called Epsom Operation brought together 60,000 men with the intention of getting around Caen across the Odon River. Within a few days the offensive was stopped at the foot of hill 112. A few weeks later Montgomery decided to capture Caen in a frontal attack, that became known as Operation Charnwood. In the morning of 8 July, 115,000 men and 500 tanks of the British 1st Corps attacked. The previous day the town had been bombarded by 450 bombers of the Royal Air Force and 2,600 tons of bombs had been dropped, killing 300 civilians. During Operation Charnwood the British and Canadian troops reached the bridges of the Orne on 9th July. The left-bank was liberated, together with the Ilot Sanitaire, an emergency hospital and refuge, which sheltered some 20,000 civilians.

Montgomery launched Operation Goodwood to capture the right-bank. At dawn on 18 July 6,000 tons of bombs were dropped over eastern Caen. With the simultaneous Operation Atlantic, entrusted to the Canadians, the town was entirely liberated on 19 July 1944. Instead of one day, it took the Allies six weeks to capture the city. It was a Pyrrhic victory, with a devastating toll. 30,000 Anglo-Canadian soldiers were killed. 80% of the town was destroyed and it lost 3,000 of its inhabitants.

Mémorial de Caen

The Battle for Caen

Le 6 juin 1944, Caen est l'objectif principal de la 3e division d'infanterie britannique, qui vient de débarquer à Sword Beach.&nbsp;Solidement positionnés au Nord et à l'Ouest de la ville, deux divisions de chars allemands empêchaient les Alliés de la capturer les deux premiers jours.&nbsp;Dans les jours qui suivent, le général britannique Bernard Montgomery tente de prendre Caen en tenaille en attaquant la ville par le nord-est et le sud-ouest. Le 13 juin 1944, l'offensive est arrêtée par des chars allemands Tiger à Villers-Bocage.Une nouvelle attaque est alors planifiée par le 8e corps britannique. L'opération, baptisée « Epsom », mobilise 60 000 hommes dans le but de contourner Caen par la rivière Odon. Quelques jours plus tard, l'offensive est arrêtée au pied de la colline 112. Quelques semaines plus tard, le général Montgomery décide de reprendre Caen au cours d'une attaque frontale, appelée « Opération Charnwood ». Au matin du 8 juillet 1944, 115 000 hommes et 500 tanks du 1er corps britannique passent à l'attaque. La veille, la ville a été bombardée par 450 avions de la Royal Air Force et 2 600 tonnes de bombes ont été larguées, tuant 300 civils. Dans le cadre de l'Opération Charnwood, les troupes britanniques et canadiennes atteignent les ponts de l'Orne le 9 juillet. La rive gauche est libérée, de même que l'Îlot Sanitaire, un hôpital d'urgence servant également d'abri à quelque 20 000 civils. Montgomery lance l'Opération Goodwood pour s'emparer de la rive droite. À l'aube du 18 juillet, 6 000 tonnes de bombes sont larguées sur l'est de Caen. Avec l'aide de l'Opération Atlantic, menée simultanément et confiée aux Canadiens, la ville est entièrement libérée le 19 juillet 1944. Au lieu d'une journée, il aura fallu six semaines aux Alliés pour reprendre la ville. Une victoire à la Pyrrhus obtenue au prix d'un lourd bilan humain. 30 000 soldats anglo-canadiens ont été tués. La ville a été détruite à 80 pourcent et a perdu 3 000 habitants. 21 Dywizja Pancera i 12 Dywizja Pancerna SS, zajmujące silne pozycje na północ i zachód od miasta, uniemożliwiały 3 Brytyjskiej Dywizji Piechoty zdobycie celu. Kiedy atak Kanadyjczyków został odparty na północno-zachodnich flankach miasta, Montgomery próbował okrążyć Caen od zachodu. Wydał on rozkaz wymarszu w kierunku Evrecy 30 Korpusowi Brytyjskiemu i 7 Dywizji Pancernej. W dniu 13 czerwca ofensywa utknęła w Villers-Bocage wstrzymana przez Tygrysy ze 101 Batalionu Czołgów Ciężkich. Dalszy atak był planowany przy udziale 8 Korpusu Brytyjskiego. W operacji Epsom, mającej na celu okrążenie Caen przez rzekę Odon, wzięło udział łącznie 60.000 ludzi. W ciągu kilku dni ofensywa ta została zatrzymana u stóp 'Wzgórza 112'. Na początku lipca Generał Montgomery zdecydował się na zdobycie Caen atakiem frontalnym, któremu nadano kryptonim Operacja Charnwood. Rankiem 8 lipca atak przypuścił 1 Korpus Brytyjski w sile 115.000 ludzi i 500 czołgów. Poprzedniego dnia miasto zostało zbombardowane przez 450 bombowców Royal Air Force. Zrzucono 2.600 ton bomb zabijając 300 osób cywilnych. Po całodziennej walce, w dniu 9 lipca oddziały brytyjskie i kanadyjskie dotarły do mostów na Orne. Lewy brzeg został oswobodzony wraz z 'Ilot Sanitaire' (szpitalem polowym i schronieniem, które po 6 lipca objęło zasięgiem Abbaye aux Hommes, Lycée Malherbe i Bon zapewniając dach nad głową dla około 20.000 cywilów). Następnie, Montgomery rozpoczął Operację Goodwood, by przechwycić prawy brzeg. O świcie 18 lipca na wschodnią część Caen zrzucono 6.000 ton bomb. W tym samym czasie podjęta została powierzona Kanadyjczykom Operacja Atlantyk. W efekcie miasto zostało oswobodzone w całości w dniu 19 lipca 1944r. Caen było wolne, jednak było to pyrrusowe zwycięstwo. Miasto legło w gruzach - 80% budynków zostało zniszczonych, a ludność okryta została żałobą po stracie 3.000 mieszkańców. Voor de 3e Britse Infanterie Divisie was Caen de grote missie tijdens D-day. Deze divisie was geland op Sword Beach tijdens D-Day, 6 juni 1944. Goed gepositioneerd aan de noordkant en westkant van de stad zorgden twee Duitse pantserdivisies ervoor dat de geallieerden gedurende de eerste twee dagen de stad niet konden innemen. De hierop volgende dagen probeerde generaal Montgomery Caen in te nemen door met een tangbeweging de stad aan te vallen vanuit het noordoosten en het zuidwesten. Op 13 juni werd het offensief door Duitse Tiger-tanks in Villers-Bocage tijdelijk gestopt. Een volgende aanval werd gepland met het 8e Britse Korps. De zogenoemde Epsom operatie bracht 60.000 man bij elkaar met de intentie om langs Caen aan de overkant van de rivier de Odon te komen. Maar aan de voet van heuvel 112 werd ook dit offensief gestopt. Een aantal weken later besloot Montgomery Caen in te nemen door een frontale aanval, bekend geworden als Operatie Charnwood. Tijdens de ochtend van 8 juli vielen 115.000 man en 500 tanks van het 1e Britse Korps Caen aan. De dag ervoor werd de stad gebombardeerd door 450 bommenwerpers van de Royal Air Force. Zij hadden 2.600 ton aan bommen afgeworpen, waardoor ook 300 burgers om het leven kwamen. Tijdens Operatie Charnwood bereikten de Britse en Canadese troepen de bruggen van de Orne op 9 juli. De linkeroever werd bevrijd, samen met Ilot Sanitaire, een ziekenhuis en schuilplaats waar ongeveer 20.000 burgers bivakkeerden. Montgomery lanceerde Operatie Goodwood om de rechteroever in te nemen. Bij zonsopgang werden 6.000 ton bommen op de oostkant van Caen afgeworpen. Met de gelijklopende Operatie Atlantic, die geheel aan de Canadezen was toevertrouwd, werd Caen uiteindelijk op 19 juli 1944 bevrijd. In plaats van één dag duurde het voor de geallieerden zes weken om de stad in te nemen. Het was een tragische overwinning met een verschrikkelijk hoge prijs. 30.000 Anglo-Canadese soldaten waren omgekomen, 80% van de stad was verwoest en 3.000 burgers waren gedood in de strijd. Am 6. Juni 1944 bildete Caen das Hauptziel der britischen 3. Infanteriedivision, die am Sword Beach gelandet war. Strategisch gut an der Nord- und Westseite der Stadt aufgestellt, gelang es zwei deutschen Panzerdivisionen, die Einnahme der Stadt durch die alliierten Streitkräfte in den ersten zwei Tagen zu verhindern. Während der nächsten Tage unternahm der britische General Bernard Montgomery einen Versuch, Caen durch eine taktische Zangenbewegung einzunehmen, und griff von Nordosten und Südwesten gleichzeitig an. Am 13. Juni 1944 brachten deutsche Panzer vom Typ Tiger die Offensive bei Villers-Bocage zum Stillstand. Gemeinsam mit dem britischen VIII. Korps wurde ein weiterer Angriff geplant. Die sogenannte Operation Epsom führte 60.000 Männer mit dem Ziel zusammen, den Fluss Odon zu überqueren und Caen zu umgehen. Binnen weniger Tage wurde die Offensive jedoch am Fuß des Hügels 112 gestoppt. Einige Wochen später beschloss Montgomery, Caen durch einen Frontalangriff einzunehmen, der als Operation Charnwood bekannt wurde. Am Morgen des 8. Juli 1944 griffen 115.000 Männer und 500 Panzer des britischen I. Korps an. Am Tag zuvor hatten 450 Bomber der britischen Royal Air Force die Stadt bombardiert und 2.600 Tonnen Bomben abgeworfen, wobei 300 Zivilistinnen und Zivilisten ihr Leben verloren. Während der Operation Charnwood erreichten die britischen und kanadischen Truppen am 9. Juli die Brücken über die Orne. Das linke Flussufer war befreit und damit auch das Ilot Sanitaire, ein Unfallkrankenhaus, das zum Zufluchtsort geworden war und nahezu 20.000 Mernschen Schutz bot. Um auch das rechte Flussufer unter seine Kontrolle zu bringen, startete Montgomery die Operation Goodwood. Bei Tagesanbruch des 18. Juli wurden 6.000 Tonnen Bomben über dem Osten der Stadt Caen abgeworfen. Dank der zeitgleich stattfindenden Operation Atlantic – unter Führung der kanadischen Streitkräfte – konnte die Stadt am 19. Juli 1944 vollständig befreit werden.Statt nur eines einzigen Tages benötigten die Alliierten sechs Wochen für die Einnahme von Caen – ein Pyrrhussieg, der einen verheerenden Tribut forderte: Während der Gefechte fielen 30.000 Soldaten der anglo-kanadischen Truppen, die Stadt wurde zu 80 Prozent zerstört und 3.000 ihrer Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner verloren ihr Leben. On 6 June 1944, Caen was the main strategic objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division which had landed on Sword Beach. Firmly positioned to the north and west of the city, two German tank divisions prevented the Allies from capturing the city in the first two days. The next few days British General Bernard Montgomery attempted to take Caen with a pincer movement and attacked the city from the northeast and southwest. On 13 June the offensive was stalled in Villers-Bocage by German Tiger tanks.A further attack was planned by the British 8th Corps. The so called Epsom Operation brought together 60,000 men with the intention of moving around Caen across the Odon River. Within a few days the offensive was stopped at the foot of hill 112. A few weeks later General Montgomery decided to capture Caen in a head-on attack, that became known as Operation Charnwood. In the morning of 8 July 1944, 115,000 men and 500 tanks of the British 1st Corps attacked the French city of Caen. The previous day the town had been bombarded by 450 bombers of the Royal Air Force and 2,600 tons of bombs had been dropped, killing 300 civilians. During Operation Charnwood the British and Canadian troops reached the bridges of the Orne on 9 July. The river's left bank was liberated, together with the Îlot sanitaire, an emergency hospital and refuge, which sheltered some 20,000 civilians. Montgomery launched Operation Goodwood to capture the right bank of the Orne as well. At dawn on 18 July, 6,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped over eastern Caen. With the simultaneous Operation Atlantic, entrusted to the Canadian forces, the town was entirely liberated on 19 July 1944. Instead of one day, it took the Allies six weeks to capture the city.It was a Pyrrhic victory, with a devastating toll. 30,000 Anglo-Canadian soldiers were killed. 80 percent of the town was destroyed and it lost 3,000 of its inhabitants. Il 6 giugno 1944, Caen era il principale obiettivo strategico della 3ª Divisione di fanteria britannica, sbarcata sulla Sword Beach. Posizionate saldamente a nord e a ovest della città, due divisioni di carri armati tedeschi impedirono agli Alleati di catturare la città nei primi due giorni. Nei giorni successivi il generale britannico Bernard Montgomery tentò di conquistare Caen con una manovra a tenaglia, attaccando la città da nord-est e da sud-ovest. Il 13 giugno l'offensiva fu bloccata a Villers-Bocage dai carri armati tedeschi Tiger.Un ulteriore attacco fu pianificato dall'8° Corpo britannico. La cosiddetta Operazione Epsom riunì 60.000 uomini con l'intenzione di muoversi intorno a Caen attraverso il fiume Odon. In pochi giorni l'offensiva fu fermata ai piedi della collina 112. Qualche settimana dopo il generale Montgomery decise di catturare Caen con un attacco frontale, che divenne noto come Operazione Charnwood. La mattina dell'8 luglio 1944, 115.000 uomini e 500 carri armati del 1° Corpo britannico attaccarono la città francese di Caen. Il giorno precedente la città era stata bombardata da 450 bombardieri della Royal Air Force ed erano state sganciate 2.600 tonnellate di bombe, uccidendo 300 civili. Durante l'Operazione Charnwood le truppe britanniche e canadesi raggiunsero i ponti dell'Orne il 9 luglio. La riva sinistra del fiume fu liberata, insieme all'Îlot sanitaire, un ospedale di emergenza e un rifugio, che ospitò circa 20.000 civili. Montgomery lanciò l'operazione Goodwood per catturare anche la riva destra dell'Orne. All'alba del 18 luglio, 6.000 tonnellate di bombe furono sganciate sulla parte orientale di Caen. Con la contemporanea operazione Atlantic, affidata alle forze canadesi, la città fu interamente liberata il 19 luglio 1944. Invece di un giorno, gli Alleati impiegarono sei settimane per catturare la città.Fu una vittoria di Pirro, con un bilancio devastante. 30.000 soldati anglo-canadesi furono uccisi. L'80% della città fu distrutto e perse 3.000 abitanti.

 La bataille de Caen Bitwa o Caen De Slag om Caen Die Schlacht um Caen The Battle for Caen La battaglia per Caen

​​The Engineers of the 8th Parachutist Battalion, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Alastair Pearson, were tasked with the destruction of the two metal bridges in Bures: a railway bridge and a road bridge.​Following a catastrophic parachute drop at 12:50pm, west of Touffréville’s Drop Zone K, Pearson was only able to gather 120 men from the more than 550 of his battalion that were scattered around. Among them were no sappers or machine gunners, and many containers of explosives were lost. ​Nevertheless, at around 3:45am Pearson set off. However, he was overtaken by Captain Juckes' Royal Engineers, who had parachuted to the north of Bavent Wood and were already on spot with their equipment. Tired of waiting for the 8th Battalion, at around 7:15am the Royal Engineers blew up the two bridges, and then retreated.​Shortly before this, at about 6:30am, Company B of the 1st Canadian Battalion, reinforced by sappers of the Royal Engineers, had blown up the Robehomme Bridge.​At approximately 9:00am, in Varaville, the Canadians of the C Company of the 1st Canadian Battalion destroyed the bridge over the Divette and then withdrew to the Mesnil.​Finally, thanks to a burst of brilliance by Major Roseveare of the 3rd Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers, Troarn bridge, the largest of all between Troarn and Saint-Samson, was destroyed. Driving a medical jeep and towing a trailer full of explosives, to which eight of his men clung, Roseveare hurtled down the main street before reaching the bridge, located at exit of the village. The explosion of the charges and trailer placed on the bridge opened a 5m breach. At midday, Juckes’ Royal Engineers arrived on the spot and completed the bridge’s destruction by around 14:00. They detonated new charges, which quite literally cut the large Troarn Bridge in half over its entire width.​After their successful mission, the Engineers of the 8th Parachutist Battalion retreated into the woods in Troarn and Bures, to take part in the battles of Normandy.

The metal bridge in Bures after its destruction on 6 June 1944 by British paratroopers

The Bures bridge after its destruction

Portrait of Tim Rosevaere

​​Destruction of the bridges over the Rivers Dives and Divette​

​​The Engineers of the 8th Parachutist Battalion, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Alastair Pearson, were tasked with the destruction of the two metal bridges in Bures: a railway bridge and a road bridge.​Following a catastrophic parachute drop at 12:50pm, west of Touffréville’s Drop Zone K, Pearson was only able to gather 120 men from the more than 550 of his battalion that were scattered around. Among them were no sappers or machine gunners, and many containers of explosives were lost. ​Nevertheless, at around 3:45am Pearson set off. However, he was overtaken by Captain Juckes' Royal Engineers, who had parachuted to the north of Bavent Wood and were already on spot with their equipment. Tired of waiting for the 8th Battalion, at around 7:15am the Royal Engineers blew up the two bridges, and then retreated.​Shortly before this, at about 6:30am, Company B of the 1st Canadian Battalion, reinforced by sappers of the Royal Engineers, had blown up the Robehomme Bridge.​At approximately 9:00am, in Varaville, the Canadians of the C Company of the 1st Canadian Battalion destroyed the bridge over the Divette and then withdrew to the Mesnil.​Finally, thanks to a burst of brilliance by Major Roseveare of the 3rd Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers, Troarn bridge, the largest of all between Troarn and Saint-Samson, was destroyed. Driving a medical jeep and towing a trailer full of explosives, to which eight of his men clung, Roseveare hurtled down the main street before reaching the bridge, located at exit of the village. The explosion of the charges and trailer placed on the bridge opened a 5m breach. At midday, Juckes’ Royal Engineers arrived on the spot and completed the bridge’s destruction by around 14:00. They detonated new charges, which quite literally cut the large Troarn Bridge in half over its entire width.​After their successful mission, the Engineers of the 8th Parachutist Battalion retreated into the woods in Troarn and Bures, to take part in the battles of Normandy. La destruction des deux ponts métalliques de Bures - pont ferroviaire et pont routier - a été confiée aux sapeurs du 8e bataillon para du lieutenant-colonel Alastair Pearson. Après avoir été parachuté de manière catastrophique à 0h50 à l’ouest de la Drop Zone K de Touffréville, Pearson n’a pu rassembler autour de lui que 120 hommes éparpillés sur les 550 hommes de son bataillon. Mais parmi eux, aucun sapeur ni mitrailleur, et de nombreux containers d’explosifs ont été perdus. Pearson s’élance malgré tout vers 3h45. Mais il est devancé par les Royal Engineers du capitaine Juckes, parachutés au nord du bois de Bavent et qui, déjà sur place avec leur matériel, las d’attendre le 8e bataillon, font exploser les deux ouvrages vers 7h15, avant de se replier.Peu avant, vers 6h30 c’est le pont de Robehomme qui a sauté sous l’action conjuguée de la Compagnie B du 1er bataillon Canadien renforcée par des sapeurs des Royal Engineers. A Varaville, le pont sur la Divette est détruit par les Canadiens de la Compagnie C du 1er bataillon canadien aux environ de 9h00 avant leur repli vers le Mesnil.Enfin la destruction du pont de Troarn, le plus grand d’entre tous, entre Troarn et Saint-Samson, est due à un coup d’éclat du major Roseveare du 3e Parachute squadron des Royal engineers. Au volant d’une jeep sanitaire, tractant une remorque bourrée d’explosifs, à laquelle se sont agrippés huit de ses hommes, Roseveare dévale à tombeau ouvert la rue principale du village avant d’atteindre le pont à la sortie du village. L’explosion des charges et de la remorque placée sur le pont ouvre une brèche de 5m. Arrivés sur place à la mi-journée, les Royal Engineers de Juckes achèveront le travail de destruction vers 14h00 en y faisant exploser de nouvelles charges, coupent littéralement en deux le grand pont de Troarn sur toute sa largeur.Après la réussite de sa mission, le 8e bataillon se replie dans les bois de Troarn et de Bures pour prendre part aux combats de la bataille de Normandie. Die Pioniere des 8. Fallschirmjägerbataillons unter der Führung von Oberstleutnant Alastair Pearson hatten den Auftrag, die beiden Metallbrücken in Bures zu zerstören: eine Eisenbahnbrücke und eine Straßenbrücke.Nach einem katastrophalen Fallschirmabwurf um 12:50 Uhr westlich der Abwurfzone K von Touffréville konnte Pearson nur 120 der mehr als 550 verstreuten Männer seines Bataillons versammeln. Unter ihnen befanden sich weder Pioniere noch Maschinengewehrschützen, und viele Behälter mit Sprengstoff waren verloren gegangen.Trotzdem machte sich Pearson gegen 3:45 Uhr morgens auf den Weg. Er wurde jedoch von Hauptmann Juckes' Königlichen Ingenieuren überholt, die nördlich des Bavent Waldes mit dem Fallschirm abgesprungen waren und bereits mit ihrer Ausrüstung vor Ort waren. Die Ingenieure, welche es leid waren, auf das 8. Bataillon zu warten, sprengten gegen 7:15 Uhr die beiden Brücken und zogen sich dann zurück.Kurz zuvor, gegen 6:30 Uhr, hatte die Kompanie B des 1. kanadischen Bataillons, verstärkt durch Pioniere der Royal Engineers, die Robehomme-Brücke gesprengt.Gegen 9:00 Uhr zerstörten die Kanadier der Kompanie C des 1. kanadischen Bataillons in Varaville die Brücke über die Divette und zogen sich dann nach Mesnil zurück.Schließlich wurde dank des genialen Einsatzes von Major Roseveare von der 3. Fallschirmjägerstaffel der Königlichen Ingenieure die Brücke von Troarn, die größte Brücke zwischen Troarn und Saint-Samson, zerstört. Mit einem Sanitätsjeep und einem mit Sprengstoff beladenen Anhänger, an den sich acht seiner Männer klammerten, raste Roseveare die Hauptstraße hinunter, bevor er die Brücke am Ausgang des Dorfes erreichte. Die Explosion der Sprengladungen und des Anhängers, die auf der Brücke platziert waren, öffnete eine fünf Meter breite Bresche. Um die Mittagszeit trafen Juckes' Royal Engineers vor Ort ein und vollendeten die Zerstörung der Brücke gegen 14:00 Uhr. Sie zündeten neue Sprengladungen, die die große Troarn-Brücke auf ihrer gesamten Breite buchstäblich in zwei Hälften teilten.Nach ihrem erfolgreichen Einsatz zogen sich die Pioniere des 8. Fallschirmjägerbataillons in die Wälder von Troarn und Bures zurück, um an den Kämpfen in der Normandie teilzunehmen. De ingenieurs van het 8ste Parachutistenbataljon onder leiding van luitenant-kolonel Alastair Pearson kregen de opdracht de twee metalen bruggen in Bures te vernietigen: een spoorbrug en een verkeersbrug.Na een rampzalige parachutering om 12.50 uur, ten westen van Drop Zone K van Touffréville, kon Pearson slechts 120 mannen verzamelen van de meer dan 550 van zijn bataljon die verspreid lagen. Onder hen waren geen sappeurs of machinegeweerschutters en veel containers met explosieven gingen verloren.Desondanks ging Pearson rond 3.45 uur op weg. Hij werd echter ingehaald door de Royal Engineers van kapitein Juckes, die naar het noorden van Bavent Wood waren geparachuteerd en al ter plaatse waren met hun uitrusting. Moe van het wachten op het 8ste Bataljon bliezen de Genie rond 7.15 uur de twee bruggen op en trokken zich terug.Kort daarvoor, om ongeveer 6.30 uur, had compagnie B van het 1ste Canadese Bataljon, versterkt door sappeurs van de Genie, de Robehomme Brug opgeblazen.Om ongeveer 9.00 uur vernietigden de Canadezen van de C Company van het 1ste Canadese Bataljon in Varaville de brug over de Divette en trokken zich toen terug naar de Mesnil.Tenslotte, dankzij een briljante uitbarsting van Major Roseveare van het 3de Parachutisten Squadron van de Royal Engineers, werd de brug van Troarn, de grootste van allemaal tussen Troarn en Saint-Samson, vernietigd. Rijdend in een medische jeep en met een aanhanger vol explosieven, waaraan acht van zijn mannen zich vasthielden, raasde Roseveare door de hoofdstraat voordat hij de brug bereikte, die zich bij de uitgang van het dorp bevond. De explosie van de ladingen en de aanhanger op de brug opende een bres van 5 meter. Om 12.00 uur arriveerden de ingenieurs van Juckes ter plaatse en rond 14.00 uur was de vernietiging van de brug voltooid. Ze brachten nieuwe ladingen tot ontploffing die de grote Troarnbrug letterlijk over de hele breedte in tweeën sneden.Na hun succesvolle missie trokken de ingenieurs van het 8ste Parachutistenbataljon zich terug in de bossen van Troarn en Bures om deel te nemen aan de gevechten in Normandië. Igenieri dell'8° Battaglione paracadutisti guidati dal tenente colonnello Alastair Pearson furono incaricati di distruggere i due ponti metallici di Bures: un ponte ferroviario e un ponte stradale.A seguito diuna catastrofica caduta con il paracadute alle 12:50, a ovest della zona di lancio K di Touffréville, Pearson riuscì a radunare solo 120 uomini degli oltre 550 del suo battaglione che erano sparsi in giro. Tra questi non c'erano né genieri né mitraglieri e molti contenitori di esplosivo andarono persi.Ciononostante, intorno alle 3:45 Pearson si mise in marcia. Tuttavia, fu superato dai Royal Engineers del capitano Juckes, che si erano paracadutati a nord di Bavent Wood ed erano già sul posto con il loro equipaggiamento. Stanchi di aspettare l'8° Battaglione, intorno alle 7:15 i Royal Engineers fecero saltare i due ponti e poi si ritirarono.Pocoprima, intorno alle 6:30, la Compagnia B del 1° Battaglione canadese, rinforzata dai genieri del Genio Reale, aveva fatto saltare il ponte di Robehomme.Alle9:00 circa, a Varaville, i canadesi della Compagnia C del 1° Battaglione canadese distrussero il ponte sulla Divette e poi si ritirarono verso il Mesnil.Infine, grazie a un'esplosione di genialità del maggiore Roseveare del 3° Squadrone paracadutisti del Genio Reale, il ponte di Troarn, il più grande di tutti tra Troarn e Saint-Samson, fu distrutto. Alla guida di una jeep medica e trainando un rimorchio pieno di esplosivo, a cui si aggrapparono otto dei suoi uomini, Roseveare si lanciò lungo la strada principale prima di raggiungere il ponte, situato all'uscita del villaggio. L'esplosione delle cariche e del rimorchio piazzato sul ponte aprì una breccia di 5 metri. A mezzogiorno, i Royal Engineers di Juckes arrivarono sul posto e completarono la distruzione del ponte intorno alle 14:00. Fecero esplodere nuove cariche che tagliarono letteralmente a metà il grande ponte di Troarn per tutta la sua larghezza.Dopo ilsuccesso della missione, i genieri dell'8° battaglione paracadutisti si ritirarono nei boschi di Troarn e Bures, per partecipare alle battaglie di Normandia.

 La destruction des ponts sur la Dives et la Divette ​​Destruction of the bridges over the Rivers Dives and Divette​ Zerstörung der Brücken über die Flüsse Dives und Divette Vernietiging van de bruggen over de rivieren Dives en Divette Distruzione dei ponti sui fiumi Dives e Divette

​​Operation Jubilee was a combined operation, meaning all three military branches were used: Navy, Army and Air Force. The Royal Air Force played a large part in the operation, which was planned to see thousands of Canadian troops land by sea onto four beaches. This was further supported by Commandos landing to the east and west of the Canadian troops. The Free French also suffered casualties, with five men killed. They are remembered on the memorial at the airfield.​Commander François Fayolle joined the air force in 1939 and was assigned to Algeria in 1940. He did not want to acknowledge the German armistice with France in 1940 and travelled to Gibraltar then to England in a trawler. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 August 1942 at was head of a British No. 174 Squadron. He took part in Operation Jubilee; his Hawker Hurricane went down at sea.​In the same Squadron was Officer Maurice Halna du Fretay, his Hawker Hurricane was shot down at sea off the coast of Dieppe. He has no known grave. His family were of Breton (Brittany) nobility, his father a baron. To escape France in 1940 following the armistice, he reconstructed a plane at the family home and flew it to Dorset, England. Written on the tail of his Hurricane was, ’Breizh dalc’h mad’, meaning ’Brittany, hold on!’

Maurice Halna du Fretay, companion de la libération 

Maurice Halna du Fretay

​François Fayolle, French ‘companion of the liberation‘ who served in the RAF.

François Fayolle

Memorial to the French Pilots

​French Pilots support Canadian forces

​​Operation Jubilee was a combined operation, meaning all three military branches were used: Navy, Army and Air Force. The Royal Air Force played a large part in the operation, which was planned to see thousands of Canadian troops land by sea onto four beaches. This was further supported by Commandos landing to the east and west of the Canadian troops. The Free French also suffered casualties, with five men killed. They are remembered on the memorial at the airfield.​Commander François Fayolle joined the air force in 1939 and was assigned to Algeria in 1940. He did not want to acknowledge the German armistice with France in 1940 and travelled to Gibraltar then to England in a trawler. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 August 1942 at was head of a British No. 174 Squadron. He took part in Operation Jubilee; his Hawker Hurricane went down at sea.​In the same Squadron was Officer Maurice Halna du Fretay, his Hawker Hurricane was shot down at sea off the coast of Dieppe. He has no known grave. His family were of Breton (Brittany) nobility, his father a baron. To escape France in 1940 following the armistice, he reconstructed a plane at the family home and flew it to Dorset, England. Written on the tail of his Hurricane was, ’Breizh dalc’h mad’, meaning ’Brittany, hold on!’ L'opération Jubilee était une opération combinée, c'est-à-dire que les trois branches de l'armée ont été utilisées : La marine, l'armée de terre et l'armée de l'air.La Royal Air Force a joué un rôle important dans l'opération, qui prévoyait le débarquement par mer de milliers de soldats canadiens sur quatre plages. Des commandos ont également débarqué à l'est et à l'ouest des troupes canadiennes.Les Français libres ont également subi des pertes, avec cinq hommes tués. Ils sont commémorés sur le mémorial de l'aérodrome.Le commandant François Fayolle rejoint l'armée de l'air en 1939 et est affecté en Algérie en 1940. Il ne veut pas reconnaître l'armistice allemand avec la France en 1940 et se rend à Gibraltar puis en Angleterre à bord d'un chalutier. Il est promu chef d'escadron le 1er août 1942 à la tête de l'escadron britannique n° 174. Il participe à l'opération Jubilee ; son Hawker Hurricane s'abîme en mer.Dans la même escadrille se trouvait l'officier Maurice Halna du Fretay, dont le Hawker Hurricane a été abattu en mer au large de Dieppe. Il n'a pas de tombe connue. Sa famille était issue de la noblesse bretonne, son père était baron. Pour fuir la France en 1940 après l'armistice, il a reconstruit un avion dans la maison familiale et l'a piloté jusqu'au Dorset, en Angleterre. Sur la queue de son Hurricane était écrit "Breizh dalc'h mad", ce qui signifie "Bretagne, tiens bon !". Die Operation Jubilee war eine kombinierte Operation, bei der alle drei Teilstreitkräfte zum Einsatz kamen: Marine, Heer und Luftwaffe.Die Royal Air Force spielte eine zentrale Rolle in der Operation, bei der tausende kanadische Soldaten per Landungsboot an vier Strandabschnitten anlanden sollten. Unterstützt wurde dies durch Landungen von Kommandotrupps östlich und westlich der kanadischen Truppen.Auch die Freien Französischen Streitkräfte erlitten Verluste – fünf französische Piloten kamen ums Leben. Ihnen ist das Denkmal am Flugplatz gewidmet.Capitaine de frégate François Fayolle trat 1939 der Luftwaffe bei und wurde 1940 nach Algerien versetzt. Er weigerte sich, den deutsch-französischen Waffenstillstand von 1940 anzuerkennen, floh mit einem Fischkutter über Gibraltar nach England. Am 1. August 1942 wurde er zum Major befördert und übernahm das Kommando über das 174. britische Geschwader. Er nahm an der Operation Jubilee teil; seine Hawker Hurricane stürzte ins Meer.In derselben Staffel diente auch Flight Officer Maurice Halna du Fretay. Seine Hurricane wurde vor der Küste von Dieppe abgeschossen – er gilt bis heute als vermisst. Seine Familie stammte aus dem bretonischen Adel; sein Vater war Baron. Nach dem Waffenstillstand von 1940 baute er zu Hause in der Bretagne ein Flugzeug wieder auf und flog damit nach Dorset, England. Auf dem Heck seiner Hurricane stand der Satz: „Breizh dalc’h mad“ – Bretonisch für „Bretagne, halte durch!“. Operatie Jubilee was een gecombineerde operatie, wat betekent dat alle drie de militaire takken werden ingezet: Marine, landmacht en luchtmacht.De Royal Air Force speelde een grote rol in de operatie, waarbij duizenden Canadese troepen over zee op vier stranden zouden landen. Dit werd verder ondersteund door commando's die ten oosten en westen van de Canadese troepen landden.De Vrije Fransen leden ook slachtoffers, met vijf gesneuvelden. Ze worden herdacht op het monument op het vliegveld.Commandant François Fayolle ging in 1939 bij de luchtmacht en werd in 1940 aan Algerije toegewezen. Hij wilde de Duitse wapenstilstand met Frankrijk in 1940 niet erkennen en reisde naar Gibraltar en vervolgens naar Engeland in een trawler. Hij werd op 1 augustus 1942 bevorderd tot Squadron Leader en stond aan het hoofd van een Brits No. 174 Squadron. Hij nam deel aan Operatie Jubilee; zijn Hawker Hurricane ging op zee ten onder.In hetzelfde Squadron zat Officer Maurice Halna du Fretay, zijn Hawker Hurricane werd voor de kust van Dieppe op zee neergeschoten. Er is geen graf van hem bekend. Zijn familie was van Bretonse (Bretonse) adel, zijn vader was baron. Om Frankrijk te ontvluchten in 1940 na de wapenstilstand, bouwde hij een vliegtuig na bij de familie thuis en vloog ermee naar Dorset, Engeland. Op de staart van zijn Hurricane stond geschreven: 'Breizh dalc'h mad', wat betekent 'Bretagne, hou vol! L'operazioneJubilee è stata un'operazione combinata, ovvero sono state utilizzate tutte e tre le branche militari: Marina, Esercito e Aeronautica. La Royal Air Force svolse un ruolo importante nell'operazione, che prevedeva lo sbarco via mare di migliaia di truppe canadesi su quattro spiagge. L'operazione fu ulteriormente sostenuta dai Commandos che sbarcarono a est e a ovest delle truppe canadesi. Anche i francesi liberi subirono delle perdite, con cinque uomini uccisi. Sono ricordati nel monumento commemorativo del campo d'aviazione.Il comandanteFrançois Fayolle si unì alle forze aeree nel 1939 e fu assegnato all'Algeria nel 1940. Non volendo riconoscere l'armistizio tedesco con la Francia nel 1940, si recò a Gibilterra e poi in Inghilterra su un peschereccio. Fu promosso Capo Squadriglia il 1° agosto 1942 a capo di una squadriglia britannica di 174 unità. Partecipò all'operazione Jubilee; il suo Hawker Hurricane affondò in mare.Nellostesso squadrone c'era l'ufficiale Maurice Halna du Fretay, il cui Hawker Hurricane fu abbattuto in mare al largo di Dieppe. Non si conosce la sua tomba. La sua famiglia apparteneva alla nobiltà bretone (Bretagna), il padre era un barone. Per fuggire dalla Francia nel 1940, dopo l'armistizio, ricostruì un aereo nella casa di famiglia e lo portò nel Dorset, in Inghilterra. Sulla coda del suo Hurricane c'era scritto "Breizh dalc'h mad", che significa "Bretagna, resisti!".

 Franse piloten steunen Canadese strijdkrachten ​French Pilots support Canadian forces​ Französische Piloten unterstützen kanadische Truppen Pilotes français en soutien des forces canadiennes I piloti francesi sostengono le forze canadesi

Additionally, one of the first Landing Craft Tanks to arrive was delayed in deploying its vehicles. The lead tank failed to start, blocking the way for others behind it. It took several minutes to resolve—minutes that exposed the tanks and infantry to intense fire. A key lesson learned was that tanks should be started and warmed up while still at sea to ensure immediate deployment upon landing.Only 27 of the intended 29 tanks made it ashore; two were lost in deep water before even reaching the beach. An additional 28 tanks from the Regiment were never deployed. The lack of armoured support at the outset and the overwhelming German response following a short pre-bombardment ensured that Red Beach became a killing zone for the attacking forces.Despite the loss, the operation highlighted some important tactical lessons regarding coordination between infantry and armour, as well as the handling of new armoured vehicles under combat conditions.The memorial at Dieppe honours those from the Calgary Tank Regiment who were killed during Operation Jubilee. While the mission suffered devastating losses—including all 29 tanks—the bravery of those involved and the lessons learned were pivotal in shaping future Allied amphibious operations.

​The view looking across Dieppe esplanade beyond  which tanks attempted to advance.​

​Calgary Tank Memorial​

​The memorial plaque at the base of the memorial in memory of those who landed at Dieppe.​

​Calgary Tank Regiment Plaque​

​The memorial overlooking the area of Red Beach, Dieppe​

​Calgary Tank Regiment Memorial​

​The detail on the memorial shows a Churchill tank with its large exhausts to prevent sea water entering the engine.​

​Calgary Tank Memorial ​

Calgary Tank Regiment Red Beach 

Additionally, one of the first Landing Craft Tanks to arrive was delayed in deploying its vehicles. The lead tank failed to start, blocking the way for others behind it. It took several minutes to resolve—minutes that exposed the tanks and infantry to intense fire. A key lesson learned was that tanks should be started and warmed up while still at sea to ensure immediate deployment upon landing.Only 27 of the intended 29 tanks made it ashore; two were lost in deep water before even reaching the beach. An additional 28 tanks from the Regiment were never deployed. The lack of armoured support at the outset and the overwhelming German response following a short pre-bombardment ensured that Red Beach became a killing zone for the attacking forces.Despite the loss, the operation highlighted some important tactical lessons regarding coordination between infantry and armour, as well as the handling of new armoured vehicles under combat conditions.The memorial at Dieppe honours those from the Calgary Tank Regiment who were killed during Operation Jubilee. While the mission suffered devastating losses—including all 29 tanks—the bravery of those involved and the lessons learned were pivotal in shaping future Allied amphibious operations. En outre, l'un des premiers chars de débarquement à arriver a été retardé dans le déploiement de ses véhicules. Le char de tête n'a pas démarré, bloquant la voie aux autres chars qui le suivaient. Il a fallu plusieurs minutes pour résoudre le problème - des minutes qui ont exposé les chars et l'infanterie à des tirs intenses. L'un des principaux enseignements tirés de cette expérience est que les chars doivent être démarrés et réchauffés alors qu'ils sont encore en mer, afin d'assurer un déploiement immédiat lors du débarquement.Seuls 27 des 29 chars prévus ont atteint le rivage ; deux ont été perdus en eaux profondes avant même d'atteindre la plage. Vingt-huit autres chars du régiment n'ont jamais été déployés. Le manque de soutien blindé au départ et la réponse allemande écrasante après un court pré-bombardement ont fait de Red Beach une zone meurtrière pour les forces attaquantes.Malgré les pertes subies, l'opération a permis de tirer d'importantes leçons tactiques concernant la coordination entre l'infanterie et les blindés, ainsi que le maniement de nouveaux véhicules blindés dans des conditions de combat.Le mémorial de Dieppe rend hommage aux membres du Calgary Tank Regiment qui ont été tués au cours de l'opération Jubilee. Bien que la mission ait subi des pertes dévastatrices - y compris les 29 chars d'assaut - la bravoure des participants et les leçons tirées ont été déterminantes pour les futures opérations amphibies des Alliés. Zusätzlich wurde die Anlandung durch ein früh eintreffendes Landungsboot (Landing Craft Tank) verzögert, das Schwierigkeiten hatte, seine Fahrzeuge auszusetzen. Der vorderste Panzer sprang nicht an und blockierte so die Ausfahrt für alle nachfolgenden Fahrzeuge. Es dauerte mehrere Minuten, bis das Problem behoben war – Minuten, in denen die Panzer und die Infanterie ungeschützt heftigem Beschuss ausgesetzt waren. Eine zentrale Lehre daraus war, dass Panzer bereits auf See gestartet und auf Betriebstemperatur gebracht werden sollten, um nach der Landung sofort einsatzbereit zu sein.Nur 27 der ursprünglich geplanten 29 Panzer erreichten überhaupt den Strand; zwei gingen in tiefem Wasser verloren, bevor sie überhaupt landen konnten. Weitere 28 Panzer des Regiments wurden nie eingesetzt. Das Fehlen gepanzerter Unterstützung zu Beginn des Angriffs – gepaart mit der überwältigenden deutschen Verteidigung nach einem nur kurzen Vorbombardement – machte Red Beach zu einem tödlichen Brennpunkt für die angreifenden Truppen.Trotz der Verluste offenbarte der Einsatz wichtige taktische Erkenntnisse – insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Koordination zwischen Infanterie und Panzertruppen sowie den Umgang mit neuen gepanzerten Fahrzeugen unter Gefechtsbedingungen.Das Denkmal in Dieppe ehrt die Gefallenen des Calgary-Panzerregiment, die während der Operation Jubilee ihr Leben ließen. Auch wenn die Mission mit verheerenden Verlusten endete – darunter alle 29 eingesetzten Panzer –, trugen der Mut der Beteiligten und die gewonnenen Lehren entscheidend zur Vorbereitung zukünftiger alliierter Landungsoperationen bei. Bovendien had één van de eerste Landing Craft Tanks die arriveerde vertraging bij het inzetten van zijn voertuigen. De voorste tank startte niet en blokkeerde de weg voor de andere tanks erachter. Het duurde enkele minuten om dit op te lossen - minuten die de tanks en infanterie blootstelden aan intens vuur. Een belangrijke les die geleerd werd, was dat tanks gestart en opgewarmd moesten worden terwijl ze nog op zee waren, zodat ze bij de landing meteen ingezet konden worden.Slechts 27 van de geplande 29 tanks kwamen aan land; twee ervan gingen verloren in diep water voordat ze het strand bereikten. Nog eens 28 tanks van het regiment werden nooit ingezet. Het gebrek aan gepantserde ondersteuning aan het begin en de overweldigende Duitse reactie na een kort voorbombardement zorgden ervoor dat Red Beach een kill zone werd voor de aanvallende troepen.Ondanks de verliezen bracht de operatie een aantal belangrijke tactische lessen aan het licht met betrekking tot de coördinatie tussen infanterie en pantservoertuigen en de omgang met nieuwe pantservoertuigen onder gevechtsomstandigheden.Het monument in Dieppe eert de soldaten van het Calgary Tank Regiment die omkwamen tijdens Operatie Jubilee. Hoewel de missie verwoestende verliezen leed - waaronder alle 29 tanks - waren de moed van de betrokkenen en de geleerde lessen van cruciaal belang bij het vormgeven van toekomstige geallieerde amfibische operaties. Inoltre, uno dei primi Landing Craft Tank ad arrivare ha tardato a dispiegare i suoi veicoli. Il carro armato di testa non è riuscito a partire, bloccando la strada agli altri dietro di lui. Ci sono voluti diversi minuti per risolvere il problema, minuti che hanno esposto i carri armati e la fanteria a un intenso fuoco. Una lezione fondamentale appresa fu che i carri armati dovevano essere avviati e riscaldati quando erano ancora in mare, per garantire un impiego immediato al momento dello sbarco.Solo 27 dei 29 carri armati previsti riuscirono a sbarcare; due furono persi in acque profonde prima ancora di raggiungere la spiaggia. Altri 28 carri armati del Reggimento non furono mai impiegati. La mancanza di supporto corazzato all'inizio e la schiacciante risposta tedesca dopo un breve pre-bombardamento fecero sì che Red Beach diventasse una zona di morte per le forze d'attacco.Nonostante le perdite, l'operazione mise in luce alcune importanti lezioni tattiche sul coordinamento tra fanteria e corazzati, nonché sulla gestione dei nuovi veicoli corazzati in condizioni di combattimento.Il memoriale di Dieppe onora i caduti del Calgary Tank Regiment durante l'operazione Jubilee. Sebbene la missione abbia subito perdite devastanti - compresi tutti i 29 carri armati - il coraggio di coloro che vi parteciparono e le lezioni apprese furono fondamentali per la definizione delle future operazioni anfibie alleate.

 Calgary Tank Regiment Red Beach  Calgary Tank Regiment Red Beach Le Calgary Tank Regiment sur "Red Beach"  Calgary-Panzerregiment am Red Beach  Reggimento carri armati di Calgary Spiaggia Rossa 

​​​To the east, the 1st British Corps needed to widen the bridgehead that had been conquered by the paratroopers on 6 June by pushing towards Troarn and Bavent. From there, the 8th British Corps led in force towards the plain of Caen and Falaise, while the 2nd Canadian Corps crossed the River Orne between Blainville and Louvigny, to deliver the right bank of Caen.​At 5:30, intense aerial bombardments preceded the attack: 6,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on either side of the armoured divisions corridor. Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannerville, Touffréville and Giberville were reduced to ashes, but the German positions were hit hard.​Less than three hours later, 75,000 men entered the battle led by the British 11th Armoured Division. However, the progress begun over 6km across the plain was soon stopped at the level of the Caen-Paris railway. 88mm guns and tanks entrenched in the ruins of Cagny opened fire. The Bourguébus ridge was solidly held by the opposing forces, and at the day’s end this marked the limit of the advance. At the same time, the 2nd Canadian Division was able to cross the Rivers Orne and Odon and established two bridgeheads at Vaucelles and Louvigny.Over the next two days, the Allies advanced from village to village, forcing the German front to retreat. On 19 July, the right bank of Caen was liberated and on the same day Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal, and Fleury-sur-Orne were liberated by Canadian troops. To the east of the front, Four, Soliers, and Hubert-Folie also regained their freedom. On 20 July, Émiéville and Frénouville were taken over by the guards of the 32nd Brigade, whilst Bourguébus was finally released by the 7th Armored Division after two days of fighting. South of Caen, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division once again failed to conquer the Verrières ridge. At the end of the day, torrential rains put an end to Operation Goodwood. Montgomery was forced to end the operation. It was a failure: the Anglo-Canadian troops lost 400 tanks - four times more than the German troops - and nearly 6,000 men, for an advance of 11km.​In 2019, an orientation table was installed at Bourguébus which informs visitors about the progress of Operation Goodwood.​​

The former Caen - Troarn - Putot-en-Auge railway was one of the first obstacles to the advance of the tanks of the 11th British Armoured Division.​

The Liroze level crossing after the fighting​

Operation Goodwood was launched from the bridgehead on 18 July 1944​.

​The route from the River Orne to Bénouville, on the York Bridge

​Canadian Soldier on guard at Verrieres​.

​Canadian Soldier on guard at Verrieres​

The village of Sannerville after the bombing of July 18. Above, the church and the road of Maizeret; below Banneville-la-campagne. In the middle, you can barely see the layout of the old railway (from the bottom to the top of the photo).

​The area of Sannerville after the bombing

​The orientation table at Bourguébus

​​Operation Goodwood: largest tank battle in Normandy of the Second World War

​​​To the east, the 1st British Corps needed to widen the bridgehead that had been conquered by the paratroopers on 6 June by pushing towards Troarn and Bavent. From there, the 8th British Corps led in force towards the plain of Caen and Falaise, while the 2nd Canadian Corps crossed the River Orne between Blainville and Louvigny, to deliver the right bank of Caen.​At 5:30, intense aerial bombardments preceded the attack: 6,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on either side of the armoured divisions corridor. Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannerville, Touffréville and Giberville were reduced to ashes, but the German positions were hit hard.​Less than three hours later, 75,000 men entered the battle led by the British 11th Armoured Division. However, the progress begun over 6km across the plain was soon stopped at the level of the Caen-Paris railway. 88mm guns and tanks entrenched in the ruins of Cagny opened fire. The Bourguébus ridge was solidly held by the opposing forces, and at the day’s end this marked the limit of the advance. At the same time, the 2nd Canadian Division was able to cross the Rivers Orne and Odon and established two bridgeheads at Vaucelles and Louvigny.Over the next two days, the Allies advanced from village to village, forcing the German front to retreat. On 19 July, the right bank of Caen was liberated and on the same day Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal, and Fleury-sur-Orne were liberated by Canadian troops. To the east of the front, Four, Soliers, and Hubert-Folie also regained their freedom. On 20 July, Émiéville and Frénouville were taken over by the guards of the 32nd Brigade, whilst Bourguébus was finally released by the 7th Armored Division after two days of fighting. South of Caen, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division once again failed to conquer the Verrières ridge. At the end of the day, torrential rains put an end to Operation Goodwood. Montgomery was forced to end the operation. It was a failure: the Anglo-Canadian troops lost 400 tanks - four times more than the German troops - and nearly 6,000 men, for an advance of 11km.​In 2019, an orientation table was installed at Bourguébus which informs visitors about the progress of Operation Goodwood.​​ Le 1er corps britannique doit élargir la tête de pont conquise par les parachutistes le 6 juin en poussant vers Troarn et Bavent. De là, le 8e corps britannique passera en force vers la plaine de Caen et Falaise, tandis que le 2e corps canadien franchira l’Orne, entre Blainville et Louvigny, pour délivrer la rive droite de Caen. Ce volet canadien de la manœuvre correspond à l’opération Atlantic.À partir de 5 h 30, d’intenses bombardements aériens précèdent l’attaque au sol. 6 000 tonnes de bombes sont déversées de chaque côté du corridor réservé aux divisions blindées. Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannerville, Touffréville et Giberville sont réduits en cendres et les positions allemandes sont touchées de plein fouet.Moins de trois heures plus tard, 75 000 hommes s’élancent dans la bataille menée par la 11e division blindée. Mais la progression amorcée est bientôt stoppée à la hauteur de la voie ferrée Caen-Paris. Des canons allemands de 88mm et des blindés retranchés dans les ruines de Cagny ouvrent le feu. La contre-attaque est violente.Solidement tenue par les Allemands, la crête de Bourguébus marque en fin de journée la limite de l’avancée alliée. Sannerville, Touffréville, Le Mesnil-Frémentel, Cuverville, Démouville, Giberville, Cagny ont été libérés mais sont totalement en ruines. Dans le même temps, la 2e division canadienne a pu franchir l’Orne et l’Odon et établir deux têtes de pont à Vaucelles et à Louvigny. Les deux jours suivants, les Alliés progressent de village en village forçant le front allemand à reculer jusqu’à ce que des pluies torrentielles le 20 juillet en fin de journée mettent un terme à l’opération Goodwood. Ce jour-là Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal, Fleury-sur-Orne sont libérés par les Canadiens, tandis qu’à l’est du front, Four, Soliers et Hubert-Folie retrouvent leur liberté. Emiéville et Frénouville sont repris par les Guards britanniques le 20 juillet, tandis qu’après deux jours de combats Bourguébus est enfin libéré par la 7e division blindée. Au sud de Caen, la 2e division d’infanterie canadienne échoue une nouvelle fois dans la conquête de la crête de Verrières.La mort dans l’âme, le Général Montgomery doit mettre fin à l’opération. Celle-ci se solde par un échec : les Anglo-Canadiens ont perdu 400 chars - quatre fois plus que les Allemands - et près de 6 000 hommes, pour une avancée de 11km.Depuis 2019, une table d’orientation installée à Bourguébus informe les visiteurs sur l’opération Goodwood. Im Osten musste das 1. britische Korps den Brückenkopf, den die Fallschirmjäger am 6. Juni 1944 erobert hatten, erweitern, indem es in Richtung Troarn und Bavent vorstieß. Von dort aus stieß das 8. britische Korps in Richtung der Ebene von Caen und Falaise vor, während das 2. kanadische Korps die Orne zwischen Blainville und Louvigny überquert, um das rechte Ufer von Caen zu erreichen.Um 5:30 Uhr gingen dem Angriff intensive Luftangriffe voraus: 6.000 Tonnen Bomben wurden auf beiden Seiten des Korridors der Panzerdivisionen abgeworfen. Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannerville, Touffréville und Giberville wurden in Schutt und Asche gelegt, aber die deutschen Stellungen wurden schwer getroffen.Weniger als drei Stunden später traten 75.000 Mann unter der Führung der britischen 11. Panzerdivision dem Kampf bei. Der Vormarsch, der über 6 km durch die Ebene begonnen hatte, wurde jedoch bald auf der Höhe der Eisenbahnlinie Caen-Paris gestoppt. 88 mm-Geschütze und Panzer, die sich in den Ruinen von Cagny verschanzt hatten, eröffneten das Feuer. Der Bergrücken von Bourguébus wurde von den gegnerischen Kräften gehalten, was am Ende des Tages die Grenze des Vormarsches markierte. Gleichzeitig gelang es der 2. kanadischen Division, die Flüsse Orne und Odon zu überqueren und zwei Brückenköpfe bei Vaucelles und Louvigny zu errichten.In den folgenden zwei Tagen rückten die Alliierten von Dorf zu Dorf vor und zwangen die deutsche Front zum Rückzug. Am 19. Juli 1944 wurde das rechte Ufer von Caen zurückerobert und am selben Tag Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal und Fleury-sur-Orne von kanadischen Truppen befreit. Im Osten der Front wurden auch Four, Soliers und Hubert-Folie wieder befreit. Am 20. Juli wurden Émiéville und Frénouville von den Wachen der 32. Brigade eingenommen, während Bourguébus nach zweitägigen Kämpfen von der 7. Panzerdivision befreit wurde. Südlich von Caen gelang es der 2. kanadischen Infanteriedivision erneut nicht, den Bergrücken von Verrières zu erobern. Am Ende des Tages beendeten sintflutartige Regenfälle die Operation Goodwood. Montgomery war gezwungen, die Operation zu beenden. Sie war ein Fehlschlag: Die anglo-kanadischen Truppen verloren 400 Panzer - viermal mehr als die deutschen Truppen - und fast 6.000 Mann, bei einem Vorstoß von 11 km.Im Jahr 2019 wurde in Bourguébus eine Orientierungstafel aufgestellt, die die Besucher über den Verlauf der Operation Goodwood informiert. In het oosten moest het 1e Britse Korps het bruggenhoofd dat op 6 juni door de parachutisten was veroverd, verbreden door op te rukken naar Troarn en Bavent.Van daaruit leidde het 8ste Britse Korps in groepen naar de vlakte van Caen en Falaise, terwijl het 2de Canadese Korps de rivier de Orne overstak tussen Blainville en Louvigny, om de rechteroever van Caen te bevoorraden.Om 5u30 gingen intense luchtbombardementen de aanval vooraf: 6.000 ton bommen werden afgeworpen aan weerszijden van de corridor van de pantserdivisies.Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannerville, Touffréville en Giberville werden in de as gelegd, maar de Duitse stellingen werden hard getroffen.Mindermdan drie uur later gingen 75.000 mannen de strijd aan, aangevoerd door de Britse 11de Pantserdivisie. De 6 km lange voortgang over de vlakte werd echter al snel gestopt ter hoogte van de spoorlijn Caen-Parijs. 88mm kanonnen en tanks verschansten zich in de ruïnes van Cagny en openden het vuur. De heuvelrug van Bourguébus werd stevig vastgehouden door de strijdkrachten en aan het eind van de dag was dit de grens van de opmars. Tegelijkertijd kon de 2de Canadese Divisie de rivieren Orne en Odon oversteken en vestigde twee bruggenhoofden bij Vaucelles en Louvigny.In de volgende twee dagen rukten de Geallieerden op van dorp tot dorp en dwongen het Duitse front zich terug te trekken. Op 19 juli werd de rechteroever van Caen bevrijd en op dezelfde dag werden Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal en Fleury-sur-Orne bevrijd door Canadese troepen. Ten oosten van het front herwonnen Four, Soliers en Hubert-Folie ook hun vrijheid. Op 20 juli werden Émiéville en Frénouville ingenomen door de bewakers van de 32ste Brigade, terwijl Bourguébus eindelijk werd bevrijd door de 7de Pantserdivisie na twee dagen vechten. Ten zuiden van Caen slaagde de 2de Canadese Infanteriedivisie er opnieuw niet in om de heuvelrug van Verrières te veroveren. Aan het eind van de dag maakten stortregens een einde aan Operatie Goodwood. Montgomery werd gedwongen de operatie te beëindigen.Het was een mislukking: de Anglo-Canadese troepen verloren 400 tanks - vier keer meer dan de Duitse troepen - en bijna 6.000 man, voor een opmars van 11 km.In 2019 werd in Bourguébus een oriëntatietafel geïnstalleerd die bezoekers informeert over het verloop van Operatie Goodwood. Aest, il 1° Corpo britannico doveva ampliare la testa di ponte conquistata dai paracadutisti il 6 giugno, spingendosi verso Troarn e Bavent.Da lì, l'8° Corpo britannico si diresse in forze verso la pianura di Caen e Falaise, mentre il 2° Corpo canadese attraversò il fiume Orne tra Blainville e Louvigny, per raggiungere la riva destra di Caen.Alle5:30, intensi bombardamenti aerei precedettero l'attacco: 6.000 tonnellate di bombe furono sganciate su entrambi i lati del corridoio delle divisioni corazzate.Mondeville, Colombelles, Sannille, Touffréville e Giberville furono ridotte in cenere, ma le posizioni tedesche furono colpite duramente.Menodi tre ore dopo, 75.000 uomini entrarono in battaglia guidati dall'11ª Divisione corazzata britannica. Tuttavia, l'avanzata iniziata per oltre 6 km attraverso la pianura fu presto fermata all'altezza della ferrovia Caen-Parigi. I cannoni da 88 mm e i carri armati trincerati nelle rovine di Cagny aprirono il fuoco. La cresta di Bourguébus era solidamente tenuta dalle forze avversarie e alla fine della giornata segnò il limite dell'avanzata. Allo stesso tempo, la 2ª Divisione canadese riuscì ad attraversare i fiumi Orne e Odon e a stabilire due teste di ponte a Vaucelles e Louvigny.Nei due giorni successivi, gli Alleati avanzarono di villaggio in villaggio, costringendo il fronte tedesco a ritirarsi. Il 19 luglio, la riva destra di Caen fu liberata e lo stesso giorno Louvigny, Ifs, Cormelles-le-Royal e Fleury-sur-Orne furono liberate dalle truppe canadesi. A est del fronte, anche Four, Soliers e Hubert-Folie riconquistarono la libertà. Il 20 luglio, Émiéville e Frénouville furono conquistate dalle guardie della 32ª Brigata, mentre Bourguébus fu finalmente liberata dalla 7ª Divisione corazzata dopo due giorni di combattimenti. A sud di Caen, la 2ª Divisione di fanteria canadese non riuscì ancora una volta a conquistare la cresta di Verrières. Alla fine della giornata, le piogge torrenziali misero fine all'operazione Goodwood. Montgomery fu costretto a terminare l'operazione.Fu un fallimento: le truppe anglo-canadesi persero 400 carri armati - quattro volte più delle truppe tedesche - e quasi 6.000 uomini, per un'avanzata di 11 km.Nel2019, a Bourguébus è stato installato un tavolo di orientamento che informa i visitatori sui progressi dell'operazione Goodwood.

 L’Opération Goodwood: la plus grande bataille de chars en Normandie ​​Operation Goodwood: largest tank battle in Normandy of the Second World War​ Operatie Goodwood: grootste tankslag in Normandië van de Tweede Wereldoorlog Operation Goodwood: größte Panzerschlacht des Zweiten Weltkriegs in der Normandie Operazione Goodwood: la più grande battaglia di carri armati in Normandia della Seconda guerra mondiale

​​During occupation, Geheime Staatspolizei, (Gestapo, secret police) operated here. A feared organisation, they tried to stamp its authority on the community, carrying out operations to find anyone active in resistance networks. Suspects were detained and brought here for questioning. Reports from civilians stated they heard screams and cries from those tortured within cells and interview rooms here.​There were acts of resistance early on, on 9 June 1940 the dock area along the river was damaged to try to prevent its use by the occupiers.​The Gestapo formed networks of civilian collaborators, including men and women from different backgrounds and social circles. Those used by the Gestapo reported back on civil matters as well as those connected to resistance networks. For those persecuted by the Gestapo, consequences included being killed or sent off to internment camps. In many cases the latter also led to death, through hard labour or disease. Those that helped the Gestapo were rewarded, no doubt believing it would make their lives easier. In general, the Norman people did not suffer food shortages like other areas across Europe. The region was rich in agriculture; however, some restrictions were implemented. There were curfews for civilians and identity document inspections. They tried to continue their lives as normal. ​One man the Gestapo could not catch was Philippe Liewer, who set up a resistance group within the city in April 1943. On 19 April 1944, the Gestapo Headquarters building was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid, ending their use of it. Their time in the city was fast approaching an end.​In August Canadian forces entered the city. On 31 August 1944 at 07:25, the Canadian 9th Infantry Brigade advanced eastwards through Rouen. The streets were lined with joyous civilians celebrating liberation following four years of occupation. Soldiers from the Brigade Headquarters halted at the Marie de Bois-Guilaume, Place de la Liberation, in the northeast outskirts of the city. For some Canadian soldiers this was their first time witnessing repercussions for those who had collaborated. An alleged collaborator was paraded in front of people, greeted with jeers, and people began to cheer as her hair was cut. This was to show to all that she had collaborated, an action that was repeated in many towns and cities across Europe during the liberation.​For years after, local Police investigated people of interest for collaboration against France during the war, with prosecutions bought to those found guilty.​

​Rue du Donjon, Rouen, where the Gestapo Headquarters in Rouen from 1940 44​

​4 Rue du Donjon​

​Photo taken from the spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Rouen​

​View of Roeun with the Donjon/Joan of Arc tower​

​Memorial at the bottom of Donjon/Joan of Arc tower in Rouen (Seine-Maritime, France)​

​The ”Donjon” of Rouen, also called the Joan of Arc tower, was used by German forces during the Second World War.​

 "Donjon" of Rouen

​Gestapo HQ and Collaborators in Rouen​

​​During occupation, Geheime Staatspolizei, (Gestapo, secret police) operated here. A feared organisation, they tried to stamp its authority on the community, carrying out operations to find anyone active in resistance networks. Suspects were detained and brought here for questioning. Reports from civilians stated they heard screams and cries from those tortured within cells and interview rooms here.​There were acts of resistance early on, on 9 June 1940 the dock area along the river was damaged to try to prevent its use by the occupiers.​The Gestapo formed networks of civilian collaborators, including men and women from different backgrounds and social circles. Those used by the Gestapo reported back on civil matters as well as those connected to resistance networks. For those persecuted by the Gestapo, consequences included being killed or sent off to internment camps. In many cases the latter also led to death, through hard labour or disease. Those that helped the Gestapo were rewarded, no doubt believing it would make their lives easier. In general, the Norman people did not suffer food shortages like other areas across Europe. The region was rich in agriculture; however, some restrictions were implemented. There were curfews for civilians and identity document inspections. They tried to continue their lives as normal. ​One man the Gestapo could not catch was Philippe Liewer, who set up a resistance group within the city in April 1943. On 19 April 1944, the Gestapo Headquarters building was destroyed in an Allied bombing raid, ending their use of it. Their time in the city was fast approaching an end.​In August Canadian forces entered the city. On 31 August 1944 at 07:25, the Canadian 9th Infantry Brigade advanced eastwards through Rouen. The streets were lined with joyous civilians celebrating liberation following four years of occupation. Soldiers from the Brigade Headquarters halted at the Marie de Bois-Guilaume, Place de la Liberation, in the northeast outskirts of the city. For some Canadian soldiers this was their first time witnessing repercussions for those who had collaborated. An alleged collaborator was paraded in front of people, greeted with jeers, and people began to cheer as her hair was cut. This was to show to all that she had collaborated, an action that was repeated in many towns and cities across Europe during the liberation.​For years after, local Police investigated people of interest for collaboration against France during the war, with prosecutions bought to those found guilty.​ Pendant l'occupation, la Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo, police secrète) opérait ici. Organisation redoutée, elle a tenté d'imposer son autorité à la population locale, en menant des opérations pour trouver toute personne active dans les réseaux de résistance. Les suspects étaient arrêtés et amenés ici pour être interrogés. Des civils ont déclaré avoir entendu des cris et des pleurs des personnes torturées dans les cellules et les salles d'interrogatoire.Le 9 juin 1940, la zone des docks le long du fleuve fut endommagée afin d'empêcher les occupants de l'utiliser.La Gestapo a formé des réseaux de collaborateurs civils, comprenant des hommes et des femmes de différents milieux et cercles sociaux. Ceux qui étaient utilisés par la Gestapo faisaient des rapports sur les affaires civiles, tout comme ceux qui étaient liés à des réseaux de résistance. Pour les personnes persécutées par la Gestapo, les conséquences comprenaient l'assassinat ou l'envoi dans des camps d'internement. Dans de nombreux cas, cette dernière option conduisait également à la mort, par des travaux forcés ou des maladies.Ceux qui aident la Gestapo sont récompensés, pensant sans doute que cela leur facilitera la vie. En général, le peuple normand n'a pas souffert de pénuries alimentaires comme d'autres régions d'Europe, la région étant riche en agriculture. Toutefois certaines restrictions sont mises en place. Des couvre-feux ont été instaurés pour les civils et des contrôles de documents d'identité ont été effectués. Un homme que la Gestapo n'a pas pu attraper est Philippe Liewer, qui a créé un groupe de résistance dans la ville en avril 1943. Le 19 avril 1944, le bâtiment du quartier général de la Gestapo est détruit lors d'un bombardement allié, ce qui met fin à son utilisation. Leur séjour dans la ville touche rapidement à sa fin.En août, les forces canadiennes entrent dans la ville. Le 31 août 1944 à 7 h 25, la 9e brigade d'infanterie canadienne avance vers l'est à travers Rouen. Les rues sont bordées de civils joyeux qui célèbrent la libération après quatre années d'occupation.Les soldats du quartier général de la brigade s'arrêtèrent à la Marie de Bois-Guilaume, place de la Libération, dans les faubourgs nord-est de la ville. Pour certains soldats canadiens, c'est la première fois qu'ils sont témoins des répercussions pour ceux qui ont collaboré. Une collaboratrice présumée est exhibée devant les gens, accueillie par des huées, et les gens commencent à applaudir lorsqu'on lui coupe les cheveux. C'était pour montrer à tous qu'elle avait collaboré, une action qui s'est répétée dans de nombreuses villes d'Europe pendant la libération.Pendant les années qui ont suivi, la police locale a enquêté sur des personnes d'intérêt pour collaboration avec la France pendant la guerre, et des poursuites ont été engagées contre les personnes reconnues coupables. Während der Besatzungszeit operierte hier die Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo). Diese gefürchtete Organisation versuchte, ihre Autorität über die Bevölkerung durchzusetzen, insbesondere durch Operationen zur Aufspürung von Mitgliedern der Widerstandsbewegung. Verdächtige Personen wurden festgenommen und zur Vernehmung in dieses Gebäude gebracht. Zivilistinnen und Zivilisten berichteten, dass aus den Zellen und Verhörzimmern Schreie und Weinen der Gefolterten zu hören waren.Widerstand gab es bereits früh: Am 9. Juni 1940 wurde das Hafengebiet am Flussufer beschädigt, um es für die Besatzer unbrauchbar zu machen.Die Gestapo baute ein Netz ziviler Kollaborateure auf – Männer und Frauen aus verschiedenen sozialen Schichten. Diese informierten über zivile Angelegenheiten ebenso wie über Aktivitäten von Widerstandsnetzwerken. Für die von der Gestapo verfolgten Personen bedeutete das in vielen Fällen den Tod – sei es durch Hinrichtung oder durch Deportation in Internierungslager, wo viele durch Zwangsarbeit oder Krankheit starben.Jene, die der Gestapo halfen, wurden belohnt – vermutlich in der Hoffnung, ihr eigenes Leben dadurch zu erleichtern. In der Normandie litten die Menschen im Vergleich zu anderen Regionen Europas weniger unter Nahrungsmittelknappheit, da die Region landwirtschaftlich reich war. Dennoch galten auch hier Einschränkungen: nächtliche Ausgangssperren und Ausweiskontrollen gehörten zum Alltag. Die Menschen versuchten, ein normales Leben aufrechtzuerhalten.Einer, den die Gestapo nie fassen konnte, war Philippe Liewer, der im April 1943 eine Widerstandsgruppe in Rouen aufbaute. Am 19. April 1944 wurde das Gestapo-Hauptquartier durch einen alliierten Bombenangriff zerstört – damit endete seine Nutzung durch die Besatzer. Ihre Zeit in der Stadt ging rasch dem Ende entgegen.Im August 1944 marschierten kanadische Truppen in Rouen ein. Am 31. August 1944 um 07:25 Uhr rückte die 9. Kanadische Infanteriebrigade von Westen her durch die Stadt vor. Die Straßen waren gesäumt von jubelnden Zivilisten, die das Ende von vier Jahren Besatzung feierten.Soldaten des Brigadestabs machten Halt an der Mairie de Bois-Guillaume, Place de la Libération, im Nordosten der Stadt. Für manche von ihnen war es das erste Mal, dass sie die Folgen für Kollaborateure erlebten: Eine mutmaßliche Kollaborateurin wurde vor der Menge vorgeführt, mit Spott und Buhrufen empfangen – dann schnitt man ihr öffentlich die Haare ab. Diese Handlung diente als Zeichen der Bestrafung für Zusammenarbeit mit dem Feind – eine Szene, die sich in vielen Städten Europas während der Befreiung wiederholte.In den Jahren nach dem Krieg untersuchte die örtliche Polizei zahlreiche Kollaborationsfälle. Wer der Zusammenarbeit mit dem Feind überführt wurde, musste sich strafrechtlich verantworten. Tijdens de bezetting opereerde hier de Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo, geheime politie). Als gevreesde organisatie probeerden ze hun autoriteit op de gemeenschap te vestigen en voerden ze operaties uit om iedereen te vinden die actief was in verzetsnetwerken. Verdachten werden opgepakt en hierheen gebracht voor ondervraging. Verslagen van burgers verklaarden dat ze geschreeuw en geschreeuw hoorden van mensen die gemarteld werden in cellen en verhoorkamers.Er waren al vroeg verzetsdaden, op 9 juni 1940 werd het havengebied langs de rivier beschadigd om te voorkomen dat de bezetters het zouden gebruiken.De Gestapo vormde netwerken van burgerlijke collaborateurs, waaronder mannen en vrouwen met verschillende achtergronden en sociale kringen. Degenen die door de Gestapo werden gebruikt, brachten verslag uit over burgerlijke zaken en degenen die verbonden waren met verzetsnetwerken. Voor degenen die door de Gestapo werden vervolgd, waren de gevolgen onder andere dat ze werden vermoord of naar interneringskampen werden gestuurd. In veel gevallen leidde dit laatste ook tot de dood, door dwangarbeid of ziekte.Degenen die de Gestapo hielpen werden beloond, ongetwijfeld in de overtuiging dat dit hun leven gemakkelijker zou maken. Over het algemeen had het Normandische volk geen last van voedseltekorten zoals andere gebieden in Europa. De regio was rijk aan landbouw, maar er werden wel enkele beperkingen opgelegd. Er waren uitgaansverboden voor burgers en inspecties van identiteitsdocumenten. Ze probeerden hun leven gewoon voort te zetten.Eén man die de Gestapo niet te pakken kreeg was Philippe Liewer, die in april 1943 een verzetsgroep in de stad oprichtte. Op 19 april 1944 werd het hoofdkwartier van de Gestapo vernietigd tijdens een geallieerd bombardement, waardoor er een einde kwam aan het gebruik ervan. Hun tijd in de stad naderde snel zijn einde.In augustus trokken Canadese troepen de stad binnen. Op 31 augustus 1944 om 07.25 uur rukte de Canadese 9th Infantry Brigade oostwaarts op door Rouen. De straten waren bezaaid met vreugdevolle burgers die de bevrijding vierden na vier jaar bezetting.Soldaten van het hoofdkwartier van de brigade hielden halt bij de Marie de Bois-Guilaume, Place de la Liberation, in de noordoostelijke buitenwijken van de stad. Voor sommige Canadese soldaten was dit de eerste keer dat ze getuige waren van repercussies voor diegenen die hadden gecollaboreerd. Een vermeende collaborateur werd voor de mensen neergezet, begroet met hoongelach en de mensen begonnen te juichen toen haar haar werd afgeknipt. Dit was om aan iedereen te laten zien dat ze had gecollaboreerd, een actie die tijdens de bevrijding in veel steden in heel Europa werd herhaald.Jarenlang deed de plaatselijke politie onderzoek naar mensen die van belang waren voor collaboratie tegen Frankrijk tijdens de oorlog, en degenen die schuldig werden bevonden, werden vervolgd. Durante l'occupazione, qui operava la Geheime Staatspolizei(Gestapo, polizia segreta). Un'organizzazione temuta, che cercava di imporre la propria autorità sulla comunità, conducendo operazioni per trovare chiunque fosse attivo nelle reti di resistenza. I sospetti venivano arrestati e portati qui per essere interrogati. I resoconti dei civili hanno dichiarato di aver sentito urla e pianti di coloro che venivano torturati nelle celle e nelle sale interrogatori.All'iniziocifurono atti di resistenza: il 9 giugno 1940 l'area del molo lungo il fiume fu danneggiata per cercare di impedirne l'uso da parte degli occupanti.LaGestapo formò reti di collaboratori civili, tra cui uomini e donne provenienti da ambienti e circoli sociali diversi. Quelli utilizzati dalla Gestapo riferivano su questioni civili, così come quelli collegati alle reti della resistenza. Per coloro che venivano perseguitati dalla Gestapo, le conseguenze erano l'uccisione o l'invio nei campi di internamento. In molti casi, quest'ultimo portava anche alla morte, attraverso i lavori forzati o le malattie.Coloroche aiutavano la Gestapo venivano ricompensati, senza dubbio credendo che ciò avrebbe reso loro la vita più facile. In generale, il popolo normanno non soffrì di carenze alimentari come altre zone d'Europa. La regione era ricca di agricoltura; tuttavia, furono attuate alcune restrizioni. Ci furono coprifuoco per i civili e ispezioni dei documenti d'identità. Si cercò di continuare a vivere normalmente.Unuomo che la Gestapo non riuscì a catturare fu Philippe Liewer, che nell'aprile del 1943 creò un gruppo di resistenza all'interno della città. Il 19 aprile 1944, l'edificio del quartier generale della Gestapo fu distrutto da un bombardamento alleato, ponendo fine al suo utilizzo. La loro permanenza in città si avvicinava rapidamente alla fine.Inagosto le forze canadesi entrarono in città. Il 31 agosto 1944, alle 07:25, la 9ª Brigata di fanteria canadese avanzò verso est attraverso Rouen. Le strade erano piene di civili festanti che festeggiavano la liberazione dopo quattro anni di occupazione.I soldatidel Quartier Generale della Brigata si fermarono alla Marie de Bois-Guilaume, Place de la Liberation, nella periferia nord-est della città. Per alcuni soldati canadesi fu la prima volta che assistettero alle ripercussioni per coloro che avevano collaborato. Una presunta collaborazionista è stata fatta sfilare davanti alla gente, accolta con grida di scherno, e la gente ha iniziato ad applaudire quando le sono stati tagliati i capelli. Questo per dimostrare a tutti che aveva collaborato, un'azione che si ripeté in molte città d'Europa durante la liberazione.Peranni, la polizia locale indagò su persone interessanti per collaborazione contro la Francia durante la guerra, con procedimenti giudiziari nei confronti di coloro che erano stati riconosciuti colpevoli.

 Gestapo hoofdkwartier en medewerkers in Rouen ​Gestapo HQ and Collaborators in Rouen​ Gestapo-Hauptquartier und Kollaborateure in Rouen QG de la Gestapo et collaborateurs à Rouen Quartier generale della Gestapo e collaboratori a Rouen

​​The last stages of the Battle of Normandy led to the capture of Caen and the closing of the Falaise pocket. The Bretteville-sur-Laize cemetery was established in 1944 to give a permanent resting place for the Canadian soldiers who fought during the battles around Saint André-sur-Orne (July 1944) and the battle of the Falaise pocket (August 1944). Those who had been temporarily buried close to where they fell were finally given a proper burial.​This cemetery marks a resting place for the Canadians fell during the second phase of the Battle of Normandy, whilst the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery situated near Juno Beach covers those who fell during the first phase in June to July 1944.A Stone of Remembrance is place in front of the entrance arch, and a Stone of Sacrifice in the middle of the cemetery.The cemetery is located on the N158 road between Caen and Falaise, about 14 km from Caen, in the commune of Cintheaux.

cemetery3.jpg

cemetery1.jpg

cemetery2.jpg

bretteville_cemetery_panoramicwiki.jpg

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery

​​The last stages of the Battle of Normandy led to the capture of Caen and the closing of the Falaise pocket. The Bretteville-sur-Laize cemetery was established in 1944 to give a permanent resting place for the Canadian soldiers who fought during the battles around Saint André-sur-Orne (July 1944) and the battle of the Falaise pocket (August 1944). Those who had been temporarily buried close to where they fell were finally given a proper burial.​This cemetery marks a resting place for the Canadians fell during the second phase of the Battle of Normandy, whilst the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery situated near Juno Beach covers those who fell during the first phase in June to July 1944.A Stone of Remembrance is place in front of the entrance arch, and a Stone of Sacrifice in the middle of the cemetery.The cemetery is located on the N158 road between Caen and Falaise, about 14 km from Caen, in the commune of Cintheaux. Les dernières étapes de la bataille de Normandie ont conduit à la prise de Caen et à la fermeture de la poche de Falaise. Le cimetière de Bretteville-sur-Laize a été créé en 1944 pour donner un lieu de repos permanent aux soldats canadiens qui ont combattu lors des batailles autour de Saint André-sur-Orne (juillet 1944) et de la bataille de la poche de Falaise (août 1944).Ceux qui avaient été temporairement enterrés à proximité de l'endroit où ils étaient tombés ont désormais une sépulture digne de ce nom. Ce cimetière est le lieu de repos des Canadiens tombés lors de la deuxième phase de la bataille de Normandie, tandis que le cimetière de guerre canadien de Beny-Sur-Mer, situé près de Juno Beach, accueille ceux tombés lors de la première phase, en juin-juillet 1944.Une pierre du souvenir se trouve devant l'arche d'entrée, et une pierre du sacrifice se trouve au milieu du cimetière. Le cimetière est situé sur la route N158 entre Caen et Falaise, à environ 14 km de Caen, sur la commune de Cintheaux. Die letzten Etappen der Schlacht in der Normandie führten zur Einnahme von Caen und zur Schließung des Falaise-Kessels. Der Friedhof von Bretteville-sur-Laize wurde 1944 angelegt, um den kanadischen Soldaten, die in den Schlachten um Saint-André-sur-Orne (Juli 1944) und in der Schlacht um den Falaise-Kessel (August 1944) gekämpft hatten, eine dauerhafte Ruhestätte zu bieten.Diejenigen, die vorübergehend in der Nähe der Orte, an denen sie gefallen waren, begraben worden waren, erhielten nun ein ordentliches Begräbnis. Auf diesem Friedhof ruhen die Kanadier, die in der zweiten Phase der Schlacht in der Normandie gefallen sind, während der Kanadische Soldatenfriedhof Beny-Sur-Mer in der Nähe von Juno Beach die Gefallenen der ersten Phase von Juni bis Juli 1944 beherbergt.Ein Gedenkstein befindet sich vor dem Eingangsbogen, ein Opferstein in der Mitte des Friedhofs. Der Friedhof liegt an der Straße N158 zwischen Caen und Falaise, etwa 14 km von Caen entfernt, in der Gemeinde Cintheaux. De laatste fasen van de Slag om Normandië leidden tot de verovering van Caen en de sluiting van de zak van Falaise. De begraafplaats van Bretteville-sur-Laize werd in 1944 opgericht om een permanente rustplaats te geven aan de Canadese soldaten die vochten tijdens de gevechten rond Saint André-sur-Orne (juli 1944) en de slag om de zak van Falaise (augustus 1944).Degenen die tijdelijk waren begraven in de buurt van waar ze sneuvelden, kregen nu een fatsoenlijke begrafenis. Deze begraafplaats is een rustplaats voor de Canadezen die tijdens de tweede fase van de Slag om Normandië sneuvelden, terwijl de Canadese oorlogsbegraafplaats van Beny-Sur-Mer bij Juno Beach degenen herbergt die tijdens de eerste fase in juni-juli 1944 sneuvelden.Een gedenksteen ligt voor de ingangsboog en een offersteen ligt in het midden van de begraafplaats . De begraafplaats ligt aan de N158 tussen Caen en Falaise, ongeveer 14 km van Caen, in de gemeente Cintheaux. Leultime fasi della battaglia di Normandia portarono alla cattura di Caen e alla chiusura della sacca di Falaise. Il cimitero di Bretteville-sur-Laize fu istituito nel 1944 per dare un luogo di riposo permanente ai soldati canadesi che combatterono durante le battaglie intorno a Saint André-sur-Orne (luglio 1944) e la battaglia della tasca di Falaise (agosto 1944). Coloro che erano stati temporaneamente sepolti vicino al luogo in cui erano caduti hanno finalmente ricevuto una degna sepoltura.Questo cimitero è un luogo di riposo per i canadesi caduti durante la seconda fase della battaglia di Normandia, mentre il cimitero di guerra canadese di Beny-Sur-Mer, situato vicino a Juno Beach, raccoglie i caduti della prima fase, tra giugno e luglio 1944.Una Pietra del Ricordo si trova davanti all'arco d'ingresso e una Pietra del Sacrificio al centro del cimitero.Il cimitero si trova sulla strada N158 tra Caen e Falaise, a circa 14 km da Caen, nel comune di Cintheaux.

 Cimetière de guerre canadien de Bretteville-sur-Laize Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery Kanadischer Soldatenfriedhof von Bretteville-sur-Laize  Canadese begraafplaats Bretteville-sur-Laize  Cimitero di guerra canadese di Bretteville-sur-Laize

​​On 9 August 1944, the Worthington Force unit took part of Operation Totalize, an operation of the last phase of the Battle of Normandy which aimed to reach the Falaise pocket, a group of resisting German troops that were located south of Caen. Worthington and his men were ordered to capture a hill named Point 195. During the night of 8 to 9 August 1944, the unit lost its way in the dark and found itself at Point 140.&nbsp;​The soldiers were left isolated in the middle of enemy lines, leaving them with&nbsp;no resources for help. In the morning, 47 armoured vehicles were destroyed and 112 soldiers perished, along with Lieutenant Colonel Worthington.&nbsp;​The memorial represents the two regiments involved in the event: the British Columbia and the Algonquin. The British Columbia regiment is represented on the large white cross which features the regiment's badge.&nbsp; The Algonquin Regiment’s badge is represented on a marble stele.​

memorial1.jpg

 ​The aerial photograph shows the position occupied by the Worthington Force taken on the morning of August 9 by the Royal Air Force. Canadian tanks and armored personnel carriers are visible in the image.​

500px-worthingtons_field.jpg

​Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Worthington  was the commanding officer of the  British Columbia Regiment.​

worthingtonltcl.png

Memorial Worthington Force

​​On 9 August 1944, the Worthington Force unit took part of Operation Totalize, an operation of the last phase of the Battle of Normandy which aimed to reach the Falaise pocket, a group of resisting German troops that were located south of Caen. Worthington and his men were ordered to capture a hill named Point 195. During the night of 8 to 9 August 1944, the unit lost its way in the dark and found itself at Point 140.&nbsp;​The soldiers were left isolated in the middle of enemy lines, leaving them with&nbsp;no resources for help. In the morning, 47 armoured vehicles were destroyed and 112 soldiers perished, along with Lieutenant Colonel Worthington.&nbsp;​The memorial represents the two regiments involved in the event: the British Columbia and the Algonquin. The British Columbia regiment is represented on the large white cross which features the regiment's badge.&nbsp; The Algonquin Regiment’s badge is represented on a marble stele.​ Le 9 août 1944, l'unité de la Worthington Force participe à l'opération Totalize, une opération de la dernière phase de la bataille de Normandie qui vise à atteindre la poche de Falaise, un groupe de troupes allemandes résistantes situé au sud de Caen. Worthington et ses hommes ont reçu l'ordre de s'emparer d'une colline nommée Point 195. Dans la nuit du 8 au 9 août 1944, l'unité se perd dans l'obscurité et se retrouve au point 140.Les soldats se retrouvent isolés au milieu des lignes ennemies, sans aucune possibilité de secours. Au matin, 47 véhicules blindés sont détruits et 112 soldats périssent, ainsi que le lieutenant-colonel Worthington.Le mémorial représente les deux régiments impliqués dans l'événement : le British Columbia et l'Algonquin.Le British Columbia Regiment est représenté par une grande croix blanche sur laquelle figure son insigne.L'insigne du Algonquin Regiment est représenté sur une stèle de marbre. Am 9. August 1944 nahm die Einheit der Worthington Force an der Operation Totalize teil, einer Operation in der letzten Phase der Schlacht in der Normandie, die darauf abzielte, den Falaise-Kessel zu erreichen, eine Gruppe von deutschen Widerstandstruppen südlich von Caen. Worthington und seine Männer hatten den Auftrag, einen Hügel namens Point 195 einzunehmen. In der Nacht vom 8. auf den 9. August 1944 verirrte sich die Einheit in der Dunkelheit und fand sich bei Punkt 140 wieder.Die Soldaten waren mitten in den feindlichen Linien isoliert und hatten keine Möglichkeit, Hilfe zu erhalten. Am Morgen wurden 47 gepanzerte Fahrzeuge zerstört und 112 Soldaten kamen ums Leben, darunter auch Oberstleutnant Worthington.Das Denkmal stellt die beiden Regimenter dar, die an diesem Ereignis beteiligt waren: das British Columbia und das Algonquin.Das Regiment British Columbia wird durch ein großes weißes Kreuz mit seinem Abzeichen dargestellt.Das Abzeichen des Algonquin-Regiments ist auf einer Marmorstele abgebildet. Op 9 augustus 1944 nam de Worthington Force eenheid deel aan Operatie Totalize, een operatie van de laatste fase van de Slag om Normandië die tot doel had de zak van Falaise te bereiken, een groep weerstand biedende Duitse troepen die zich ten zuiden van Caen bevonden. Worthington en zijn mannen kregen het bevel om een heuvel met de naam Point 195 te veroveren. Tijdens de nacht van 8 op 9 augustus 1944 raakte de eenheid in het donker de weg kwijt en bevond zich bij Point 140. De soldaten werden geïsoleerd achtergelaten in het donker.De soldaten werden geïsoleerd achtergelaten midden in de vijandelijke linies en hadden geen middelen om hulp te halen. In de ochtend werden 47 pantservoertuigen vernietigd en 112 soldaten kwamen om, samen met luitenant-kolonel Worthington.Het monument vertegenwoordigt de twee regimenten die bij de gebeurtenis betrokken waren: het British Columbia en het Algonquin regiment.Het British Columbia regiment wordt vertegenwoordigd door het grote witte kruis met het insigne.Het insigne van het Algonquin regiment is afgebeeld op een marmeren stele.

 Mémorial Worthington Force Memorial Worthington Force Gedenkstätte Worthington Force Gedenkteken Worthington Force

​​​​On the night of 7 August 1944, the first phase of Operation Totalize was triggered by artificial moonlight. 1,000 bombers dropped 3,500 tonnes of bombs on both sides of the Caen-Falaise route. 30 minutes later, an artillery rolling barrage preceded the advance of two infantry divisions: to the east of the road was the 51st British Division, to the west the 2nd Canadian Division, supported by the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. More than 1,000 vehicles and armoured vehicles carrying infantry as close as possible to the Front set off in an indescribable mess. The ridge of Verrières, Tilly-la Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion, and Secqueville were taken, whilst Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil was liberated by the Scots of the 51st Highlands. At midday, new bombings were launched from Bretteville-sur-Laize to Saint-Sylvain. These mistakenly reached some Allied positions: 300 Canadian and Polish soldiers were killed or wounded.The second phase saw the engagement of the Canadian and Polish armoured divisions on both sides of Cintheaux. These units struggled against the 89th German Division and remains of the 12th SS (Schutzstaffel Nazi paramilitary organisation). Under the impulse of Kurt Meyer, the German forces launched a counterattack with 20 Tiger tanks of the 101st SS battalion. The Polish division lost 40 tanks in one day. However, that same day Michael Wittmann, German commander, died under fire from the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry’s tanks. Wittman was known for his 138 victories with his tank against the opposition between 1939 and June 1944.On the evening of 8 August, the advance had covered 7km. Canadian soldiers of the Worthington Force (4th Armoured Brigade) set out for Hill 195. However, confusing their objective with Hill 140, they got lost near Estrées-la-Campagne, before being decimated by a fighting group of the 12th SS. The Polish troops managed to break the German resistance line and entered Estrées-la-Campagne. However, they were quickly counter-attacked and forced to withdraw. They were therefore unable to liberate the village until the night of 10 to 11 August.​Meyer prohibited any access to Falaise by grouping the remains of the 12th SS, tanks of the 101st battalion, and some of the armoured of the 9th SS in front of the wood at Quesnay. The advance stopped more than 10km from the city. On 14 August, Operation Tractable was launched which finally allowed progress towards Falaise.In 2019, an orientation table was installed along the national road 158, at Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, which informs visitors about Operation Totalize.

Tanks in Fontaine-le-Pin

Night bombings on the Caen-Falaise route on the night of 7 to 8 August 1944.​

​Canadian and Polish troops pass through the ruined village of Cintheaux during Operation Totalize.​

Operation Totalize: the break towards Falaise, 7 to 11 August 1944

​​​​On the night of 7 August 1944, the first phase of Operation Totalize was triggered by artificial moonlight. 1,000 bombers dropped 3,500 tonnes of bombs on both sides of the Caen-Falaise route. 30 minutes later, an artillery rolling barrage preceded the advance of two infantry divisions: to the east of the road was the 51st British Division, to the west the 2nd Canadian Division, supported by the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. More than 1,000 vehicles and armoured vehicles carrying infantry as close as possible to the Front set off in an indescribable mess. The ridge of Verrières, Tilly-la Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion, and Secqueville were taken, whilst Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil was liberated by the Scots of the 51st Highlands. At midday, new bombings were launched from Bretteville-sur-Laize to Saint-Sylvain. These mistakenly reached some Allied positions: 300 Canadian and Polish soldiers were killed or wounded.The second phase saw the engagement of the Canadian and Polish armoured divisions on both sides of Cintheaux. These units struggled against the 89th German Division and remains of the 12th SS (Schutzstaffel Nazi paramilitary organisation). Under the impulse of Kurt Meyer, the German forces launched a counterattack with 20 Tiger tanks of the 101st SS battalion. The Polish division lost 40 tanks in one day. However, that same day Michael Wittmann, German commander, died under fire from the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry’s tanks. Wittman was known for his 138 victories with his tank against the opposition between 1939 and June 1944.On the evening of 8 August, the advance had covered 7km. Canadian soldiers of the Worthington Force (4th Armoured Brigade) set out for Hill 195. However, confusing their objective with Hill 140, they got lost near Estrées-la-Campagne, before being decimated by a fighting group of the 12th SS. The Polish troops managed to break the German resistance line and entered Estrées-la-Campagne. However, they were quickly counter-attacked and forced to withdraw. They were therefore unable to liberate the village until the night of 10 to 11 August.​Meyer prohibited any access to Falaise by grouping the remains of the 12th SS, tanks of the 101st battalion, and some of the armoured of the 9th SS in front of the wood at Quesnay. The advance stopped more than 10km from the city. On 14 August, Operation Tractable was launched which finally allowed progress towards Falaise.An orientation table located along the national road 158, at Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, informs visitors about Operation Totalize. La première phase de l’opération Totalize est déclenchée dans la nuit du 7 août 1944, par un clair de lune artificiel. 1 000 bombardiers larguent 3 500 tonnes de bombes de part et d’autre de l’axe Caen-Falaise. Trente minutes plus tard un barrage roulant d’artillerie précède la progression, au centre, des deux divisions d’infanterie : à l’est de la route, la 51e division britannique et à l’ouest, la 2e division canadienne, appuyées par la 2e brigade blindée canadienne. Plus de 1 000 véhicules et blindés transportant l’infanterie au plus près du front, s’élancent dans une pagaille indescriptible. La crête de Verrières, Tilly-la-Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion, Secqueville sont repris, comme Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil libérée par les Écossais de la 51e Highlands. A la mi-journée, de nouveaux bombardements sont déclenchés de Bretteville-sur-Laize à Saint-Sylvain atteignant par erreur certaines positions alliées : 300 Canadiens et Polonais sont alors tués ou blessés.La deuxième phase de l’opération engage des divisons blindées canadiennes et polonaises de part et d’autre de Cintheaux. Peu expérimentées ces unités peinent face à la 89e division allemande et aux restes de la 12e SS. Sous l’impulsion de Kurt Meyer, les Allemands contre-attaquent avec une vingtaine de chars Tigre du 101e bataillon SS de chars lourds. La 1ère DB perd 40 blindés en une journée.Le soir du 8 août, alors que 7 km ont été parcourus, Simonds relance les blindés. Les Canadiens de la Force Worthington (4e DB) s’élancent vers la cote 195. Mais confondant leur objectif avec la cote 140, ils se perdent près d’Estrées-la-Campagne, avant de se faire décimer par un groupe de combat de la 12e SS. Les Polonais réussissent de leur côté à briser la ligne de résistance allemande et entrent dans Estrées-la-Campagne. Rapidement contre-attaqués, et obligés de se replier, ils ne libèreront le village que dans la nuit du 10 au 11 août.En regroupant devant le bois du Quesnay les restes de la 12e SS, les chars lourds du 101e bataillon et quelques blindés de la 9e SS, Kurt Meyer empêchera jusqu’à la fin de l’opération Totalize tout accès vers Falaise. Le 11 août la progression s’est donc arrêtée à plus de 10 km de la ville, sur une ligne Fontaine-le-Pin/Estrées-la-Campagne. Lancée à partir du 14 août 1944, l’opération Tractable permettra enfin l’incursion vers Falaise.En 2019, une table d'orientation située le long de la route nationale 158, à Saint-Aignan-de-Crasmenil, informe les visiteurs sur l'opération Totalize. In der Nacht des 7. August 1944 wurde die erste Phase der Operation Totalize durch künstliches Mondlicht ausgelöst. 1.000 Bomber warfen 3.500 Tonnen Bomben auf beiden Seiten der Strecke Caen-Falaise ab. Dreißig Minuten später ging dem Vormarsch von zwei Infanteriedivisionen ein Artillerie-Sperrfeuer voraus: östlich der Straße die 51. britische Division, westlich die 2. kanadische Division, unterstützt von der 2. kanadischen Panzerbrigade. Mehr als 1.000 Fahrzeuge und gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, die die Infanterie so nah wie möglich an die Front brachten, setzten sich in einem unbeschreiblichen Durcheinander in Bewegung. Die Höhenzüge von Verrières, Tilly-la Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion und Secqueville wurden eingenommen, während Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil von den Schotten der 51. Highlands befreit wurde. Um die Mittagszeit wurden neue Bombardierungen von Bretteville-sur-Laize bis Saint-Sylvain eingeleitet. Diese erreichten irrtümlich einige alliierte Stellungen: 300 kanadische und polnische Soldaten wurden getötet oder verwundet.In der zweiten Phase wurden die kanadischen und polnischen Panzerdivisionen auf beiden Seiten von Cintheaux eingesetzt. Diese Einheiten kämpften gegen die 89. deutsche Division und Reste der 12. SS. Unter dem Kommando von Kurt Meyer starteten die deutschen Truppen einen Gegenangriff mit zwanzig Tiger-Panzern des 101. SS-Bataillons. Die polnische Division verlor an einem Tag 40 Panzer. Am selben Tag jedoch starb Michael Wittmann, der deutsche Kommandeur, unter dem Beschuss der Panzer der 1. Northamptonshire Yeomanry. Wittmann war bekannt für seine 138 Siege mit seinem Panzer zwischen 1939 und Juni 1944.Am Abend des 8. August 1944 hatte der Vormarsch 7 km zurückgelegt. Die Kanadier der Worthington Force (4. Panzerbrigade) machten sich auf den Weg zum Hügel 195. Da sie ihr Ziel jedoch mit dem Hügel 140 verwechselten, verirrten sie sich in der Nähe von Estrées-la-Campagne und wurden von einer Kampfgruppe der 12. SS dezimiert. Den polnischen Truppen gelang es, die deutsche Widerstandslinie zu durchbrechen und in Estrées-la-Campagne einzudringen. Sie wurden jedoch schnell zurückgeschlagen und zum Rückzug gezwungen. Daher konnten sie das Dorf erst in der Nacht vom 10. auf den 11. August 1944 befreien.Meyer verhinderte den Zugang zu Falaise, indem er die Reste der 12. SS, Panzer des 101. Bataillons und einen Teil der Panzer der 9. SS vor dem Wald von Quesnay zusammenzog. Der Vormarsch wird mehr als 10 km vor der Stadt gestoppt. Am 14. August wird die Operation Tractable eingeleitet, die schließlich den Vormarsch auf Falaise ermöglichte.Seit dem Jahr 2019 informiert eine Orientierungstafel an der Nationalstraße 158 in Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil über die Operation Totalize. In de nacht van 7 augustus 1944 werd de eerste fase van Operatie Totalize in gang gezet door kunstmatig maanlicht. 1.000 bommenwerpers lieten 3.500 ton bommen vallen aan beide kanten van de route Caen-Falaise. Dertig minuten later ging een rollend spervuur van de artillerie vooraf aan de opmars van twee infanteriedivisies: ten oosten van de weg de 51ste Britse Divisie, ten westen de 2de Canadese Divisie, ondersteund door de 2de Canadese Pantserbrigade .Meer dan 1.000 voertuigen en pantservoertuigen met infanterie zo dicht mogelijk bij het front vertrokken in een onbeschrijfelijke chaos. De heuvelrug van Verrières, Tilly-la Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion en Secqueville werden ingenomen, terwijl Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil bevrijd werd door de Schotten van de 51ste Highlands. Tegen de middag werden nieuwe bombardementen gelanceerd van Bretteville-sur-Laize naar Saint-Sylvain. Deze bereikten per ongeluk enkele geallieerde stellingen: 300 Canadese en Poolse soldaten werden gedood of gewond.In de tweede fase werden de Canadese en Poolse pantserdivisies aan beide kanten van Cintheaux ingezet. Deze eenheden streden tegen de 89ste Duitse Divisie en overblijfselen van de 12de SS. Onder impuls van Kurt Meyer lanceerden de Duitse troepen een tegenaanval met twintig Tiger tanks van het 101ste SS bataljon. De Poolse divisie verloor 40 tanks in één dag. Diezelfde dag echter stierf Michael Wittmann, de Duitse bevelhebber, onder vuur van de tanks van de 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. Wittman stond bekend om zijn 138 overwinningen met zijn tank tegen de oppositie tussen 1939 en juni 1944.Op de avond van 8 augustus had de opmars 7 km afgelegd. Canadezen van de Worthington Force (4th Armoured Brigade) zetten koers naar Hill 195. Maar omdat ze hun doel verwarden met Hill 140, verdwaalden ze in de buurt van Estrées-la-Campagne en werden ze gedecimeerd door een gevechtsgroep van de 12de SS. De Poolse troepen slaagden erin de Duitse weerstandslinie te doorbreken en trokken Estrées-la-Campagne binnen. Ze kregen echter snel een tegenaanval en werden gedwongen zich terug te trekken. Daarom konden ze het dorp pas in de nacht van 10 op 11 augustus bevrijden.Meyer verbood elke toegang tot Falaise door de overblijfselen van de 12de SS, tanks van het 101ste bataljon en enkele pantsers van de 9de SS te groeperen voor het bos bij Quesnay. De opmars stopte op meer dan 10 km van de stad. Op 14 augustus werd Operatie Trekbaar gelanceerd die eindelijk vooruitgang naar Falaise mogelijk zou maken.In 2019 informeert een oriëntatietafel langs de nationale weg 158, in Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, bezoekers over Operatie Totalize. Lanotte del 7 agosto 1944, la prima fase dell'Operazione Totalize fu innescata dalla luce artificiale della luna. 1.000 bombardieri sganciarono 3.500 tonnellate di bombe su entrambi i lati della rotta Caen-Falaise. Trentaminuti dopo, uno sbarramento di artiglieria precedette l'avanzata di due divisioni di fanteria: a est della strada c'era la 51ª Divisione britannica, a ovest la 2ª Divisione canadese, supportata dalla 2ª Brigata corazzata canadese.Più di 1.000 veicoli e mezzi corazzati che trasportavano la fanteria il più vicino possibile al fronte si misero in marcia in una confusione indescrivibile. Vennero prese le creste di Verrières, Tilly-la Campagne, May-sur-Orne, Fontenay-le-Marmion e Secqueville, mentre Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil fu liberata dagli scozzesi del 51° Highlands. A mezzogiorno furono lanciati nuovi bombardamenti da Bretteville-sur-Laize a Saint-Sylvain. Questi raggiunsero per errore alcune posizioni alleate: 300 soldati canadesi e polacchi furono uccisi o feriti.La seconda fase vide l'impegno delle divisioni corazzate canadesi e polacche su entrambi i lati di Cintheaux. Queste unità lottarono contro l'89ª Divisione tedesca e i resti della 12ª SS. Sotto l'impulso di Kurt Meyer, le forze tedesche lanciarono un contrattacco con venti carri armati Tiger del 101° battaglione SS. La divisione polacca perse 40 carri armati in un solo giorno. Tuttavia, quello stesso giorno Michael Wittmann, comandante tedesco, morì sotto il fuoco dei carri armati del 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry. Wittman era noto per le sue 138 vittorie con i carri armati contro l'opposizione tra il 1939 e il giugno 1944.La sera dell'8 agosto, l'avanzata aveva percorso 7 km. I canadesi della Forza Worthington (4a Brigata corazzata) si diressero verso la Collina 195.Tuttavia, confondendo il loro obiettivo con la collina 140, si persero nei pressi di Estrées-la-Campagne, prima di essere decimati da un gruppo di combattimento delle 12° SS. Le truppe polacche riuscirono a rompere la linea di resistenza tedesca ed entrarono a Estrées-la-Campagne.Tuttavia, furono rapidamente contrattaccate e costrette a ritirarsi. Non riuscirono quindi a liberare il villaggio fino alla notte tra il 10 e l'11 agosto.Meyervietò l'accesso a Falaise raggruppando i resti della 12ª SS, i carri armati del 101° battaglione e alcuni corazzati della 9ª SS davanti al bosco di Quesnay. L'avanzata si fermò a più di 10 km dalla città. Il 14 agosto fu lanciata l'Operazione Tractable, che avrebbe finalmente permesso di avanzare verso Falaise.Nel 2019, una tabella di orientamento situata lungo la strada nazionale 158, a Saint-Aignan-de-Cramesnil, informa i visitatori sull'operazione Totalize.

 ​​L’opération Totalize: la rupture vers Falaise, 7 au 11 août 1944 Operation Totalize: the break towards Falaise, 7 to 11 August 1944. Operatie Totalize: de doorbraak naar Falaise, 7 tot 11 augustus 1944. Operation Totalize: der Durchbruch nach Falaise, 7. bis 11. August 1944. Operazione Totalize: la fuga verso Falaise, dal 7 all'11 agosto 1944

As the Allies pushed towards the city of Falaise, the front was reinforced in the North with the arrival of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade consisting of 2,200 men (including 350 from Luxembourg) and 500 vehicles, who landed on 8 August at Courseulles and Arromanches.The unit was formed in early 1943 in England by the Belgian Prime Minister in exile. It reunited the various Belgian ground force units hither to dispersed within the British Army: survivors from 1940, volunteers from the colonies and Legionnaires from North Africa. In command was Jean-Baptiste Piron, former soldier of World War I and officer in the Belgian army in 1940. Taken prisoner by the German forces, he escaped and fled to England.The Brigade’s baptism of fire took place on 16 August 1944 in the east of the Orne, in the sector occupied by the British 6th Airborne Division. Killed in Sallenelles during the assault, the soldier Edward Gerard was the first Belgian victim in Normandy. As the Falaise pocket closed in on the enemy, Operation Paddle – with the objective of reaching the River Seine – was launched from the right bank of the River Orne. British and Canadian troops pushed through the Pays d'Auge, while the Brigade of Colonel Piron progressed along the coast of Calvados, liberating the towns of Franceville and Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville and Honfleur were liberated between 21 and 24 August 1944.Attached to the 49th Division Infantry on 26 August, the Brigade crossed the Seine three days later but did not take part in the Allied forces assault on Le Havre. 27 men were killed in the ten days of fighting in Normandy. On 2 September they reached Brussels. The Piron Brigade entered the Belgian capital on 4 September 1944.

The Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade led by Colonel Piron landed in Arromanches on 8 August 1944. Operating under the command of the 6th British Airborne Division and later under the 49th Infantry Division. The Brigade was engaged in the Sallenelles area on 16 August and freed the towns of Cabourg, Trouville, Deauville and Honfleur. It entered Brussels on 4 September 1944.

As the Allies pushed towards the city of Falaise, the front was reinforced in the North with the arrival of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade consisting of 2,200 men (including 350 from Luxembourg) and 500 vehicles, who landed on 8 August at Courseulles and Arromanches. The unit was formed in early 1943 in England by the Belgian Prime Minister in exile. It reunited the various Belgian ground force units hither to dispersed within the British Army: survivors from 1940, volunteers from the colonies and Legionnaires from North Africa. In command was Jean-Baptiste Piron, former soldier of World War I and officer in the Belgian army in 1940. Taken prisoner by the Germans, he escaped and fled to England.

The Brigade’s baptism of fire took place on 16 August 1944 in the east of the Orne, in the sector occupied by the British 6th Airborne Division. Killed in Sallenelles during the assault, the soldier Edward Gerard was the first Belgian victim in Normandy. As the Falaise pocket closed on the enemy, Operation Paddle – with the objective of reaching the Seine – was launched from the right bank of the Orne. British and Canadian troops pushed through the Pays d'Auge, while the Brigade of Colonel Piron progressed along the coast of Calvados, freeing the towns of Franceville and Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville and Honfleur were liberated between 21 and 24 August 1944. Attached to the 49th Division Infantry on 26 August, the Brigade crossed the Seine three days later but did not take part in the Allied forces assault on Le Havre. 27 men were killed in the ten days of fighting in Normandy. On 2 September they reached Brussels. The Piron Brigade entered the Belgian capital on 4 September 1944. 27 men were killed in the ten days of fighting in Normandy.

Public domain

Belgian troops in Normandy

Tandis que les Alliés avancent vers la ville de Falaise, le front est renforcé au nord par l'arrivée de la 1re brigade d'infanterie belge, composée de 2 200 hommes (dont 350 Luxembourgeois) et 500 véhicules, qui a débarqué le 8 août à Courseulles et Arromanches. Cette unité avait été créée en Angleterre début 1943 par le Premier ministre belge en exil. Elle rassemble des forces terrestres belges jusque-là dispersées dans l'armée britannique : des survivants de 1940, des volontaires issus des colonies et des légionnaires d'Afrique du Nord. Son commandant est Jean-Baptiste Piron, ancien combattant de la Première Guerre mondiale et officier de l'armée belge en 1940. Fait prisonnier par les Allemands, il s'échappe et se réfugie en Angleterre. Le baptême du feu de la brigade a lieu le 16 août 1944 à l'est de l'Orne, dans un secteur occupé par la 6e division aéroportée britannique. Tué à Sallenelles pendant l'assaut, le soldat Edward Gerard sera la première victime belge en Normandie. Pendant que la poche de Falaise se referme sur l'ennemi, l'Opération Paddle (dont l'objectif est de rejoindre la Seine), est lancée depuis la rive droite de l'Orne. Des troupes britanniques et canadiennes avancent rapidement dans le Pays d'Auge, tandis que la brigade du Colonel Piron progresse le long des côtes du Calvados, libérant Franceville et Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville et Honfleur seront libérées entre le 21 et le 24 août 1944. Rattachée à la 49e division d'infanterie le 26 août, la brigade traversera la Seine trois jours plus tard, mais ne participera pas à l'assaut des forces alliées sur Le Havre. 27 hommes trouveront la mort pendant ces dix jours de combats en Normandie. Le 2 septembre, les troupes atteignent Bruxelles. La brigade Piron entrera dans la capitale belge le 4 septembre 1944. W miarę posuwania się Aliantów w kierunku Falaise, front północny został wzmocniony przerzuceniem 1 belgijskiej brygady w liczbie 2.200 ludzi (w tym 350 z Luksemburga) i 500 pojazdów, którzy wylądowali w dniu 8 sierpnia w Courseulles i Arromanches. Jednostka została utworzona na początku 1943r. w Anglii przez belgijskiego premiera rządu na uchodźctwie, łącząc różne jednostki sił lądowych dotychczas rozproszone w szeregach armii brytyjskiej. Byli wśród nich ci, którzy przeżyli 1940r., ochotnicy z kolonii i legioniści z Afryki Północnej. Komendę objął Jean-Baptiste Piron, były żołnierz z czasów I Wojny Światowej i oficer armii belgijskiej w 1940r. Dostawszy się do niewoli niemieckiej uciekł i zbiegł do Anglii. Brygada przeszła chrzest bojowy 16 sierpnia na wschód od Orne, w sektorze zdobytym przez 6 brytyjską Dywizję Powietrznodesantową. Szeregowy Edward Gerard, poległy podczas natarcia w Sallenelles był pierwszą belgijską ofiarą walk w Normandii. Kiedy trwało jeszcze zamykanie kotła Falaise, z prawego brzegu Orne ruszyła Operacja Paddle mająca na celu dotarcie do Sekwany. Brytyjskie i kanadyjskie oddziały prowadziły natarcie przez Pays d'Auge, a Brygada Piron wzdłuż wybrzeża Calvados oswobadzając Franceville i Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville i Honfleur zostały wyzwolone między 21 a 24 sierpnia 1944r. Przyłączona do 49 Dywizji Piechoty w dniu 26 sierpnia, w dniu 29 sierpnia Brygada przekroczyła Sekwanę, ale nie wzięła udziału w natarciu Aliantów na Le Havre. W dniu 2 września dotarła do Brukseli. Brygada Piron wkroczyła do stolicy Belgii w dniu 4 września 1944r. W ciągu dziesięciu dni walk w Normandii oddział stracił 27 poległych. Terwijl de geallieerden oprukten naar de stad Falaise, werd het front versterkt vanuit het noorden door de aankomst van de 1e Belgische Infantrie Brigade. Deze bestond uit 2.200 man (inclusief 350 uit Luxembourg) en 500 voertuigen. Ze landde op 8 augustus in Courseulles en Arromanches. De eenheid was in 1943 door de verbannen Belgische premier in Engeland samengesteld. De brigade herenigde de verschillende Belgische grondeenheden die over het Britse leger verdeeld en verspreid waren: overlevers van 1940, vrijwilligers uit de koloniën en legionairs uit Noord-Afrika. De bevelhebber was Jean-Baptiste Piron, voormalig soldaat uit de Eerste Wereldoorlog en Belgisch legerofficier in 1940. Hij werd gevangen genomen door de Duitsers, ontsnapte en vluchtte naar Engeland. De vuurdoop van de brigade vond plaats op 16 augustus 1944 ten oosten van de Orne in een sector bezet door de 6e Britse Luchtlandingsdivisie. Omgekomen in Sallenelles tijdens de aanval, werd soldaat Edward Gerard het eerste Belgische slachtoffer in Normandië. Terwijl Falaise verder omsingeld werd startte Operatie Paddle (met als doel het bereiken van de Seine) vanuit de rechteroever van de Orne. Britse en Canadese troepen rukte op door de Pays d’Auge. Terwijl de brigade van kolonel Piron oprukte langs de kust van Calvados, bevrijdde het de stadjes Franceville en Varaville. De stadjes Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville en Honfleur werden bevrijd tussen 21 en 24 augustus. Verenigd met de 49e Infanterie Divisie op 26 augustus, stak de brigade drie dagen later de Seine over. De eenheid deed echter niet mee met de belegering van Le Havre door de geallieerden. Op 2 september bereikte ze Brussel, en op 4 september ging de Brigade van Piron de Belgische hoofdstad binnen. In totaal zijn er in tien dagen van strijd 27 man omgekomen in Normandië. Als die alliierten Truppen auf die Stadt Falaise vorrückten, wurde die Front im Norden durch die Ankunft der 1. Belgischen Infanteriebrigade verstärkt. Diese bestand aus 2.200 Soldaten (darunter 350 aus Luxemburg) mit 500 Fahrzeugen, die am 8. August 1944 bei Courseulles-sur-Mer und Arromanches landeten. Die Anfang 1943 vom belgischen Premierminister im englischen Exil zusammengestellte Brigade vereinte die verschiedenen Einheiten der belgischen Bodenstreitkräfte, die bis dahin verstreut in der britischen Armee gedient hatten; dazu kamen Überlebende von 1940, Freiwillige aus den Kolonien und Legionäre aus Nordafrika. Ihr Kommandant war Jean-Baptiste Piron, der bereits im Ersten Weltkrieg gekämpft hatte, 1940 als Offizier der belgischen Armee in deutsche Gefangenschaft geraten war und ein Jahr später nach Großbritannien hatte fliehen können. Die Feuertaufe der Brigade fand am 16. August 1944 östlich der Orne statt, im von der britischen 6. Luftlandedivision besetzten Abschnitt. Während des Angriffs in Sallenelles fiel der Soldat Edward Gerard und war damit das erste belgische Opfer in der Normandie. Als sich der Kessel von Falaise um die deutschen Einheiten schloss, begann von der rechten Uferseite der Orne die Operation Paddle, mit dem Ziel, die Seine zu erreichen. Britische und kanadische Truppen stießen durch die Region Pays d'Auge vor, während die Brigade unter Hauptmann Piron entlang der Küste von Calvados vorrückte und dabei die Städte Franceville und Varaville befreite. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville und Honfleur wurden zwischen dem 21. und 24. August 1944 befreit. Am 26. August 1944 wurde die Brigade an die 49. Infanteriedivision angegliedert und überquerte drei Tage später die Seine, nahm jedoch nicht am Angriff der Alliierten auf Le Havre teil. Bei den zehntägigen Kämpfen in der Normandie kamen 27 Männer ums Leben. Am 2. September erreichte die Brigade Piron Brüssel und rückte am 4. September 1944 in die belgische Hauptstadt ein. Mentre gli alleati si spingevano verso la città di Falaise, il fronte fu rinforzato a nord con l'arrivo della 1ª Brigata di fanteria belga composta da 2.200 uomini (inclusi 350 dal Lussemburgo) e 500 veicoli, che sbarcarono l'8 agosto a Courseulles e Arromanches. L'unità fu formata all'inizio del 1943 in Inghilterra dal primo ministro belga in esilio. Riunì le varie unità di forze di terra belghe fino ad allora disperse nell'esercito britannico: sopravvissuti del 1940, volontari dalle colonie e legionari dal Nord Africa. Al comando c'era Jean-Baptiste Piron, ex soldato della prima guerra mondiale e ufficiale dell'esercito belga nel 1940. Fatto prigioniero dai tedeschi, scappò e si rifugiò in Inghilterra. Il battesimo del fuoco della Brigata ebbe luogo il 16 agosto 1944 a est dell'Orne, nel settore occupato dalla 6ª Divisione aviotrasportata britannica. Ucciso a Sallenelles durante l'assalto, il soldato Edward Gerard fu la prima vittima belga in Normandia. Mentre la sacca di Falaise si chiudeva sul nemico, l'operazione Paddle - con l'obiettivo di raggiungere la Senna - fu lanciata dalla riva destra dell'Orne. Le truppe britanniche e canadesi si spinsero attraverso il Pays d'Auge, mentre la brigata del colonnello Piron avanzò lungo la costa del Calvados, liberando le città di Franceville e Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville e Honfleur furono liberate tra il 21 e il 24 agosto 1944. Come parte della 49a Divisione di Fanteria il 26 agosto, la Brigata attraversò la Senna tre giorni dopo ma non prese parte all'assalto delle forze alleate su Le Havre. 27 uomini furono uccisi nei dieci giorni di combattimento in Normandia. Il 2 settembre raggiunsero Bruxelles. La Brigata Piron entrò nella capitale belga il 4 settembre 1944. As the Allies pushed towards the city of Falaise, the front was reinforced in the North with the arrival of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade consisting of 2,200 men (including 350 from Luxembourg) and 500 vehicles, who landed on 8 August at Courseulles and Arromanches.The unit was formed in early 1943 in England by the Belgian Prime Minister in exile. It reunited the various Belgian ground force units hither to dispersed within the British Army: survivors from 1940, volunteers from the colonies and Legionnaires from North Africa. In command was Jean-Baptiste Piron, former soldier of World War I and officer in the Belgian army in 1940. Taken prisoner by the German forces, he escaped and fled to England.The Brigade’s baptism of fire took place on 16 August 1944 in the east of the Orne, in the sector occupied by the British 6th Airborne Division. Killed in Sallenelles during the assault, the soldier Edward Gerard was the first Belgian victim in Normandy. As the Falaise pocket closed in on the enemy, Operation Paddle – with the objective of reaching the River Seine – was launched from the right bank of the River Orne. British and Canadian troops pushed through the Pays d'Auge, while the Brigade of Colonel Piron progressed along the coast of Calvados, liberating the towns of Franceville and Varaville. Cabourg, Dives, Houlgate, Villers-sur-Mer, Deauville, Trouville and Honfleur were liberated between 21 and 24 August 1944.Attached to the 49th Division Infantry on 26 August, the Brigade crossed the Seine three days later but did not take part in the Allied forces assault on Le Havre. 27 men were killed in the ten days of fighting in Normandy. On 2 September they reached Brussels. The Piron Brigade entered the Belgian capital on 4 September 1944.

 Les troupes belges en Normandie Belgijskie oddziały w Normandii Belgische troepen in Normandië Belgische Truppen in der Normandie Truppe belghe in Normandia Belgian troops in Normandy

After their breakthrough west of Saint-Lô at the end of July 1944, the American forces moved far behind the German lines before heading north towards Le Mans, Alençon and Argentan. In the meantime, the British and Canadian armies pushed back the German forces from the north towards the town of Falaise. The failure of a German counterattack on 7 August, and Hitler’s foolish demand that his forces should hold their positions, led to the complete encirclement of the German 7th Army.Hesitation by the Allied command delayed the final closure of the pocket until 19 August, when elements of the 1st Polish Armoured Division joined the 90th U.S. Infantry Division from the north in Chambois. Surrounded and shelled by Allied artillery, the German forces tried to make their way out by force, launching desperate attacks on the slopes of Mont-Ormel where they encountered Polish detachments.Both sides suffered heavy losses, but the few hundred Polish soldiers on the Mont-Ormel were able to hold their positions. German soldiers managed to escape, but the German losses were huge: about 10,000 men were killed and 40,000 to 50,000 were captured. In some places, including the bridges across the River Dives and the roads bordering the Mont-Ormel, the sight of dead men and horses was daunting. A Memorial on top of Mont-Ormel offers a panoramic view of the valley of the Dives. Here the various stages of the battle can be retraced with an animated map.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Icie8e3QBJU?showinfo=0" frameborder="0" class="ql-video"></iframe>

The last major battle of the Normandy campaign was fought in August 1944 in the so called Falaise-Argentan pocket, where the Allies encircled and destroyed a substantial part of the German forces. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of German soldiers managed to escape. A memorial on the spot traces the various stages of this bloody confrontation.

After their breakthrough west of Saint-Lô at the end of July, the American forces moved far behind the German lines before heading North towards Le Mans, Alençon and Argentan. In the meantime, the British and Canadian armies pushed back the German forces from the North towards the town of Falaise.

The failure of a German counterattack on 7 August, and Hitler’s foolish demand that his forces should hold their positions, led to the complete encirclement of the German 7th Army. Hesitation by the Allied command delayed the final closure of the pocket till 19 August, when elements of the 1st Polish Armoured Division joined the 90th U.S. Infantry Division from the north in Chambois. Surrounded and shelled by Allied artillery, the Germans tried to make their way out by force, launching desperate attacks on the slopes of Mont-Ormel where they encountered Polish detachments.

Both sides suffered heavy losses, but the few hundred Polish soldiers on the Mont-Ormel could hold their positions. German soldiers managed to escape, but the German losses were huge: about 10.000 men were killed and 40.000 to 50.000 were captured. In some places, including the bridges across the river Dives and the roads bordering the Mont-Ormel, the sight of dead men and horses was daunting.

A Memorial on top of Mont-Ormel offers a panoramic view of the valley of the Dives. Here the various stages of the battle can be retraced with an animated map.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icie8e3QBJU[/embed]

Memorial of Montormel

Falaise Pocket

The Falaise pocket – Memorial of Montormel

Après leur percée à l'ouest de la ville de Saint-Lô à la fin du mois de juillet, les troupes américaines progressèrent loin derrière les lignes de défense allemandes, avant de remonter vers le nord en direction du Mans, d'Alençon et d'Argentan. Pendant ce temps, les troupes britanniques et canadiennes repoussaient les forces allemandes depuis le Nord, vers la ville de Falaise. L'échec de la contre-attaque allemande le 7 août et les instructions stupides d'Adolf Hitler exigeant que ses troupes tiennent leurs positions menèrent à l'encerclement total de la 7e armée allemande.Des hésitations au sein du commandement des forces alliées retardèrent la fermeture complète de la poche jusqu'au 19 août, date à laquelle des membres de la 1ère division blindée polonaise rejoignirent la 90e division d'infanterie américaine au nord de Chambois. Encerclés et sous le feu des tirs d'artillerie des Alliés, les troupes allemandes tentèrent de se frayer un chemin par la force. Elles lancèrent des attaques désespérées contre les unités polonaises, sur les pentes du mont Ormel.Les deux camps subirent d'énormes pertes, mais les quelques centaines de soldats polonais présents sur le mont Ormel parvinrent à tenir leurs positions. Des soldats allemands réussirent à s'échapper, mais l'Allemagne paya un très lourd tribut : environ 10 000 hommes furent tués, et entre 40 et 50 000 furent faits prisonniers. Par endroits, la vue des cadavres de soldats et de chevaux était horrifiante, notamment sur les ponts traversant la Dives et les routes bordant le mont Ormel. Un mémorial situé au sommet du mont Ormel offre une vue panoramique sur toute la vallée de la Dives. Une carte interactive y retrace les différentes étapes de cette bataille. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6VSMksfPKjI?showinfo=0"></iframe> Das Scheitern eines deutschen Gegenangriffs am 7. August und Hitlers törichte Forderung an seine Truppen, ihre Positionen zu halten, führten dazu, dass die 7. Armee der Wehrmacht komplett eingeschlossen wurde. Durch das Zögern des Oberkommandos der Alliierten dauerte es noch bis zum 19. August, ehe der Kessel durch das Zusammentreffen von aus nördlicher Richtung kommenden Einheiten der 1. polnischen Panzerdivision und der 90. US-Infanteriedivision in Chambois endgültig geschlossen wurde. Eingeschlossen und unter alliiertem Artilleriefeuer, versuchten die Deutschen, mit Gewalt auszubrechen, indem sie an den Hängen des Mont-Ormel, wo sie auf polnische Einheiten trafen, verzweifelte Angriffe starteten. Beide Seiten erlitten schwere Verluste, aber die wenigen Hundert polnischer Soldaten auf dem Mont-Ormel konnten ihre Stellung halten. Auch wenn deutsche Soldaten entkommen konnten, waren die Verluste gewaltig: Etwa 10.000 Soldaten wurden getötet und 40.000 bis 50.000 gefangen genommen. An einigen Stellen, wie auf den Brücken über den Fluss Dives und den Straßen am Mont-Ormel, bot sich ein schreckliches Bild toter Soldaten und Pferde. Vom Museum auf dem Mont-Ormel aus liegt dem Besucher das Panorama des Tals der Dives zu Füßen. Hier kann man die verschiedenen Phasen der Schlacht anhand einer animierten Karte nachvollziehen. Po przełamaniu linii obrony na zachód od Saint-Lô w końcu lipca siły amerykańskie wbiły się daleko poza linie niemieckie, a następnie ruszyły na północ w kierunku Le Mans, Alençon i Argentan. W międzyczasie armia brytyjska i kanadyjska spychały siły niemieckie od północy w kierunku miasta Falaise. Niepowodzenie kontrataku niemieckiego w dniu 7 sierpnia oraz nieprzemyślane żądanie Hitlera, nakazujące utrzymywanie zajmowanych pozycji doprowadziło do całkowitego okrążenia niemieckiej 7. Armii. Wahanie dowództwa aliantów opóźniło ostateczne zamknięcie kotła aż do 19 sierpnia, kiedy to do 90. Dywizji Piechoty USA dołączyły w Chambois, od północy, oddziały 1. Polskiej Dywizji Pancernej. Okrążeni i ostrzeliwani przez artylerię aliancką, Niemcy próbowali przedrzeć się na siłę ponawiając desperackie ataki na wzgórza Mont-Ormel, gdzie natknęli się na oddziały polskie. Straty po obu stronach były ciężkie, ale kilkuset żołnierzom polskim na Mont-Ormel udało się utrzymać pozycje. Niemcom udało się uciec, ale ich straty były olbrzymie: około 10.000 zabitych i 40.000 do 50.000 wziętych do niewoli. W niektórych miejscach, w tym na mostach przez rzekę Dives i drogach graniczących z Mont-Ormel widok ciał ludzkich i trupów końskich był zatrważający. Z miejsca pamięci na szczycie Mont-Ormel rozciąga się panoramiczny widok doliny rzeki Dives. Stąd, korzystając z animowanej mapy, można prześledzić poszczególne stadia bitwy. Na hun doorbraak ten westen van Saint-Lô eind juli, trokken de Amerikaanse troepen ver voorbij de Duitse linies voordat ze noordwaarts gingen richting Le Mans, Alençon en Argentan. In de tussentijd drongen Britse en Canadese legers de Duitse troepen vanuit het noorden terug naar de stad Falaise. Het falen van een Duitse tegenaanval op 7 augustus en de dwaze order van Hitler dat zijn troepen hun posities moesten houden, leidde tot de volledige omsingeling van de Duitse 7e Leger. Aarzeling door het geallieerde opperbevel vertraagde de definitieve afsluiting van de Pocket. Dat gebeurde uiteindelijk op 19 augustus, toen eenheden van de 1ste Poolse Pantserdivisie uit het noorden de 90e U.S. Infantry Division in Chambois ontmoetten. De Duitsers probeerden daarop met geweld uit de omsingelen te breken. Ze lanceerden wanhopige aanvallen op de hellingen van de Mont-Ormel waar ze op Poolse detachementen stuitten. Beide partijen leden zware verliezen, maar de paar honderd Poolse soldaten op de Mont-Ormel slaagden erin om hun posities te behouden. Uiteindelijk wisten duizenden Duitse soldaten te ontsnappen richting de Seine, maar hun verliezen waren enorm: ongeveer 10.000 werden gedood en 40.000-50.000 gevangen genomen. Op veel plaatsen, zoals de bruggen over de rivier de Dives en de wegen rond de Mont-Ormel, was de aanblik van dode mensen en paarden deprimerend. Een gedenkteken op de top van de Mont-Ormel biedt een panoramisch uitzicht over de vallei van de Dives. Hier zijn de verschillende stadia van de strijd terug te vinden op een interactieve kaart. Toeristische informatie De augustus 1944 route is een slagveld-tour langs de plekken waar alle dramatische gebeurtenissen plaatsvonden. Kaart via: http://www.memorial-montormel.org/_ao_t_1944_remembrance_road_2_128.html Ga voor meer informatie en de openingstijden naar: http://www.memorial-montormel.or Dopo lo sfondamento ad ovest di Saint-Lô alla fine di luglio, le forze americane si mossero molto dietro alle linee tedesche prima di dirigersi a nord verso Le Mans, Alençon e Argentan. Nel frattempo, gli eserciti canadese e britannico respinsero le forze tedesche dal nord verso la città di Falaise.  Il fallimento di un contrattacco tedesco il 7 agosto e l'assurda richiesta di Hitler che le truppe tenessero le posizioni portò all’accerchiamento completo della Settima armata tedesca. L'esitazione del comando alleato rinviò l’accerchiamento completo al 19 agosto, quando elementi delle Prima divisione corazzata polacca si unirono alla 90esima Divisione di fanteria americana dal nord a Chambois. Circondati e bombardati dall’artiglieria alleata, i tedeschi provarono a fuggire con la forza, lanciando disperati attacchi sulle pendici del Monte Ormel, dove incontrarono distaccamenti polacchi.  Entrambe le fazioni ebbero pesanti perdite, ma le poche centinaia di soldati polacchi sul Monte Ormel riuscirono a mantenere le loro posizioni. Alcuni soldati tedeschi riuscirono a fuggire, ma le perdite furono enormi: circa 10.000 uomini furono uccisi e 40-50.000 furono fatti prigionieri. In alcuni luoghi, inclusi i ponti sul fiume Dives e le strade attorno al Monte Ormel, la vista dei soldati e dei cavalli caduti era spaventosa.  Un memoriale in cima al Monte Ormel (Montormel) offre una vista panoramica della valle del Dives. Qui le varie tappe della battaglia possono essere ripercorse tramite una mappa animata. After their breakthrough west of Saint-Lô at the end of July 1944, the American forces moved far behind the German lines before heading north towards Le Mans, Alençon and Argentan. In the meantime, the British and Canadian armies pushed back the German forces from the north towards the town of Falaise. The failure of a German counterattack on 7 August, and Hitler’s foolish demand that his forces should hold their positions, led to the complete encirclement of the German 7th Army.Hesitation by the Allied command delayed the final closure of the pocket until 19 August, when elements of the 1st Polish Armoured Division joined the 90th U.S. Infantry Division from the north in Chambois. Surrounded and shelled by Allied artillery, the German forces tried to make their way out by force, launching desperate attacks on the slopes of Mont-Ormel where they encountered Polish detachments.Both sides suffered heavy losses, but the few hundred Polish soldiers on the Mont-Ormel were able to hold their positions. German soldiers managed to escape, but the German losses were huge: about 10,000 men were killed and 40,000 to 50,000 were captured. In some places, including the bridges across the River Dives and the roads bordering the Mont-Ormel, the sight of dead men and horses was daunting. A Memorial on top of Mont-Ormel offers a panoramic view of the valley of the Dives. Here the various stages of the battle can be retraced with an animated map.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Icie8e3QBJU?showinfo=0" frameborder="0" class="ql-video"></iframe>

 Mémorial de Montormel, la poche de Falaise Gedenkstätte von Montormel Kocioł Falaise – Miejsce pamięci w Montormel The Falaise pocket – Gedenkteken van Mont-Ormel La sacca di Falaise – Il memoriale di Montormel The Falaise pocket – The Memorial of Montormel

Open since 2003, the Juno Beach Centre is located opposite the beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer, on one of the strongpoints which protected the harbour entrance and which the 3rd Canadian Division had to neutralise on 6 June 1944. More than just a museum dedicated to the landings on D-Day, it is a place of memory for an entire nation. It is devoted to the participation of Canada in the Second World War and its important contribution to the liberation of Western Europe.At war alongside the United Kingdom as early as September 1939, Canada had made a considerable effort by mobilising all of its economic and human resources. After a rapid industrial transformation, it had become, with the United States, the ‘arsenal of democracy’.Despite conscription being restored, Canada sent only volunteers overseas. Painful memories of the First World War indeed evoked tensions between English-speakers and French-speakers on this question. More than one million Canadians were mobilised during the conflict, nearly half of the men of an age to bear arms. At the end, the country came out of the war transformed and with its national unity intact.The Juno Beach Centre offers visitors a comprehensive overview of Canada's war efforts through six thematic showrooms. An emotional film entitled ‘Dans leurs pas’ (‘They walk with you’) allows everyone to identify with the history of a single individual Canadian infantryman.

More than a museum dedicated to the landings on D-Day, the Juno Beach Centre is a place of memory representing a whole nation. It recalls the participation of Canada in the Second World War and its important contribution to the liberation of Western Europe. Canada itself emerged transformed from the conflict.

Open since 2003, the Juno Beach Centre is located opposite the beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer, on one of the strongpoints which protected the harbour entrance and which the 3rd Canadian Division had to neutralize on 6 June 1944. More than just a museum dedicated to the landings on D-Day, it is a place of memory for an entire nation. It is devoted to the participation of Canada in the Second World War and its important contribution to the liberation of Western Europe.

At war alongside the United Kingdom as soon as September 1939, Canada had made a considerable effort by mobilizing all its economic and human resources. After a rapid industrial transformation, it had become, with the United States, the ‘arsenal of democracy’.

If conscription was restored, Canada sent fast only volunteers overseas. Painful memories of the First World War evoked indeed tensions arising between English-speakers and French-speakers on this question. More than one million Canadians were mobilized during the conflict, nearly half of the men in the age to bear arms. At the end, the country came out of the war transformed and with its national unity intact.

The Juno Beach Centre offers visitors a comprehensive overview of Canada's war efforts, through six thematic showrooms. An emotional film entitled ‘Dans leurs pas’ (‘They walk with you’) allows everyone to identify with the history of a single individual Canadian infantryman.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e_KLuBoTug[/embed]

Juno Beach Centre/G. Wait

Juno Beach Centre

Ouvert depuis 2003, le Centre Juno Beach est situé face à la plage de Courseulles-sur-Mer, sur l'un des bastions qui protégeaient l'entrée du port et que la 3e division canadienne dut neutraliser le 6 juin 1944. Plus qu'un musée dédié au débarquement du Jour J, il s'agit d'un lieu de mémoire représentant une nation toute entière. Il commémore la participation du Canada à la Seconde Guerre mondiale et son importante contribution à la libération de l'Europe de l'Ouest. En guerre aux côtés des États-Unis dès septembre 1939, le Canada avait fourni un effort considérable en mobilisant toutes ses ressources économiques et humaines. Après une rapide transformation industrielle, il était devenu, avec les États-Unis, « le grand arsenal de la démocratie ». Malgré la restauration de la conscription, le Canada n'envoya que des volontaires à l'étranger. Les souvenirs douloureux de la Première Guerre mondiale suscitaient en effet des tensions entre les anglophones et les francophones sur cette question. Plus d'un million de Canadiens furent mobilisés pendant le conflit, soit presque la moitié des hommes en âge de porter les armes. Finalement, le pays sortit de la guerre transformé, tout en ayant préservé son unité nationale. Le Centre Juno Beach offre aux visiteurs un aperçu exhaustif des efforts de guerre du Canada, à travers six salles d'exposition à thème. Un film émouvant intitulé « Dans leurs pas » permet à chacun de s'identifier à l'histoire d'un soldat d'infanterie canadien. Seit September 1939 an der Seite des Vereinigten Königreiches im Krieg stehend, unternahm Kanada bemerkenswerte Anstrengungen zur Mobilisierung aller seiner wirtschaftlichen und menschlichen Ressourcen. Nach einer raschen industriellen Transformation wurde Kanada zusammen mit den Vereinigten Staaten zu einem „Arsenal der Demokratie“. Obwohl die Wehrpflicht wieder eingeführt worden war, schickte Kanada fast ausschließlich Freiwillige nach Übersee. Schmerzvolle Erinnerungen an den Ersten Weltkrieg brachten aber auch Spannungen zwischen den anglophonen und den frankophonen Kanadiern in dieser Frage. Mehr als eine Million Kanadier wurden während des Konflikts mobilisiert, fast die Hälfte der Männer im waffenfähigen Alter. Kanada ging aus dem Krieg verändert hervor. Seine nationale Einheit hatte sich bewährt. Das Centre Juno Beach vermittelt dem Besucher in sechs thematischen Ausstellungsräumen einen Überblick über die umfangreichen, von Kanada im Krieg unternommenen Anstrengungen. Beim Betrachten eines emotionsgeladenen Films mit dem Titel „Dans leurs pas“ („In ihren Fußspuren“) kann man sich in das Schicksal eines einzelnen kanadischen Infanteristen hineinversetzen. Die Ausstellungen sind jetzt auf Deutsch über Webb Visit, eine neue QR-Code-App, verfügbar. Otwarte od 2003 r., Centrum Plaży Juno mieści się naprzeciwko plaży w Courseulles-sur-Mer, w jednym z bunkrów, które chroniły wejście do zatoki, a który 3. Kanadyjska Dywizja musiała zneutralizować 6 czerwca 1944 r. Centrum Plaży Juno jest czymś więcej, niż muzeum lądowań D-Day. Jest to miejsce pamięci całego narodu. Poświęcone jest uczestnictwu Kanady w II wojnie światowej oraz jej ważnemu przyczynkowi do wyzwolenia Europy zachodniej. Będąc wraz z Wielką Brytanią w stanie wojny począwszy od września 1939 r., Kanada poniosła znaczny wysiłek mobilizując wszystkie swe gospodarcze i ludzkie zasoby. Po przyspieszonej transformacji przemysłowej, stała się obok Stanów Zjednoczonych „arsenałem demokracji”. Póki nie ogłoszono poboru, Kanada wysyłała za granicę tylko ochotników. Bolesne wspomnienia z I wojny światowej pobudziły napięcia między anglojęzycznymi i francuskojęzycznymi obywatelami na ten temat. Podczas konfliktu zmobilizowano ponad milion Kanadyjczyków, blisko połowę mężczyzn w wieku poborowym. Ostatecznie, kraj wyszedł z wojny przekształcony, z nienaruszoną jednością narodową. Centrum Plaży Juno daje zwiedzającym pogląd na wysiłek wojenny Kanady w serii sześciu tematycznie zorganizowanych sal. Przenoszący duży ładunek emocjonalny film pod tytułem “Dans leurs pas” (“Oni idą z tobą”) pozwala wszystkim zidentyfikować się z historią jednego kanadyjskiego piechura. Het Juno Beach Centre, geopend in 2003, ligt tegenover het strand in Courseulles-sur-mer, op de plaats van een Duits bolwerk dat de haveningang domineerde. Dit bolwerk moest op 6 juni 1944 worden uitgeschakeld door de 3e Canadese Divisie. Canada was al in september 1939, door zijn historische banden met Engeland, in de oorlog betrokken. Het had alle economische middelen en menskracht gemobiliseerd. Na een snelle industriële transformatie was het land, samen met de VS, het 'arsenaal van de democratie' geworden. Het leverde grondstoffen en wapens aan het bevriende Engeland. In 1942 werd de dienstplicht hersteld, maar Canada stuurde enkel vrijwilligers naar Europa. De pijnlijke herinneringen aan de Eerste Wereldoorlog op dit punt, riepen spanningen op tussen de Engels sprekende en Frans sprekende Canadezen. Meer dan één miljoen Canadezen werden uiteindelijk gemobiliseerd, ongeveer de helft van de weerbare mannelijke bevolking. Uiteindelijk kwam het land veranderd, maar blijvend verenigd uit de oorlog. Het Juno Beach Centre geeft de bezoeker een veelomvattende kijk op Canada's inspanningen tijdens de oorlog, onderverdeeld in zes thema's. Een indringende film met de titel Dans leurs pas (They walk with you) geeft iedereen de kans zich te identificeren met een Canadese infanterist. De tentoonstellingen zijn nu beschikbaar in het Nederlands via Webb Visit, een nieuwe QR-code-app. Aperto nel 2003, il Centro Juno Beach si trova nei pressi della spiaggia a Courseulles-sur-Mer, in uno dei fortini che proteggevano l’entrata del porto e che la Terza divisione canadese doveva neutralizzare il 6 giugno 1944. Più che un museo dedicato agli sbarchi del D-Day, è un luogo della memoria per un’intera nazione. Il centro è dedicato alla partecipazione del Canada nella Seconda guerra mondiale e al suo importante contributo per la liberazione dell’Europa occidentale.In guerra al fianco del Regno Unito a partire dal settembre 1939, il Canada fece degli sforzi di rilievo, mobilizzando tutte le sue risorse economiche ed umane. Dopo una rapida trasformazione industriale, esso divenne, insieme agli Stati Uniti, l’’arsenale della democrazia’. Se la coscrizione fu reinserita, il Canada mandò oltreoceano quasi solo volontari. Tristi e dolorosi ricordi della Prima guerra mondiale rievocavano infatti le tensioni tra i francofoni e gli anglofoni sulla questione. Più di un milione di canadesi furono mobilizzati durante il conflitto, quasi metà di loro uomini in età adeguata. Alla fine, il paese uscì dalla guerra trasformato e con intatta la sua unità nazionale. Il Centro Juno Beach offre ai visitatori una prospettiva comprensiva degli sforzi bellici canadesi attraverso sei sale tematiche. Un emozionante film intitolato ‘Dans leur pas’ (‘Sui loro passi’) permette di immedesimarsi in un soldato di fanteria canadese. Open since 2003, the Juno Beach Centre is located opposite the beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer, on one of the strongpoints which protected the harbour entrance and which the 3rd Canadian Division had to neutralise on 6 June 1944. More than just a museum dedicated to the landings on D-Day, it is a place of memory for an entire nation. It is devoted to the participation of Canada in the Second World War and its important contribution to the liberation of Western Europe.At war alongside the United Kingdom as early as September 1939, Canada had made a considerable effort by mobilising all of its economic and human resources. After a rapid industrial transformation, it had become, with the United States, the ‘arsenal of democracy’.Despite conscription being restored, Canada sent only volunteers overseas. Painful memories of the First World War indeed evoked tensions between English-speakers and French-speakers on this question. More than one million Canadians were mobilised during the conflict, nearly half of the men of an age to bear arms. At the end, the country came out of the war transformed and with its national unity intact.The Juno Beach Centre offers visitors a comprehensive overview of Canada's war efforts through six thematic showrooms. An emotional film entitled ‘Dans leurs pas’ (‘They walk with you’) allows everyone to identify with the history of a single individual Canadian infantryman.

 Centre Juno Beach Zentrum Juno Beach Centrum Plaży Juno Juno Beach Centre Centro Juno Beach Juno Beach Centre

The Dutch Brigade landed at the same day as the Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, on 8 August 1944, in Graye-sur-mer and Arromanches as part of ongoing reinforcements sent to Normandy. 1,200 men attached to the 6th British Airborne division operated under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. The unit was created in February 1941 in England with Dutch soldiers who had escaped after the German Occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. Numbers were subsequently made up with Dutch men from the United Kingdom, the Unites States, Canada and South Africa. The resulting Brigade was named ‘Irene’ in honour of one of the granddaughters of Queen Wilhelmina, who had herself taken refuge in Britain. The Dutch Brigade came into action in Normandy on 17 August to the east of the river Orne. It won fame particularly through the heavy fighting at the Saint-Côme Castle near Bréville-les-Monts. On 23 August the troops received the visit of Prince Bernhard, Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the Netherlands. Three days later, together with the British 6th Airborne Division, they liberated the town of Pont-Audemer. Engaged in Operation Paddle, they reached the River Seine on 30 August 1944. After the Normandy campaign, the Irene Brigade took part in the liberation of Northern France and Belgium, before returning to liberate the south part of their native land in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

The Royal Netherlands Princess Irene Brigade landed in Arromanches on 8 August 1944. Attached to the 6th British Airborne Division, the Brigade took part in Operation Paddle for the liberation of the Pays d’Auge area starting on 17 August. The Princess Irene Brigade was thus the first Allied unit to liberate Pont-Audemer on 26 August 1944.

The Dutch Brigade landed at the same day as the Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, on 8 August 1944, in Graye-sur-mer and Arromanches as part of ongoing reinforcements sent to Normandy. 1,200 men attached to the 6th British Airborne division operated under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. The unit was created in February 1941 in England with Dutch soldiers who had escaped after the German Occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. Numbers were subsequently made up with Dutch men from the United Kingdom, the Unites States, Canada and South Africa.

The resulting Brigade was named ‘Irene’ in honour of one of the granddaughters of Queen Wilhelmina, who had herself taken refuge in Britain. The Dutch Brigade came into action in Normandy on 17 August to the east of the river Orne. It won fame particularly through the heavy fighting at the Saint-Côme Castle near Bréville-les-Monts. On 23 August the troops received the visit of Prince Bernhard, Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the Netherlands. Three days later, together with the British 6th Airborne Division, they liberated the town of Pont-Audemer. Engaged in Operation Paddle, they reached the Seine on 30 August 1944. After the Normandy campaign, the Irene Brigade took part in the liberation of Northern France and Belgium, before returning to liberate the south part of their native land in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

Mémorial de Caen 

Dutch troops in Normandy

La brigade néerlandaise débarque en même temps que la 1re brigade d'infanterie belge, le 8 août 1944, à Graye-sur-mer et Arromanches dans le cadre du flot continu de renforts envoyés en Normandie. Les 1 200 hommes rattachés à la 6e division aéroportée britannique sont placés sous le commandement du lieutenant-colonel Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. Cette unité, créée en Angleterre en février 1941, est initialement composée de soldats néerlandais qui ont fui l'Occupation allemande des Pays-Bas en 1940. Puis ses rangs grossissent avec l'arrivée de néerlandais du Royaume-Uni, des États-Unis, du Canada et d'Afrique du Sud. La brigade ainsi constituée est baptisée « Irène » en l'honneur d'une des petites-filles de la Reine Wilhelmina, qui a elle-même trouvé refuge en Grande-Bretagne. La brigade néerlandaise entre en action en Normandie le 17 août, à l'est de la rivière Orne, et restera célèbre pour ses combats acharnés au Château de Saint-Côme, près de Bréville-les-Monts. Le 23 août, les troupes reçoivent la visite du Prince Bernhard, commandant en chef des forces armées des Pays-Bas. Trois jours plus tard, elles rejoignent la 6e division aéroportée britannique et libèrent la ville de Pont-Audemer. Engagées dans l'opération Paddle, elles atteindront la Seine le 30 août 1944. Après la campagne de Normandie, la brigade Irène participe à la libération du nord de la France et de la Belgique, avant de libérer son propre pays en septembre 1944 dans le cadre de l'Opération Market Garden. Brygada holenderska wylądowała w tym samym czasie, co Brygada Piron, to jest w dniu 8 sierpnia 1944r. w Graye-sur-mer oraz Arromanches. 1.200 mężczyzn przydzielonych do 6 brytyjskiej Dywizji Powietrznodesantowej dowodził podpułkownik Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. Jednostka została utworzona w lutym 1941r. w Anglii z żołnierzy holenderskich, którzy uciekli do Wielkiej Brytanii po zajęciu Holandii przez Niemców w 1940r. Jej liczebność rosła z czasem, uzupełniana przez Holendrów z Wielkiej Brytanii, Stanów Zjednoczonych, Kanady i Afryki Południowej. Powstałą w ten sposób brygadę nazwano imieniem “Irena” dla uczczenia córki Królowej Wilhelminy, która również schroniła się w Anglii. Holenderska brygada włączyła się do akcji w Normandii w dniu 17 sierpnia, na wschód od Orne. Wsławiła się szczególnie podczas ciężkich walk pod Saint-Côme Castle w pobliżu Bréville-les-Monts. W dniu 23 sierpnia oddziały zwizytował Książę Bernhard, Naczelny Dowódca holenderskich sił zbrojnych. Trzy dni później, wraz z Brytyjczykami z 6 Dywizji Powietrznodesantowej Holendrzy oswobodzili miasto Pont-Audemer. Podczas Operacji Paddle dotarli do Sekwany w dniu 30 sierpnia 1944r. Po kampanii w Normandii, Brygada Ireny wzięła udział w wyzwoleniu Północnej Francji i Belgii, po czym we wrześniu 1944r. powróciła do kraju. De Koninklijke Nederlandse Prinses Irene Brigade landde in Arromanches op 8 augustus 1944. Aangesloten bij de 6e Britse Luchtlandingsdivisie, nam de Brigade deel aan Operatie Paddle om de Pays d’Auge te bevrijden. Deze operatie begon op 17 augustus. De Prinses Irene Brigade was de eerste geallieerde eenheid om Pont-Audemer te bevrijden op 26 augustus 1944. De Nederlandse Irene Brigade landde op dezelfde dag als de 1e Belgische Infanterie Brigade, 8 augustus 1944, in Graye-sur-mer en Arromanches. Beiden namen deel aan de constante stroom van versterkingen die naar Normandië werden gestuurd. 1.200 man toegevoegd aan de 6e Britse Luchtlandingsdivisie vielen onder het bevel van luitenant-kolonel Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. De eenheid was in februari 1941 samengesteld in Engeland en bestond uit Nederlandse soldaten die waren ontsnapt aan de Duitse bezetting van Nederland in 1940. Het uiteindelijke aantal werd bereikt door de troepen aan te vullen met Nederlanders uit het Verenigd Koninkrijk, de Verenigde Staten, Canada en Zuid-Afrika. De aldus gevormde brigade kreeg de naam ‘Irene’ ter ere van een van de kleinkinderen van koningin Wilhelmina die zelf ook als vluchtelinge in Engeland verbleef. De Nederlandse Irene Brigade kwam op 17 augustus in actie in Normandië, ten oosten van de rivier de Orne. De Irene Brigade werd vooral bekend door de hevige gevechten bij het kasteel van Saint-Côme in de buurt van Bréville-les-Monts. Op 23 augustus bezocht Prins Bernhard, opperbevelhebber van de Nederlandse troepen, de eenheid. Drie dagen later bevrijdde de eenheid samen met de 6e Britse Luchtlandingsdivisie het stadje Pont-Audemer. Betrokken bij operatie Paddle, bereikte ze de Seine op 20 augustus 1944. Na de campagne in Normandië nam de Prinses Irene Brigade deel aan de bevrijding van Noord-Frankrijk en België. Daarna keerde de eenheid terug naar het zuidelijke deel van hun vaderland om in september 1944 deel te nemen aan Operatie Market Garden. Im Rahmen der Truppenverstärkung in der Normandie landeten die niederländische Brigade und die belgische 1. Infanteriebrigade am gleichen Tag – am 8. August 1944 – in Graye-sur-mer und Arromanches. Die 1.200 Männer, die der 6. britischen Luftlandedivision angegliederte waren, operierten unter dem Kommando von Oberstleutnant Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. Seine Einheit war im Februar 1941 in England aus niederländischen Soldaten zusammengestellt worden, die nach der deutschen Besetzung der Niederlande 1940 hatten fliehen können, und wurde durch niederländische Soldaten aus Großbritannien, den Vereinigten Staaten, Kanada und Südafrika zusätzlich verstärkt. Zu Ehren einer Enkelin von Königin Wilhelmina, die in Großbritannien Zuflucht gefunden hatte, trug die neu zusammengestellte Brigade den Namen »Irene«. In der Normandie wurde die niederländische Brigade am 17. August östlich der Orne in Gefechte verwickelt und erlangte insbesondere während der schweren Kämpfe um das Schloss Saint-Côme in der Nähe von Bréville-les-Monts Ruhm und Ehre. Am 23. August erhielten die Truppen Besuch von Prinz Bernhard, dem Oberbefehlshaber der niederländischen Streitkräfte. Gemeinsam mit der britischen 6. Luftlandedivision befreiten sie drei Tage später die Stadt Pont-Audemer und erreichten am 30. August 1944 im Rahmen der Operation Paddle die Seine. Nach der Militäroperation in der Normandie nahm die Brigade Irene an der Befreiung von Nordfrankreich und Belgien teil, um danach im September 1944 im Rahmen der Operation Market Garden den südlichen Teil ihres Heimatlandes zu befreien. La Brigata olandese sbarcò lo stesso giorno della 1a Brigata di fanteria belga, l'8 agosto 1944, a Graye-sur-mer e Arromanches come parte dei rinforzi inviati in Normandia. 1.200 uomini attaccati alla 6a divisione aviotrasportata britannica operavano sotto il comando del tenente colonnello Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. L'unità fu creata nel febbraio 1941 in Inghilterra con soldati olandesi che erano fuggiti dopo l'occupazione tedesca dei Paesi Bassi nel 1940. Il contingente fu successivamente completato con uomini olandesi provenienti dal Regno Unito, dagli Stati Uniti, dal Canada e dal Sudafrica. La Brigata risultante fu chiamata "Irene" in onore di una delle nipoti della regina Guglielmina che si era rifugiata in Gran Bretagna. La Brigata olandese entrò in azione in Normandia il 17 agosto a est del fiume Orne. Si guadagnò fama soprattutto grazie ai pesanti combattimenti al castello di Saint-Côme vicino a Bréville-les-Monts. Il 23 agosto le truppe ricevettero la visita del principe Bernhard, comandante in capo delle forze armate dei Paesi Bassi. Tre giorni dopo, insieme alla 6ª Divisione aviotrasportata britannica, liberarono la città di Pont-Audemer. Impegnati nell'operazione Paddle, raggiunsero la Senna il 30 agosto 1944. Dopo la campagna di Normandia, la Brigata Irene prese parte alla liberazione della Francia settentrionale e del Belgio, prima di tornare a liberare la parte meridionale della loro terra natia nel settembre 1944 come parte dell'operazione Market Garden. The Dutch Brigade landed at the same day as the Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, on 8 August 1944, in Graye-sur-mer and Arromanches as part of ongoing reinforcements sent to Normandy. 1,200 men attached to the 6th British Airborne division operated under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Albert de Ruyter van Stevenink. The unit was created in February 1941 in England with Dutch soldiers who had escaped after the German Occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. Numbers were subsequently made up with Dutch men from the United Kingdom, the Unites States, Canada and South Africa. The resulting Brigade was named ‘Irene’ in honour of one of the granddaughters of Queen Wilhelmina, who had herself taken refuge in Britain. The Dutch Brigade came into action in Normandy on 17 August to the east of the river Orne. It won fame particularly through the heavy fighting at the Saint-Côme Castle near Bréville-les-Monts. On 23 August the troops received the visit of Prince Bernhard, Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the Netherlands. Three days later, together with the British 6th Airborne Division, they liberated the town of Pont-Audemer. Engaged in Operation Paddle, they reached the River Seine on 30 August 1944. After the Normandy campaign, the Irene Brigade took part in the liberation of Northern France and Belgium, before returning to liberate the south part of their native land in September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden.

 Les troupes néerlandaises en Normandie Oddziały holenderskie w Normandii Nederlandse troepen in Normandië Niederländische Truppen in der Normandie Truppe olandesi in Normandia Dutch troops in Normandy

​​The German forces had long created the defences around the city of Le Havre, these formed part of the ‘Atlantic Wall’ defences. New defensive positions were installed along the coastline and port area. Old French fort defensive positions had been fortified and used as well, this included the Dollemard battery located north west of the city.&nbsp;​The German forces knew that the Allies would look to capture deep-water ports and use them once an invasion had taken place. Le Havre was one of the most important and busiest ports in France, the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) had also used it extensively. The Allied Navy had tried to prevent the use of the port by laying minefield belts in the area of the bay of the Seine and the English Channel.&nbsp;​The Germans looked to fortify the port, not only by the expansion of the Atlantic Wall. The Germans deployed over 110 artillery and naval guns in the area. These would look out to see and land approaches to the city. The German forces that had garrisoned there were around 8,000 men of the 226th and 245th Infantry Divisions. Some Kreigsmarine personnel remained at the time of the battle for the city. The Germans had also created a large number of anti-tank ditches in an effort to protect it from attacks from the east. These ran from Montivillers to Octeville-sur-Mer.&nbsp;​The port itself sat at the mouth of the estuary of the Seine River and gave direct access to the river and to the Bay of the Seine. The western side of the river Seine had been liberated and in allied hands since to conclusion of Operation Paddle in late August. The British and Canadian forces had then moved south and crossed the Seine in Elbuf before then heading north once again.&nbsp;​The Germans, by early September, were in full withdrawal eastwards across France. Some of the major ports remained garrisoned by German forces. They eventually destroyed and skuttle ports beyond use by the allies.&nbsp;​Those who remained in the area of Le Havre were quickly encircled by the British 49th Infantry Division and the 51st Highland Division. They were left to fall back to the defences in and around Le Havre. On 10 September, the British units advanced to liberate the city.&nbsp;​The population of the city was originally 50,000 inhabitants. By the time of 10 September, 15,000 remained and needed shelter as the battle began.​&nbsp;&nbsp;

port_and_beach_of_le_havre_2015.jpg

digue_du_havre_20191222.jpg

Festung le Havre

​​The German forces had long created the defences around the city of Le Havre, these formed part of the ‘Atlantic Wall’ defences. New defensive positions were installed along the coastline and port area. Old French fort defensive positions had been fortified and used as well, this included the Dollemard battery located north west of the city.&nbsp;​The German forces knew that the Allies would look to capture deep-water ports and use them once an invasion had taken place. Le Havre was one of the most important and busiest ports in France, the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) had also used it extensively. The Allied Navy had tried to prevent the use of the port by laying minefield belts in the area of the bay of the Seine and the English Channel.&nbsp;​The Germans looked to fortify the port, not only by the expansion of the Atlantic Wall. The Germans deployed over 110 artillery and naval guns in the area. These would look out to see and land approaches to the city. The German forces that had garrisoned there were around 8,000 men of the 226th and 245th Infantry Divisions. Some Kreigsmarine personnel remained at the time of the battle for the city. The Germans had also created a large number of anti-tank ditches in an effort to protect it from attacks from the east. These ran from Montivillers to Octeville-sur-Mer.&nbsp;​The port itself sat at the mouth of the estuary of the Seine River and gave direct access to the river and to the Bay of the Seine. The western side of the river Seine had been liberated and in allied hands since to conclusion of Operation Paddle in late August. The British and Canadian forces had then moved south and crossed the Seine in Elbuf before then heading north once again.&nbsp;​The Germans, by early September, were in full withdrawal eastwards across France. Some of the major ports remained garrisoned by German forces. They eventually destroyed and skuttle ports beyond use by the allies.&nbsp;​Those who remained in the area of Le Havre were quickly encircled by the British 49th Infantry Division and the 51st Highland Division. They were left to fall back to the defences in and around Le Havre. On 10 September, the British units advanced to liberate the city.&nbsp;​The population of the city was originally 50,000 inhabitants. By the time of 10 September, 15,000 remained and needed shelter as the battle began.​&nbsp;&nbsp; Pendant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, les forces allemandes ont créé des défenses autour de la ville du Havre, qui font partie des défenses du "Mur de l'Atlantique". De nouvelles positions défensives sont installées le long de la côte et dans la zone portuaire. D'anciennes positions défensives françaises ont également été fortifiées et utilisées, notamment la batterie Dollemard située au nord-ouest de la ville.Les forces allemandes savaient que les Alliés chercheraient à s'emparer des ports en eau profonde et à les utiliser une fois leur attaque réussie. Le Havre était l'un des ports les plus importants et les plus actifs de France, et la marine allemande (Kriegsmarine) l'avait également beaucoup utilisé. La marine alliée avait tenté d'empêcher l'utilisation du port en posant des champs de mines dans la région de la baie de Seine et de la Manche.Les occupants Allemands ont cherché à fortifier le port, et pas seulement par l'expansion du Mur de l'Atlantique. Ainsi, ils déploient plus de 110 pièces d'artillerie et canons navals dans la région, permettant de surveiller les approches terrestres de la ville. Les forces allemandes qui y tiennent garnison sont composées d'environ 8 000 hommes des 226e et 245e divisions d'infanterie. Quelques membres du personnel de la Kreigsmarine sont restés au moment de la bataille du Havre. Les Allemands avaient également créé un grand nombre de fossés antichars afin de protéger la ville des attaques venant de l'est. Ces fossés s'étendaient de Montivillers à Octeville-sur-Mer.Le port lui-même se trouvait à l'embouchure de l'estuaire de la Seine et donnait un accès idéal direct au fleuve et à la baie de Seine. La rive occidentale de la Seine avait été libérée et se trouvait aux mains des alliés depuis la fin de l'opération Paddle à la fin du mois d'août. Les forces britanniques et canadiennes se sont alors déplacées vers le sud et ont traversé la Seine à Elbuf avant de se diriger à nouveau vers le nord.Début septembre 1944, les forces Allemandes sont en plein repli vers l'est de la France, et continuent à tenir des garnisons dans certains des principaux ports. Elles finissent par détruire les ports de débarquement et les mettre hors d'usage pour les alliés.Ceux qui restent dans la région du Havre sont rapidement encerclés par la 49e division d'infanterie britannique et la 51e division des Highlands. Le 10 septembre, les unités britanniques avancent pour libérer la ville.La population de la ville était à l'origine de 50 000 habitants. Le 10 septembre, il n'en restait plus que 15 000, qui avaient besoin d'un abri au début de la bataille.

 Forteresse du Havre Festung le Havre

​​​For four weeks, the British soldiers had been held back by the German forces that occupied the village and defensive positions all to the north of the city.&nbsp;Following an intense pre-bombardment on the evening of 7 July 1944, the men would then begin to advance towards the city from 04:20 on 8 July. The men of the British 3rd Infantry Division needed to advance beyond the German defences in the Epron and Lebisey area. They would then enter the city on 9 July.&nbsp;On the night of 7 July, recorded in the British war diaries, the pre-bombardment was recorded as a grand show and morale booster for the men. They had been static for weeks and this sight meant they would soon be advancing. Little would then know of what was unfolding on the ground in Caen.&nbsp;The bombing had overshot the target area, causing the destruction of hundreds of buildings and killing many of the civilian population. The infantry that began to enter the city encountered two problems. The first was the amount of rubble from destroyed and damaged buildings that made the road impassable to vehicles. Secondly, the residents of Caen, now homeless, moved to the north of the city into the rear army lines. These displaced people, or refugees as the war diaries referred to them, now needed to be cared for.&nbsp;By the end of 9 July, the British had reached the centre and, on 10 July, occupied the northern bank of the Orne River, which was the objective. Both the 1st Kings Own Scottish Borderers and 2nd Kings Shropshire Light Infantry held this line looking out over the southern half of the city.&nbsp;Operation Charnwood was extensively photographed and videoed by the Army Film and Photography Unit. A collection of photographs was captured of the men in Rue des Chanoines and Rue Montoir Poissonnerie. Some of these photographs were staged, such as the anti-tank gun pointing back up the hill towards Abbaye aux Dames de Caen. Some of the buildings in the photographs remain today, whilst some were badly damaged and demolished.&nbsp;Looking toward Eglise Saint-Pierre de Caen, another photograph from 9 July shows soldiers in the street and a Sherman tank parked up. The bomb damage to the church is clearly visible. The view is different today due to the new buildings that were built post-war in the rebuilding of Caen.&nbsp;

​​British 3rd Infantry Division enter Caen​   

​​​For four weeks, the British soldiers had been held back by the German forces that occupied the village and defensive positions all to the north of the city.&nbsp;Following an intense pre-bombardment on the evening of 7 July 1944, the men would then begin to advance towards the city from 04:20 on 8 July. The men of the British 3rd Infantry Division needed to advance beyond the German defences in the Epron and Lebisey area. They would then enter the city on 9 July.&nbsp;On the night of 7 July, recorded in the British war diaries, the pre-bombardment was recorded as a grand show and morale booster for the men. They had been static for weeks and this sight meant they would soon be advancing. Little would then know of what was unfolding on the ground in Caen.&nbsp;The bombing had overshot the target area, causing the destruction of hundreds of buildings and killing many of the civilian population. The infantry that began to enter the city encountered two problems. The first was the amount of rubble from destroyed and damaged buildings that made the road impassable to vehicles. Secondly, the residents of Caen, now homeless, moved to the north of the city into the rear army lines. These displaced people, or refugees as the war diaries referred to them, now needed to be cared for.&nbsp;By the end of 9 July, the British had reached the centre and, on 10 July, occupied the northern bank of the Orne River, which was the objective. Both the 1st Kings Own Scottish Borderers and 2nd Kings Shropshire Light Infantry held this line looking out over the southern half of the city.&nbsp;Operation Charnwood was extensively photographed and videoed by the Army Film and Photography Unit. A collection of photographs was captured of the men in Rue des Chanoines and Rue Montoir Poissonnerie. Some of these photographs were staged, such as the anti-tank gun pointing back up the hill towards Abbaye aux Dames de Caen. Some of the buildings in the photographs remain today, whilst some were badly damaged and demolished.&nbsp;Looking toward Eglise Saint-Pierre de Caen, another photograph from 9 July shows soldiers in the street and a Sherman tank parked up. The bomb damage to the church is clearly visible. The view is different today due to the new buildings that were built post-war in the rebuilding of Caen.&nbsp; Depuisquatre semaines, les soldats britanniques sont retenus par les forces allemandes qui occupent le village et des positions défensives tout au nord de la ville.Après un intense pré-bombardement dans la soirée du 7 juillet 1944, les hommes commencent à avancer vers la ville à partir de 4h20 le 8 juillet. Les hommes de la 3e division d'infanterie britannique doivent dépasser les défenses allemandes dans la région d'Epron et de Lebisey. Ils entreront ensuite dans la ville le 9 juillet.La nuit du 7 juillet, consignée dans les journaux de guerre britanniques, le pré-bombardement a été considéré comme un grand spectacle et un stimulant pour le moral des hommes. Ils étaient restés statiques pendant des semaines et ce spectacle signifiait qu'ils allaient bientôt avancer. On ne sait pas grand-chose de ce qui se passe sur le terrain à Caen.Les bombardements ont dépassé la zone cible, causant la destruction de centaines de bâtiments et tuant une grande partie de la population civile. L'infanterie qui commence à entrer dans la ville se heurte à deux problèmes. Tout d'abord, la quantité de gravats provenant des bâtiments détruits et endommagés rend la route impraticable pour les véhicules. Deuxièmement, les habitants de Caen, désormais sans abri, se déplacent vers le nord de la ville, dans les lignes de l'armée de l'arrière. Ces personnes déplacées, ou réfugiés comme les appellent les journaux de guerre, doivent maintenant être prises en charge.À la fin du 9 juillet, les Britanniques ont atteint le centre de la ville et, le 10 juillet, ils occupent la rive nord de l'Orne, qui est leur objectif. Le 1st Kings Own Scottish Borderers et le 2nd Kings Shropshire Light Infantry tenaient tous deux cette ligne qui donnait sur la moitié sud de la ville.L'opération Charnwood a été largement photographiée et filmée par l'unité de film et de photographie de l'armée. Une collection de photographies a été prise des hommes de la rue des Chanoines et de la rue Montoir Poissonnerie. Certaines de ces photographies ont été mises en scène, comme le canon antichar pointant vers la colline en direction de l'Abbaye aux Dames de Caen. Certains des bâtiments photographiés subsistent aujourd'hui, tandis que d'autres ont été gravement endommagés et démolis.En regardant vers l'église Saint-Pierre de Caen, une autre photographie du 9 juillet montre des soldats dans la rue et un char Sherman stationné. Les dommages causés par les bombes à l'église sont clairement visibles. La vue est différente aujourd'hui en raison des nouveaux bâtiments construits après la guerre dans le cadre de la reconstruction de Caen.

 La 3e division d'infanterie britannique entre à Caen    ​​British 3rd Infantry Division enter Caen​   

​​Camille was the son of Leon Paul Blaisot and Victorine Marie Louise Levavasseur. He studied law at the Valognes College. In 1914, he became a member of parliament for the region of Calvados.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​From 27 January 1931 to 16 February 1932, he held the office of Minister of Public Health. He also served in three successive governments led by Pierre Laval and Andre Tardieu. For six months from 1935 to 1936, he was also the undersecretary of State to the presidency of the council.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​In the 1930's Camille was associated with the Liberty Front, a political party that had links towards communism with its views and outlook. He was a supporter of the French arms trade with the Soviet Union.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​With the German occupation of France and the creation of the Vichy Government, led by Marshal Philippe Petain, Camille did not vote on matters. This would eventually lead to his being arrested at this house on 2 March 1944. His attitude and activities had been noted by the German security forces, the Gestapo, leading to their making an arrest.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​Camille was taken from here and imprisoned in the Royallieu Camp, near Compiegne. On 18 June he was deported on a convoy with 2,143 others to Dachau concentration camp. Upon arrival at the camp, he was registered and given the number 74305.&nbsp;​Camille would never be free again; he died on 24 January 1945 whilst imprisoned at Dachau.&nbsp;​He is remembered and commemorated at his former house with two plaques. Numerous schools and roads have also been named after him. ​&nbsp;

Camille Blaisot

​​Camille was the son of Leon Paul Blaisot and Victorine Marie Louise Levavasseur. He studied law at the Valognes College. In 1914, he became a member of parliament for the region of Calvados.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​From 27 January 1931 to 16 February 1932, he held the office of Minister of Public Health. He also served in three successive governments led by Pierre Laval and Andre Tardieu. For six months from 1935 to 1936, he was also the undersecretary of State to the presidency of the council.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​In the 1930's Camille was associated with the Liberty Front, a political party that had links towards communism with its views and outlook. He was a supporter of the French arms trade with the Soviet Union.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​With the German occupation of France and the creation of the Vichy Government, led by Marshal Philippe Petain, Camille did not vote on matters. This would eventually lead to his being arrested at this house on 2 March 1944. His attitude and activities had been noted by the German security forces, the Gestapo, leading to their making an arrest.&nbsp;​&nbsp;​Camille was taken from here and imprisoned in the Royallieu Camp, near Compiegne. On 18 June he was deported on a convoy with 2,143 others to Dachau concentration camp. Upon arrival at the camp, he was registered and given the number 74305.&nbsp;​Camille would never be free again; he died on 24 January 1945 whilst imprisoned at Dachau.&nbsp;​He is remembered and commemorated at his former house with two plaques. Numerous schools and roads have also been named after him. ​&nbsp; Camille est le fils de Léon Paul Blaisot et de Victorine Marie Louise Levavasseur. Il étudie le droit au collège de Valognes. En 1914, il devient député du Calvados.Du 27 janvier 1931 au 16 février 1932, il occupe le poste de ministre de la Santé publique. Il fait également partie de trois gouvernements successifs dirigés par Pierre Laval et André Tardieu. Pendant six mois, de 1935 à 1936, il est également sous-secrétaire d'État à la présidence du Conseil.Dans les années 1930, Camille est associé au Front de la liberté, un parti politique dont les opinions et les perspectives se rapprochent du communisme. Il était partisan du commerce d'armes entre la France et l'Union soviétique.Avec l'occupation allemande de la France et la création du gouvernement de Vichy, dirigé par le maréchal Philippe Pétain, Camille ne vote pas. C'est ce qui lui vaudra d'être arrêté dans cette maison le 2 mars 1944. Son attitude et ses activités avaient été remarquées par les forces de sécurité allemandes, la Gestapo, ce qui a conduit à son arrestation.Camille est emmené et emprisonné au camp de Royallieu, près de Compiègne. Le 18 juin, il est déporté en convoi avec 2 143 autres personnes vers le camp de concentration de Dachau. À son arrivée au camp, il est enregistré et reçoit le numéro 74305.Camille ne sera plus jamais libre ; il meurt le 24 janvier 1945 alors qu'il est emprisonné à Dachau.Deux plaques commémoratives sont apposées dans son ancienne maison. De nombreuses écoles et routes portent également son nom.

 Camille Blaisot Camille Blaisot

​​The church was first constructed in the 14th century, and further work continued in the 16th century. The church was never fully completed; hence, when you look at the spires, they are not present.&nbsp;​The church was built on marshland in this area. Added to the fact that the ground is marl. This is a clay, limestone, and sand, meaning that it is soft. When you look at the front of the church, you can see the subsidence and lean of the tower. This was not caused by the bombings of the city.&nbsp;​Following the Allied bombings of the city of Caen between 6 June and 7 July 1944, the church sustained a significant amount of damage. It was not destroyed, unlike all the surrounding buildings that would eventually be cleared.&nbsp;​When the reconstruction commenced, Rue Saint-Jean was routed so that from the front of the church, Chateau Caen can be viewed and vice versa. The church needed extensive support to be put in place due to the sinking; this meant pillars 15-18 metres deep were driven under the church to stabilise it.&nbsp;​Many of the churches around the city of Caen would become a place of refuge for the residents. Whether sheltering from bombings in the crypts or seeking humanitarian aid due to the loss of houses. Each church has its own story to tell from a civilian perspective.&nbsp;​Within the church are numerous display panels which catalogue the bombings of Caen and the rebuilding of the church. This can be viewed during church opening hours and is free to access.​&nbsp;

L'église saint Jean

​​The church was first constructed in the 14th century, and further work continued in the 16th century. The church was never fully completed; hence, when you look at the spires, they are not present.&nbsp;​The church was built on marshland in this area. Added to the fact that the ground is marl. This is a clay, limestone, and sand, meaning that it is soft. When you look at the front of the church, you can see the subsidence and lean of the tower. This was not caused by the bombings of the city.&nbsp;​Following the Allied bombings of the city of Caen between 6 June and 7 July 1944, the church sustained a significant amount of damage. It was not destroyed, unlike all the surrounding buildings that would eventually be cleared.&nbsp;​When the reconstruction commenced, Rue Saint-Jean was routed so that from the front of the church, Chateau Caen can be viewed and vice versa. The church needed extensive support to be put in place due to the sinking; this meant pillars 15-18 metres deep were driven under the church to stabilise it.&nbsp;​Many of the churches around the city of Caen would become a place of refuge for the residents. Whether sheltering from bombings in the crypts or seeking humanitarian aid due to the loss of houses. Each church has its own story to tell from a civilian perspective.&nbsp;​Within the church are numerous display panels which catalogue the bombings of Caen and the rebuilding of the church. This can be viewed during church opening hours and is free to access.​&nbsp; L'église a été construite pour la première fois au 14e siècle, et les travaux se sont poursuivis au 16e siècle. L'église n'a jamais été complètement achevée, c'est pourquoi les flèches ne sont pas présentes.L'église a été construite sur les marécages de la région. À cela s'ajoute le fait que le sol est marneux. Il s'agit d'un mélange d'argile, de calcaire et de sable, ce qui signifie qu'il est mou. Quand on regarde la façade de l'église, on peut voir l'affaissement et l'inclinaison de la tour. Cet affaissement n'a pas été causé par les bombardements de la ville.Suite aux bombardements alliés sur la ville de Caen entre le 6 juin et le 7 juillet 1944, l'église a subi des dégâts importants mais elle n'a pas été détruite, contrairement à tous les bâtiments environnants qui ont été dégagés par la suite.Lors de la reconstruction, la rue Saint-Jean a été déviée de façon à ce que l'on puisse voir le château de Caen depuis la façade de l'église et vice versa. L'affaissement de l'église a nécessité la mise en place d'un important dispositif de soutien. Des piliers de 15 à 18 mètres de profondeur ont ainsi été enfoncés sous l'église pour la stabiliser.De nombreuses églises autour de la ville de Caen sont devenues des lieux de refuge pour les habitants. Qu'il s'agisse de s'abriter des bombardements dans les cryptes ou de chercher de l'aide humanitaire suite à la perte de maisons. Chaque église a sa propre histoire à raconter du point de vue des civils.Dans l'église, de nombreux panneaux d'exposition répertorient les bombardements de Caen et la reconstruction de l'église. Ces panneaux sont accessibles gratuitement pendant les heures d'ouverture de l'église.

 L'église saint Jean L'église saint Jean

​​During the Second World War and before the evening of 7 July 1944, the area surrounding the memorial was very different from how it is today. This was a residential area of many houses that lined the streets. A road ran to the south of the church all the way to the canal basin to the east.&nbsp;​Following the pre-bombardment for Operation Charnwood on 7 July, the majority of the houses in this area were destroyed or would end up being demolished. This was due to the sheer amount of damage that was caused by the Allied bombing raid.&nbsp;​Following the clearing and rebuilding of the area, as you see it today, this is now known as Place de la Résistance. The large grassed area has a gold leaf statue of Joan of Arc. She is a patron saint of France and is honoured as a defender of the French nation.&nbsp;​The opposite side of the road is the memorial on the grass verge. The memorial was inaugurated in 1961 and is dedicated to the memory of those shot and deported from the city of Caen, who fell in the fight for the honour and liberation of the fatherland, 1940-1945.&nbsp;

Place de la résistance

​​During the Second World War and before the evening of 7 July 1944, the area surrounding the memorial was very different from how it is today. This was a residential area of many houses that lined the streets. A road ran to the south of the church all the way to the canal basin to the east.&nbsp;​Following the pre-bombardment for Operation Charnwood on 7 July, the majority of the houses in this area were destroyed or would end up being demolished. This was due to the sheer amount of damage that was caused by the Allied bombing raid.&nbsp;​Following the clearing and rebuilding of the area, as you see it today, this is now known as Place de la Résistance. The large grassed area has a gold leaf statue of Joan of Arc. She is a patron saint of France and is honoured as a defender of the French nation.&nbsp;​The opposite side of the road is the memorial on the grass verge. The memorial was inaugurated in 1961 and is dedicated to the memory of those shot and deported from the city of Caen, who fell in the fight for the honour and liberation of the fatherland, 1940-1945.&nbsp; Pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale et avant la soirée du 7 juillet 1944, la zone entourant le mémorial était très différente de ce qu'elle est aujourd'hui. Il s'agissait d'un quartier résidentiel où de nombreuses maisons bordaient les rues. Une route s'étendait au sud de l'église jusqu'au bassin du canal à l'est.À la suite du bombardement préalable à l'opération Charnwood, le 7 juillet, la majorité des maisons de ce quartier ont été détruites ou ont fini par être démolies. Cela est dû à l'ampleur des dégâts causés par les bombardements alliés.Après le déblaiement et la reconstruction du quartier, tel que vous le voyez aujourd'hui, celui-ci est désormais connu sous le nom de Place de la Résistance. La grande pelouse est ornée d'une statue en feuilles d'or de Jeanne d'Arc. Elle est la sainte patronne de la France et est honorée en tant que défenseur de la nation française.De l'autre côté de la route se trouve le mémorial sur l'accotement. Le mémorial a été inauguré en 1961 et est dédié à la mémoire des fusillés et déportés de la ville de Caen, tombés au combat pour l'honneur et la libération de la patrie, de 1940 à 1945.

 Place de la résistance Place de la résistance

​​On 25 June 1924, William F Finley was born in Macon, Macon County, Illinois, USA. He enlisted and served in the 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.&nbsp;​The Division was one of the first US combat units to see action in the Pacific theatre of war. They would then be redeployed to Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943. They would be withdrawn from Italy and sent to the UK for training prior to D-Day, 6 June 1944. They would land on Utah Beach on D+4, 10 June. They would immediately push northwards and towards the city of Cherbourg.&nbsp;​Initially, the 39th Infantry Regiment was attached to the US 4th Infantry Division as they pushed along the eastern coastline of the Cotentin. The regiment was known as the ‘Anything, Anywhere, Anytime- Bar Nothing!’ Following the capture of Quineville, the Regiment returned to the Division.&nbsp;Between 14 and 25 June, the Division fought against stubbornly well-placed German defences. They slowly surrounded the city as the Germans started to use the port's defences, but slowly the Americans neutralised this threat. The port had been scuttled and badly damaged beyond use. The German forces surrendered the following day.&nbsp;​It was here at the Hotel de Ville that Sergeant William F. Finley became the first US soldier to arrive. This is commemorated with a plaque to him.&nbsp;​He went on to follow the American advance into Germany. During his active service, he was awarded a Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart. He died of wounds on 1 April 1945 and is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten. His final gallantry award, a silver star, was awarded posthumously.&nbsp;​‘The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant William F. Finley (ASN: 35782572), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 9th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 12 December 1944, in the vicinity of Derichweiler, Germany. While accompanying his company commander on a reconnaissance mission, Sergeant Finley was subjected to intense enemy machine pistol fire. Working his way around to the front of the house, he then crawled across the roof of a barn, although he was exposed to the direct observation and fire of the enemy located in the shed of the barn. Opening fire on the shed with his rifle, he then jumped from the rooftop and raced to the window of the shed. He threw two hand grenades inside the building and killed two enemy soldiers, neutralizing a mortar observation post. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.’​&nbsp;&nbsp;

​​Sergeant William F.Finley​ 

​​On 25 June 1924, William F Finley was born in Macon, Macon County, Illinois, USA. He enlisted and served in the 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.&nbsp;​The Division was one of the first US combat units to see action in the Pacific theatre of war. They would then be redeployed to Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943. They would be withdrawn from Italy and sent to the UK for training prior to D-Day, 6 June 1944. They would land on Utah Beach on D+4, 10 June. They would immediately push northwards and towards the city of Cherbourg.&nbsp;​Initially, the 39th Infantry Regiment was attached to the US 4th Infantry Division as they pushed along the eastern coastline of the Cotentin. The regiment was known as the ‘Anything, Anywhere, Anytime- Bar Nothing!’ Following the capture of Quineville, the Regiment returned to the Division.&nbsp;Between 14 and 25 June, the Division fought against stubbornly well-placed German defences. They slowly surrounded the city as the Germans started to use the port's defences, but slowly the Americans neutralised this threat. The port had been scuttled and badly damaged beyond use. The German forces surrendered the following day.&nbsp;​It was here at the Hotel de Ville that Sergeant William F. Finley became the first US soldier to arrive. This is commemorated with a plaque to him.&nbsp;​He went on to follow the American advance into Germany. During his active service, he was awarded a Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart. He died of wounds on 1 April 1945 and is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten. His final gallantry award, a silver star, was awarded posthumously.&nbsp;​‘The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant William F. Finley (ASN: 35782572), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 9th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 12 December 1944, in the vicinity of Derichweiler, Germany. While accompanying his company commander on a reconnaissance mission, Sergeant Finley was subjected to intense enemy machine pistol fire. Working his way around to the front of the house, he then crawled across the roof of a barn, although he was exposed to the direct observation and fire of the enemy located in the shed of the barn. Opening fire on the shed with his rifle, he then jumped from the rooftop and raced to the window of the shed. He threw two hand grenades inside the building and killed two enemy soldiers, neutralizing a mortar observation post. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.’​&nbsp;&nbsp; William F Finley est néle25 juin 1924 à Macon, Macon County, Illinois, États-Unis. Il s'est engagé et a servi dans le 39e régiment d'infanterie, 9e division d'infanterie.Cette division a été l'une des premières unités de combat américaines à prendre part aux combats sur le théâtre de guerre du Pacifique. Elle a ensuite été redéployée en Afrique en 1942 et en Italie en 1943. Elle sera retirée d'Italie et envoyée au Royaume-Uni pour s'entraîner avant le jour J, le 6 juin 1944. Ils débarquent à Utah Beach à J+4, le 10 juin. Ils se dirigent immédiatement vers le nord et la ville de Cherbourg.Initialement, le 39e régiment d'infanterie était rattaché à la 4e division d'infanterie américaine qui poussait le long de la côte est du Cotentin. Le régiment était connu sous le nom de "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing !" ("Tout, partout, à tout moment, sans exception"). Après la prise de Quineville, le régiment retourne à la division qui, entre le 14 et le 25 juin, se bat contre des défenses allemandes obstinément bien placées. Ils encerclent lentement la ville alors que les Allemands commencent à utiliser les défenses du port, mais les Américains neutralisent peu à peu cette menace. Le port a été sabordé et gravement endommagé. Les forces allemandes se sont rendues le lendemain.C'est ici, à l'Hôtel de Ville, que le sergent William F. Finley fut le premier soldat américain à arriver. Une plaque commémorative lui est dédiée.Il suivit ensuite l'avancée américaine en Allemagne. Au cours de son service, il a été décoré d'une Étoile de bronze avec deux Oak eaf Clusters et d'un Purple Heart. Il est mort de ses blessures le 1er avril 1945 et est enterré au cimetière américain des Pays-Bas, à Margraten. Sa dernière récompense pour bravoure, une étoile d'argent, lui a été décernée à titre posthume.Leprésident des États-Unis d'Amérique, autorisé par la loi du Congrès du 9 juillet 1918, est fier de remettre la Silver Star (à titre posthume) au sergent William F. Finley (ASN : 35782572), de l'armée des États-Unis, pour la bravoure dont il a fait preuve au combat alors qu'il servait dans la 9e division d'infanterie, au cours d'une action contre l'ennemi le 12 décembre 1944, dans les environs de Derichweiler, en Allemagne. Alors qu'il accompagnait son commandant de compagnie lors d'une mission de reconnaissance, le sergent Finley a été soumis à d'intenses tirs de pistolets-mitrailleurs ennemis. Se frayant un chemin jusqu'à l'avant de la maison, il a ensuite rampé sur le toit d'une grange, bien qu'il ait été exposé à l'observation directe et aux tirs de l'ennemi situé dans le hangar de la grange. Ouvrant le feu sur la remise avec son fusil, il a ensuite sauté du toit et s'est précipité vers la fenêtre de la remise. Il a lancé deux grenades à main à l'intérieur du bâtiment et a tué deux soldats ennemis, neutralisant ainsi un poste d'observation de mortier. Ses actes de bravoure et son dévouement au devoir, sans égard pour sa propre vie, étaient conformes aux plus hautes traditions du service militaire et font grand honneur à lui-même, à son unité et à l'armée des États-Unis.

 Sergent William F.Finley  ​​Sergeant William F.Finley​ 

​​The memorial was the intention of a former resistance fighter and deportee of Cherbourg. In 1952, Marcel Leclerc wanted a memorial to remember those who had been killed by the Nazi’s during the occupation.&nbsp;​In 1956, the Marie, René Schmitt honoured this with the construction and inauguration of the memorial. The memorial is a tall triangle design with a tip that represents the resistance driving against the oppression. &nbsp;​At the base of the memorial are sixteen urns that are buried. Each contains the ashes of resistance fighters of the Beaucoudray maquis, Saint-Jean-du-Corail, Jura, and Vercors. Some of the urns contain the soil from extermination camps.&nbsp;​Marcel Leclerc, who wanted the memorial, was born in Cherbourg in 1899. He worked as a teacher and, during the Second World War founded the Liberation-Nord network in 1942 alongside René Schmitt. In 1943 he was arrested in Saint-James alongside some of his students from Cherbourg. On 11 November 1943, he was transported to Natzweiler-Struthof, Germany. He survived his time in the camp, being evacuated to Dachau in September 1944. He was released on 29 April 1945 and returned to Cherbourg on 3 June. He was lucky to survive, unlike many others who stood up to resistance.&nbsp;​The transportation that Marcel Leclerc was on saw five others who worked in Cherbourg or close by being deported.&nbsp;​Raymond Brule worked in a local distillery, he was a veteran of the First World War, he joined the resistance in 1942. In 1943 his network was infiltrated by the Gestapo, which led to his deportation. He would eventually be transported to Gross-Rosen concentration camp. In appalling conditions, he would die on 17 December 1944.&nbsp;​Alfred Duros worked with Raymond Brule and joined the resistance at the same time. He was arrested at the same time and was also part of the 11 November transportation. He followed Brule to the same camp in Poland before being moved to Dachau. He would die on 30 April 1945, the day after the liberation of the camp by American forces.&nbsp;​Emile Lecarpentier from Octeville joined the resistance. He would distribute leaflets and sheltered resistance fighters. He was arrested on 7 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He would be sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would die there on 26 May 1944.&nbsp;​Louis Legaigneur was arrested on 4 September 1943 for cutting telephone cables in Gatteville-le-Phare. He was deported on 11 November to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would be evacuated from here in September to Dachau. He would die there on 30 January 1945.&nbsp;​Angel Leparquier worked locally in Cherbourg arsenal factories. He was an active part of the resistance and would carry out acts of sabotage. He was arrested on 9 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He was sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany, and would die there on 7 May 1944.&nbsp;​The memorial stands as a reminder to those brave acts carried out by many, such as these local men.&nbsp;

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

​​The memorial was the intention of a former resistance fighter and deportee of Cherbourg. In 1952, Marcel Leclerc wanted a memorial to remember those who had been killed by the Nazi’s during the occupation.&nbsp;​In 1956, the Marie, René Schmitt honoured this with the construction and inauguration of the memorial. The memorial is a tall triangle design with a tip that represents the resistance driving against the oppression. &nbsp;​At the base of the memorial are sixteen urns that are buried. Each contains the ashes of resistance fighters of the Beaucoudray maquis, Saint-Jean-du-Corail, Jura, and Vercors. Some of the urns contain the soil from extermination camps.&nbsp;​Marcel Leclerc, who wanted the memorial, was born in Cherbourg in 1899. He worked as a teacher and, during the Second World War founded the Liberation-Nord network in 1942 alongside René Schmitt. In 1943 he was arrested in Saint-James alongside some of his students from Cherbourg. On 11 November 1943, he was transported to Natzweiler-Struthof, Germany. He survived his time in the camp, being evacuated to Dachau in September 1944. He was released on 29 April 1945 and returned to Cherbourg on 3 June. He was lucky to survive, unlike many others who stood up to resistance.&nbsp;​The transportation that Marcel Leclerc was on saw five others who worked in Cherbourg or close by being deported.&nbsp;​Raymond Brule worked in a local distillery, he was a veteran of the First World War, he joined the resistance in 1942. In 1943 his network was infiltrated by the Gestapo, which led to his deportation. He would eventually be transported to Gross-Rosen concentration camp. In appalling conditions, he would die on 17 December 1944.&nbsp;​Alfred Duros worked with Raymond Brule and joined the resistance at the same time. He was arrested at the same time and was also part of the 11 November transportation. He followed Brule to the same camp in Poland before being moved to Dachau. He would die on 30 April 1945, the day after the liberation of the camp by American forces.&nbsp;​Emile Lecarpentier from Octeville joined the resistance. He would distribute leaflets and sheltered resistance fighters. He was arrested on 7 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He would be sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would die there on 26 May 1944.&nbsp;​Louis Legaigneur was arrested on 4 September 1943 for cutting telephone cables in Gatteville-le-Phare. He was deported on 11 November to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would be evacuated from here in September to Dachau. He would die there on 30 January 1945.&nbsp;​Angel Leparquier worked locally in Cherbourg arsenal factories. He was an active part of the resistance and would carry out acts of sabotage. He was arrested on 9 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He was sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany, and would die there on 7 May 1944.&nbsp;​The memorial stands as a reminder to those brave acts carried out by many, such as these local men.&nbsp; Le mémorial est né de la volonté d'un ancien résistant et déporté de Cherbourg. En 1952, Marcel Leclerc souhaitait qu'un mémorial soit érigé à la mémoire de ceux qui avaient été tués par les nazis pendant l'occupation.En 1956, la Marie, René Schmitt, a honoré cette volonté en construisant et en inaugurant le mémorial. Le mémorial est un grand triangle dont la pointe représente la résistance à l'oppression.À la base du mémorial, seize urnes sont enterrées. Chacune contient les cendres de résistants du maquis de Beaucoudray, de Saint-Jean-du-Corail, du Jura et du Vercors. Certaines urnes contiennent de la terre des camps d'extermination.Marcel Leclerc, à l'origine du mémorial, est né à Cherbourg en 1899. Il travaille comme instituteur et, pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, fonde en 1942 le réseau Libération-Nord aux côtés de René Schmitt. En 1943, il est arrêté à Saint-James avec certains de ses élèves cherbourgeois. Le 11 novembre 1943, il est transporté à Natzweiler-Struthof, en Allemagne. Il survit à son séjour dans le camp et est évacué vers Dachau en septembre 1944. Il est libéré le 29 avril 1945 et revient à Cherbourg le 3 juin. Il a eu la chance de survivre, contrairement à beaucoup d'autres qui ont résisté.Lors du transport de Marcel Leclerc, cinq autres personnes qui travaillaient à Cherbourg ou dans les environs ont été déportées.Raymond Brule travaillait dans une distillerie locale ; c'était un ancien combattant de la Première Guerre mondiale, il s'était engagé dans la résistance en 1942. En 1943, son réseau est infiltré par la Gestapo, ce qui entraîne sa déportation. Il sera finalement transporté au camp de concentration de Gross-Rosen. Dans des conditions épouvantables, il y meurt le 17 décembre 1944.Alfred Duros travaille avec Raymond Brule et entre en résistance à la même époque. Il est arrêté en même temps que lui et fait partie du transport du 11 novembre. Il suit Brule dans le même camp en Pologne avant d'être transféré à Dachau. Il mourra le 30 avril 1945, au lendemain de la libération du camp par les forces américaines.Emile Lecarpentier, d'Octeville, entre dans la résistance. Il distribue des tracts et héberge des résistants. Il est arrêté le 7 mai 1943 et déporté le 11 novembre. Il est envoyé au camp de Natzweiler-Struthof, en Allemagne. Il y meurt le 26 mai 1944.Louis Legaigneur est arrêté le 4 septembre 1943 pour avoir coupé des câbles téléphoniques à Gatteville-le-Phare. Il est déporté le 11 novembre au camp de Natzweiler-Struthof, en Allemagne. Il en sera évacué en septembre vers Dachau. Il y meurt le 30 janvier 1945.Ange Leparquier travaille localement dans les usines de l'arsenal de Cherbourg. Il participe activement à la résistance et se livre à des actes de sabotage. Il est arrêté le 9 mai 1943 et déporté le 11 novembre. Il est envoyé au camp de Natzweiler-Struthof, en Allemagne, où il meurt le 7 mai 1944.Le mémorial rappelle les actes de bravoure accomplis par de nombreuses personnes, comme ces hommes de la région.

 Monument des martyrs de la résistance Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

​​The two ‘Battle Groups’ consisted of Royal Navy (RN) and United States Ships (USS), supported by additional naval craft and air force assets.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 included the battleship USS Nevada, a Pearl Harbour survivor. It was joined by cruisers USS Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy, HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise, along with destroyers USS Ellyson, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman, USS Emmons, USS Murphy and USS Gherardi.&nbsp;​Battle Group 2 comprised the battleships USS Texas and USS Arkansas, supported by destroyers USS Barton, USS O’Brien, USS Laffey, USS Hobson and USS Plunkett.&nbsp;​Each ship had air spotters operating in pairs to observe and relay the fall of naval gunfire. Ground officers also communicated directly with ships to call in or adjust fire.&nbsp;​At 09:40 on 25 June, the battle groups moved towards Cherbourg, positioned roughly 15 miles out to sea. Minesweepers led the approach, clearing paths while under fire from German coastal batteries.&nbsp;​By 09:50, Battle Group 2 reached its fire support area. From 18,000 yards, USS Arkansas opened fire on the Hamburg Battery at Fermanville. German guns returned fire. Most rounds missed, but USS Barton was damaged by a ricochet, and USS O’Brien was hit on the bridge.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 moved closer to shore, with destroyers laying smoke screens against incoming fire. They engaged the Querqueville Battery. After a four-hour duel, the battery was temporarily neutralised. HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise were both hit but remained operational.&nbsp;​At 12:12, ground forces began calling in fire missions. USS Nevada and USS Quincy engaged multiple inland targets over the next three and a half hours. USS Ellyson and HMS Glasgow supported attacks on Gruchy, where Glasgow fired a 54-round salvo that silenced the battery. USS Emmons targeted Fort De l’Est.&nbsp;​At 13:35, the USS Texas was struck by a shell from the Hamburg Battery. It was a dud and failed to explode. Supported by USS Arkansas, both ships continued to bombard the battery and another position nearby. Around 14:00, USS Nevada joined the attack.&nbsp;​By 15:00, the order was given to cease fire and withdraw.&nbsp;​General ‘Lightning Joe’ Collins of the US VII Corps later wrote to Admiral Morton Deyo, commander of the naval battle groups:&nbsp;​“The naval bombardment of the coastal batteries and the covering strong points around Cherbourg ... results were excellent, and did much to engage the enemy's fire while our troops stormed into Cherbourg from the rear.”&nbsp;

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

​​The two ‘Battle Groups’ consisted of Royal Navy (RN) and United States Ships (USS), supported by additional naval craft and air force assets.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 included the battleship USS Nevada, a Pearl Harbour survivor. It was joined by cruisers USS Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy, HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise, along with destroyers USS Ellyson, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman, USS Emmons, USS Murphy and USS Gherardi.&nbsp;​Battle Group 2 comprised the battleships USS Texas and USS Arkansas, supported by destroyers USS Barton, USS O’Brien, USS Laffey, USS Hobson and USS Plunkett.&nbsp;​Each ship had air spotters operating in pairs to observe and relay the fall of naval gunfire. Ground officers also communicated directly with ships to call in or adjust fire.&nbsp;​At 09:40 on 25 June, the battle groups moved towards Cherbourg, positioned roughly 15 miles out to sea. Minesweepers led the approach, clearing paths while under fire from German coastal batteries.&nbsp;​By 09:50, Battle Group 2 reached its fire support area. From 18,000 yards, USS Arkansas opened fire on the Hamburg Battery at Fermanville. German guns returned fire. Most rounds missed, but USS Barton was damaged by a ricochet, and USS O’Brien was hit on the bridge.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 moved closer to shore, with destroyers laying smoke screens against incoming fire. They engaged the Querqueville Battery. After a four-hour duel, the battery was temporarily neutralised. HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise were both hit but remained operational.&nbsp;​At 12:12, ground forces began calling in fire missions. USS Nevada and USS Quincy engaged multiple inland targets over the next three and a half hours. USS Ellyson and HMS Glasgow supported attacks on Gruchy, where Glasgow fired a 54-round salvo that silenced the battery. USS Emmons targeted Fort De l’Est.&nbsp;​At 13:35, the USS Texas was struck by a shell from the Hamburg Battery. It was a dud and failed to explode. Supported by USS Arkansas, both ships continued to bombard the battery and another position nearby. Around 14:00, USS Nevada joined the attack.&nbsp;​By 15:00, the order was given to cease fire and withdraw.&nbsp;​General ‘Lightning Joe’ Collins of the US VII Corps later wrote to Admiral Morton Deyo, commander of the naval battle groups:&nbsp;​“The naval bombardment of the coastal batteries and the covering strong points around Cherbourg ... results were excellent, and did much to engage the enemy's fire while our troops stormed into Cherbourg from the rear.”&nbsp; Les deux "groupes de combat" étaient composés de navires de la Royal Navy (RN) et de navires américains (USS), soutenus par des embarcations navales et des moyens aériens supplémentaires. Le premier groupe de bataille comprenait le cuirassé USS Nevada, un survivant de Pearl Harbour. Il a été rejoint par les croiseurs USS Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy, HMS Glasgow et HMS Enterprise, ainsi que par les destroyers USS Ellyson, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman, USS Emmons, USS Murphy et USS Gherardi. Le groupe de combat 2 était composé des cuirassés USS Texas et USS Arkansas, soutenus par les destroyers USS Barton, USS O'Brien, USS Laffey, USS Hobson et USS Plunkett. Chaque navire disposait de guetteurs aériens opérant par paires pour observer et relayer la chute des tirs navals. Les officiers au sol communiquent également directement avec les navires pour demander ou ajuster les tirs. À 9 h 40 le 25 juin, les groupements tactiques se dirigent vers Cherbourg, situé à environ 15 milles au large. Les dragueurs de mines mènent l'approche, dégageant les voies sous le feu des batteries côtières allemandes. À 9 h 50, le Battle Group 2 atteint sa zone d'appui-feu. À 18 000 mètres, l'USS Arkansas ouvre le feu sur la batterie de Hambourg à Fermanville. Les canons allemands ripostent. La plupart des tirs sont manqués, mais l'USS Barton est endommagé par un ricochet et l'USS O'Brien est touché sur le pont. Le groupement tactique 1 se rapproche de la côte, les destroyers posant des écrans de fumée contre les tirs entrants. Ils engagent la batterie de Querqueville. Après un duel de quatre heures, la batterie est temporairement neutralisée. Le HMS Glasgow et le HMS Enterprise sont tous deux touchés mais restent opérationnels. À 12:12, les forces terrestres commencent à lancer des missions de tir. L'USS Nevada et l'USS Quincy attaquent de nombreuses cibles à l'intérieur des terres au cours des trois heures et demie qui suivent. L'USS Ellyson et le HMS Glasgow ont soutenu les attaques sur Gruchy, où le Glasgow a tiré une salve de 54 coups qui a réduit la batterie au silence. L'USS Emmons a pris pour cible le Fort de l'Est. À 13 h 35, l'USS Texas est touché par un obus de la batterie de Hambourg. L'obus est raté et n'explose pas. Soutenus par l'USS Arkansas, les deux navires continuent de bombarder la batterie et une autre position à proximité. Vers 14h00, l'USS Nevada se joignit à l'attaque. À 15 heures, l'ordre est donné de cesser le feu et de se retirer. Le général "Lightning Joe" Collins, du VIIe corps d'armée américain, écrit plus tard à l'amiral Morton Deyo, commandant des groupements tactiques navals : Le bombardement naval des batteries côtières et des points d'appui autour de Cherbourg [...] a donné d'excellents résultats et a permis d'engager le feu de l'ennemi pendant que nos troupes prenaient d'assaut Cherbourg par l'arrière.

 Bombardement naval de Cherbourg Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

​​Cherbourg was one of the most heavily defended cities in the Normandy region. A main reason for that was due to the port. This had been extensively used by the occupying forces including the construction of E boat pens and facilities for Hitler’s vengeance weapons.&nbsp;​The German occupying forces finally surrendered to the American forces on the 26 June. During the intense fighting from 14 June when the siege of the city began, over 12,000 Germans were killed. The remainder were wounded or captured, taking the number of German casualties up to 30,000.&nbsp;​When the American forces finally got to the area of the port in Cherbourg, they found that the German forces had scuttles it. This meant that for it to be used as an operational port by the allies, reconstruction would need to take place.&nbsp;​This was carried out and by 16 July 1944, the port was open to large ships. They would be able to moor quay side and unloading of supplies conducted. The port facility would continue to be rebuilt and expanded as the port would become an essential supply line for the allies as they advanced beyond Normandy.&nbsp;​The memorial plaque commemorates the city being awarded recognition of the battle in June 1944, it states-&nbsp;​City of Cherbourg&nbsp;​Citation in the order of the Army&nbsp;​The Patriot city plays a considerable role in the battle of Medeas in 1944 on the Western Front. Liberated on June 26 and 27 by the troops of the First American Army, immediately got to work with ardor. Its specialist, its arsenal workers and its dockers helping the Americans allowed the rapid use of the port. Despite the damage that its installations had suffered, the wrecks broke in the passes and the mines which are thrilled there, was eight months the source of men and material for all the American war potential.&nbsp;​War Cross with Palm, Paris 2 June 1948&nbsp;

Memorial Battle of Normandy

​​Cherbourg was one of the most heavily defended cities in the Normandy region. A main reason for that was due to the port. This had been extensively used by the occupying forces including the construction of E boat pens and facilities for Hitler’s vengeance weapons.&nbsp;​The German occupying forces finally surrendered to the American forces on the 26 June. During the intense fighting from 14 June when the siege of the city began, over 12,000 Germans were killed. The remainder were wounded or captured, taking the number of German casualties up to 30,000.&nbsp;​When the American forces finally got to the area of the port in Cherbourg, they found that the German forces had scuttles it. This meant that for it to be used as an operational port by the allies, reconstruction would need to take place.&nbsp;​This was carried out and by 16 July 1944, the port was open to large ships. They would be able to moor quay side and unloading of supplies conducted. The port facility would continue to be rebuilt and expanded as the port would become an essential supply line for the allies as they advanced beyond Normandy.&nbsp;​The memorial plaque commemorates the city being awarded recognition of the battle in June 1944, it states-&nbsp;​City of Cherbourg&nbsp;​Citation in the order of the Army&nbsp;​The Patriot city plays a considerable role in the battle of Medeas in 1944 on the Western Front. Liberated on June 26 and 27 by the troops of the First American Army, immediately got to work with ardor. Its specialist, its arsenal workers and its dockers helping the Americans allowed the rapid use of the port. Despite the damage that its installations had suffered, the wrecks broke in the passes and the mines which are thrilled there, was eight months the source of men and material for all the American war potential.&nbsp;​War Cross with Palm, Paris 2 June 1948&nbsp; Cherbourg était l'une des villes les mieux défendues de la région normande. L'une des principales raisons en est le port. Celui-ci avait été largement utilisé par les forces d'occupation, notamment pour la construction d'enclos pour bateaux E et d'installations pour les armes de vengeance d'Hitler.Les forces d'occupation allemandes se sont finalement rendues aux forces américaines le 26 juin. Au cours des combats intenses qui se sont déroulés à partir du 14 juin, date du début du siège de la ville, plus de 12 000 Allemands ont été tués. Les autres ont été blessés ou capturés, ce qui porte le nombre de victimes allemandes à 30 000.Lorsque les forces américaines ont finalement atteint la zone du port de Cherbourg, elles ont découvert que les forces allemandes l'avaient sabordé. Pour que les alliés puissent l'utiliser comme port opérationnel, il fallait donc le reconstruire.C'est ce qui a été fait et, le 16 juillet 1944, le port était ouvert aux grands navires. Ils peuvent s'amarrer au quai et décharger leur matériel. Les installations portuaires allaient continuer à être reconstruites et agrandies, car le port allait devenir une ligne de ravitaillement essentielle pour les alliés au fur et à mesure qu'ils avançaient au-delà de la Normandie.La plaque commémorative rappelle que la ville s'est vu attribuer la reconnaissance de la bataille en juin 1944.Ville de Cherbourg Citation de l'ordre de l'Armée Lacité patriote joue un rôle considérable dans la bataille de Médéas en 1944 sur le front occidental. Libérée les 26 et 27 juin par les troupes de la Première Armée américaine, elle s'est immédiatement mise au travail avec ardeur. Ses spécialistes, ses ouvriers de l'arsenal et ses dockers aidant les Américains permettent l'utilisation rapide du port. Malgré les dégâts que ses installations avaient subis, les épaves brisées dans les passes et les mines qui y trônent, furent huit mois durant la source d'hommes et de matériel pour tout le potentiel de guerre américain. Croix deguerreavec palme, Paris 2 juin 1948

 Mémorial de la bataille de Normandie Memorial Battle of Normandy

​​Some burials within the communal cemetery are linked to the fighting during the Battle of France in 1940. In January, a hospital was set up close to here. The location is also linked to the disembarkation or embarkation of soldiers coming to France or being evacuated. This is why a large number of the burials within the cemetery plot are from this period.&nbsp;​Many troops fell back to Cherbourg on 16-17 June 1940, and on 18 June, the last ship departed with the last of the forces aboard. The majority of the burials from 18 June are the men of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who covered the withdrawal to the port.&nbsp;​The majority of burials from 1940-1944 are air crews from the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. Most are from Bomber Command that had targeted the German forces and coastal defences on the French coastline.&nbsp;​One of the more senior officer burials within the cemetery is that of Wing Commander Arthur Brian Wheeler, No.88 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. His aircraft was shot down whilst targeting construction works at Flottemville, 25km southeast of Cherbourg.&nbsp;​Within the same area is a large French burial plot which contains the graves of over 500 people who died during the First World War. The burials are marked mainly with white crosses. There are also 62 Belgians buried in this area; these are marked with grey headstones.​&nbsp;

Cherbourg Communal Cemetery

​​Some burials within the communal cemetery are linked to the fighting during the Battle of France in 1940. In January, a hospital was set up close to here. The location is also linked to the disembarkation or embarkation of soldiers coming to France or being evacuated. This is why a large number of the burials within the cemetery plot are from this period.&nbsp;​Many troops fell back to Cherbourg on 16-17 June 1940, and on 18 June, the last ship departed with the last of the forces aboard. The majority of the burials from 18 June are the men of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who covered the withdrawal to the port.&nbsp;​The majority of burials from 1940-1944 are air crews from the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. Most are from Bomber Command that had targeted the German forces and coastal defences on the French coastline.&nbsp;​One of the more senior officer burials within the cemetery is that of Wing Commander Arthur Brian Wheeler, No.88 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. His aircraft was shot down whilst targeting construction works at Flottemville, 25km southeast of Cherbourg.&nbsp;​Within the same area is a large French burial plot which contains the graves of over 500 people who died during the First World War. The burials are marked mainly with white crosses. There are also 62 Belgians buried in this area; these are marked with grey headstones.​&nbsp; Certaines sépultures du cimetière communal sont liées aux combats de la bataille de France en 1940. En janvier, un hôpital a été installé à proximité. L'endroit est également lié au débarquement ou à l'embarquement de soldats venant en France ou évacués. C'est pourquoi un grand nombre de sépultures dans le carré du cimetière datent de cette période.De nombreuses troupes se sont repliées à Cherbourg les 16 et 17 juin 1940 et le 18 juin, le dernier bateau est parti avec les dernières forces à bord. La majorité des sépultures du 18 juin sont celles d'hommes du 5e bataillon, King's Own Scottish Borderers, qui ont couvert le repli vers le port.La majorité des sépultures datant de 1940-1944 sont celles d'équipages de la Royal Air Force, de la Royal Canadian Air Force et de la Royal Australian Air Force. La plupart appartiennent au Bomber Command qui avait pris pour cible les forces allemandes et les défenses côtières sur le littoral français.L'une des sépultures d'officiers supérieurs les plus importantes du cimetière est celle du commandant d'escadre Arthur Brian Wheeler, de l'escadron n° 88 de l'Armée de l'air royale canadienne. Son avion fut abattu alors qu'il visait des travaux de construction à Flottemville, à 25 km au sud-est de Cherbourg.Dans la même zone se trouve un grand cimetière français qui contient les tombes de plus de 500 personnes décédées pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Les sépultures sont marquées principalement par des croix blanches. Il y a également 62 Belges enterrés dans cette zone ; ils sont marqués par des pierres tombales grises.

Discover remembrance sites

Discover more sites

The Massacre of Abbey d’Ardenne

The Battle for Caen

Destruction of the bridges over the Rivers Dives and Divette

French Pilots support Canadian forces

Calgary Tank Regiment Red Beach

Operation Goodwood: largest tank battle in Normandy of the Second World War

Gestapo HQ and Collaborators in Rouen

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery

Memorial Worthington Force

Operation Totalize: the break towards Falaise, 7 to 11 August 1944.

Belgian troops in Normandy

The Falaise pocket – The Memorial of Montormel

Juno Beach Centre

Dutch troops in Normandy

Festung le Havre

British 3rd Infantry Division enter Caen

Camille Blaisot

L'église saint Jean

Place de la résistance

Sergeant William F.Finley

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

Memorial Battle of Normandy

Cherbourg Communal Cemetery

Discover remembrance sites

Discover more sites

​​The Massacre of Abbey d’Ardenne

The Battle for Caen

​​Destruction of the bridges over the Rivers Dives and Divette​

​French Pilots support Canadian forces​

Calgary Tank Regiment Red Beach

​​Operation Goodwood: largest tank battle in Normandy of the Second World War​

​Gestapo HQ and Collaborators in Rouen​

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery

Memorial Worthington Force

Operation Totalize: the break towards Falaise, 7 to 11 August 1944.

Belgian troops in Normandy

The Falaise pocket – The Memorial of Montormel

Juno Beach Centre

Dutch troops in Normandy

Festung le Havre

​​British 3rd Infantry Division enter Caen​

Camille Blaisot

L'église saint Jean

Place de la résistance

​​Sergeant William F.Finley​

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

Memorial Battle of Normandy

Cherbourg Communal Cemetery

The Massacre of Abbey d’Ardenne

Destruction of the bridges over the Rivers Dives and Divette

French Pilots support Canadian forces

Operation Goodwood: largest tank battle in Normandy of the Second World War

Gestapo HQ and Collaborators in Rouen

British 3rd Infantry Division enter Caen

Sergeant William F.Finley