Little Known Battles

Im new here so Im sorry if I've posted this thread in the wrong section, But I was wonderng if anyone here could help me?

So I have to choose a battle/operation/invasion of WW2 and write a detailed essay about it for school and everyone in my class is doing the more well known ones such as Battle Of Britian, Battle Of StalinGrad, Invasion Of Normandy. and I wanted to base my essay on something that was a little less known, So I was wondering if anyone here could suggest one that I could research and Write about.

Any info would be great.

 

Brits in the Ardennes

 

Hi Bluebell and welcome.
I like your idea about one of the lesser-known battles so would avoid Arnhem (sorry Airborne fans).
Four suggestions:
BEF in France/Belgium 1940
The Battle of the Atlantic (big subject)
Villers-Bocage, 1944 (because I used to have a house near there!)
The US invasion of Tarawa, Pacific operation.

Good luck, let us know how you are getting on.

Mike

 

You could try "Operation Ironclad" - the invasion of French held Madagascar in 1942. Which was the first allied amphibious landing in WW2.

 

Hello,

I'd do a Dunkirk related battle.

Let us know what you decide and good luck.
Andy

 

Two options, that hopefully will be useful :

• Sidi Rezegh, during Operation Crusader, Western Desert, 1941, &
• Yenangyaung, during the retreat from Burma, 1942.

 

Germany 1944- The Batle of the Reichwald-a British/Canadian operation v Germans
Berma 1944 The Battle of Kohima-British/Indian operation v Japanese
Both on the Internet

jim

 

Bluebell-
Try the "Battle for Ortona" which is little known which was the battle between the Canadian 1st Division and the 1st German Parachute Division for the small town on the Adriatic coast of Italy - when the Canadians broke off the Battle by companies -to have Christmas Dinner - in a Church - 1943

Cheers !

 

Bluebell, you'd best listen to the advice of Tom. He might be prepared to add some of his own recollections of the Italy Campaign to your essay: success ensured! ... and when finished you even could put it on this website.

 

Imphal and Kohima!

 

Operation Tiger.

This wasnt a battle, it was a training exercise that the German navy got into, many Americans were killed. It happened off the coast of Dorset and Devon.

Nice to see an interest, well done.

Pete

 

Bluebell -
as you see - Stolpi has promoted my views rightly as my Tank bde joined them after the battle of Ortona - and supported them all the way throguh to near the end when they left Italy for Belgium to join the rest of the Canadian Army there- I have been digging around for a good base story for your essay and this is one of the best - so ALL can read it with pride.
WWII: The Battle of Ortona - Canada at War
..and Stolpi - the cheque is in the mail .....
Cheers

 

Operation Greenline/Pomegranate - precursor Operations before Goodwood - the largest British tank battle of the war. Its key as it managed to achieve some impressive results, all of which have been blindly ignored by many historians to date.

 

The Battle of the SCHELDT
This battle which involved 3 Major Operations by the British & Canadian forces lasted for over a month to open the port of Antwerp.
If it had not been a success the Allies would not have been able to enter Germany for many months later than they did.
They would have been stuck on the West bank of the Rhine and the war may have continuded to 1946.
Best
Rob

 

Hi Bluebell, what nations military are you most interested in during WW2?
Also what WW2 theatre of Operations interest's you the most, for example
NW Europe, Italy/Greece India/Burma, Western Desert, or the Pacific AO's,

With this information, the members here will be able to give you information that could give you the edge needed to come up with a written piece about a little known battle. Also writing about troops and battles/campaigns that allready interests you will make the essay seem easier

Good luck we never studied or were given any assignments about any war when I was at school.

 

Hi Bluebell,

If you choose something like the Battle of Tarawa, there is colour footage which shows the absolute carnage that took place there.

This was the first fortified Japanese Island taken by the US Marines at great loss of life on both sides in just 76 hours.

Many lessons were learnt here by US forces for future battles in the Island hopping campaign to Japan and eventual victory in the Pacific.

YouTube - TARAWA 1 of 3 WWII RARE COLOR FILM

YouTube - TARAWA 2 of 3 WWII RARE COLOR FILM

YouTube - TARAWA 3 of 3 WWII RARE COLOR FILM

YouTube - WW II : RARE COLOR FILM : TARAWA : 76 HOURS OF HELL

Cheers

Geoff

 

You're welcome Tom

Bluebell have you already made a decision? What will it be?

 

Big Brother is watching you!?