Villers-Bocage

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by angie999, Jun 13, 2004.

  1. angie999

    angie999 Very Senior Member

    There was more - much more - to operation Overlord than D-Day and 13 June 2004 is the 60th anniversary of the action at Villers-Bocage, a week after D-Day, when 7th Armoured Division was halted in their attempt to encircle Caen from the west.

    Caen was an objective which the British hoped to take on D-Day or D+1 at the latest. It was a major communication centre and getting beyond it was crucial to enable the British to deploy in the plain towards Falaise, thus expanding the bridgehead and in particular giving space for the RAF to open fighter-bomber bases. It did not happen and from 10 to 18 June, a "right hook" encirclement was attempted.

    At 8.00 am on 13 June, the spearhead of 7th Armoured Division, the Cromwell tanks of 4th County of London Yeomanry, supported by a company of the motorised 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade, advancing through what had been a gap in the German defences, arrived at the village of Villers-Bocage. One squadron of tanks, led by the commanding officer of the regiment, Lt Col Lord Cranley, together with the infantry, moved on to hill 213, one and a half miles beyond the village, thinking it unoccupied.

    They were wrong. It was occupied by five Tiger tanks from the SS 501st Heavy Tank Battalion, led by SS-Obersturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann, regarded by many as the outstanding German tank ace of the war. This was just part of the German force being sent to plug the gap in the line. The German tanks were having a maintenance day and had not expected to be in action. None the less, Wittman's tank and two others moved to the flank of the column of Rifle Brigade vehicles and opened fire, effectively destroying them. They then advanced into Villers-Bocage to open a day of deperate fighting which would lead to the British being forced to withdraw. Meanwhile, other Tigers moved in to engage the squadron of 4th CLY on hill 213.

    This was the last chance to take Caen without a setpiece battle, although many further attempts would be made before the ruined city finaly fell.

    Wittman was killed on 8 August 1944 and is buried in the German cemetery at la Cambe in Normandy. This is a link to biographical details:

    http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen3.htm

    It has been said by many that 7th Armoured Division, the famous "Desert Rats" did not fight well in Normandy. Perhaps they felt they had "done their bit" already, they did not adapt well to conditions in Normandy and their Cromwell tanks were not well suited to the bocage country. Their commander, Maj Gen Erskine, was replaced on 4 August.

    In my opinion, at Villers-Bocage they were far to casual and were not ready to meet the Germans. The division as a whole perhaps felt that the operation was a "swan" through the countryside. Perhaps though this operation was just 24 hours too late and we are left wondering what might have happened if the buildup had gone to timetable. On 13 June there were already ammunition shortages and both 7th Armoured and 51st (Highland) Division, the other division in the operation, had suffered landing delays due to weather. 24 hours earlier and there would still have been a gap in the German lines. As it was, the line solidified and although the battle went on until 18 June, it effectively ended on the morning of 13th.

    Incidentally, this time they really were Tiger tanks, but many accounts of Tiger tanks in Normandy are mistaken. Tanks reported as Tigers often turned out to be Panzer IVs, which with the long 75mm gun were much smaller, but similar in shape, or Panzer Vs (Panthers).

    Your thoughts?
     
  2. BlackSeptember1918

    BlackSeptember1918 Junior Member

    Hi Angie
    The " Tiger fever " may well have struck at Villers-Bocage also . The five Tigers described , were probably Michael's Tiger and 4 Panzer IV's of the Panzer Lehr Division . There history confirms that a few of it's Mark IV's which had been undergoing maintenance at Parfouru , four khm north-east of Villers-Bocage took part in this action . The four tanks accompanying Wittmann were not deployed him , but he ordered them not to retreat a step , and to hold there ground .
    As far as the performance of the " Rats " goes in this action . It's hard to be overly impressed . There reccon tanks were at the rear of the coloum , and they stopped to " stretch their legs and make tea " when they should have been going hard at their objective . Kurt"Panzer" Meyer , would not have congratulated them on their tactics had they been his division .
    Phil.
     
  3. ajsmithy

    ajsmithy Junior Member

    Hi
    For anyone interested in the Villers Bocage action I reccomend they read Panzers in Normandy then and Now by Eric Lefevre. According to this book there was indeed more that one tiger in action that day he states that Wittman was accompanied by 4 tigers (presume including his own) and 1 Panzer IV. Photos in the book show evidence of at least three of the Tigers having been knocked out. I agree that the 7th armoured performance was not up to scratch but one must not forget by then they had seen a lot of fighitng in Africa and some rightly so felt they had done their bit. Anyway just thought i would add a few thoughts.
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Couple of photos.

    The main street of Villers-Bocage today: Wittmann's Tiger got this far. He was indeed supported by other Tigers and also PzIVs.
     
  5. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Memorial to the men of 7th (Armoured) Division on the outskirts of V-B, close to where the column of men from the Rifle Brigade, shot up by Wittmann, was located.
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Close up of plaque on this memorial.
     
  7. BlackSeptember1918

    BlackSeptember1918 Junior Member

    Most of those eyew witness calls have not been made by the man who has studied the reports thoughly . I recommend " Steel Inferno .. Ist Panzer Corps in Normandy " By Michael Reynolds .
    Phil.
     
  8. BlackSeptember1918

    BlackSeptember1918 Junior Member

    My point is that any British report is tainted by the fact that they were getting there asses kicked . Michael Reynolds has spent a life studying this ...I believe his unbiased opinion.
    Phil.
     
  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I agree, but a lot of the German reports are also biased. They were being invaded and this was good propaganda. Many books have taken this propaganda as fact, and indeed it could be said of many websites.

    I haven't read the book you mention, but will track it down. I would say that I thought the After The Battle book on V-B quite balanced.
     
  10. BlackSeptember1918

    BlackSeptember1918 Junior Member

    Paul
    Point well made and taken mate .
    I guess I'm a bit of a Reynolds convert . He was a Sandhurst trained Major General and commanded at pretty much every level , and in combat , so his writting always seems to have " a seen through the soldiers eye to it " .
    I haven't read the book you mentioned , but any book you recommend is no doubt worth reading . I'll add it to my wants list .
    Reynolds has several books that follow different SS divisions through the east and also western campaigns , also a study of Jochen Peiper . I think he is unbiased ...but one man's unbiased may be not another man's opinion ?
    Cheers.
    Phil.
     
  11. angie999

    angie999 Very Senior Member

    Originally posted by BlackSeptember1918@Jun 15 2004, 10:04 PM
    ...but one man's unbiased may be not another man's opinion ?

    Quite! But it would not be much fun if we all agreed all the time.
     
  12. BlackSeptember1918

    BlackSeptember1918 Junior Member

    So very true Angie ! .
    I was just checking out my addiction at amazon , and I noticed that Reynolds has got under my radar and published another book !. This time he is writting from the " good guy's " perspective . The books called " Eagles and Bulldogs in Normandy " and is a history of the U.S. 29th Div from Omaha to St Lo and the British 3rd Infantry Div from Sword to Caen . I very much look forward to reading this one ! .
    Happy birthday also Paul if you happen to read this !.
    Phil.
     
  13. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Thanks Phil - I have the book you mention on the US 29th Div and 3rd Div, and have only skimmed it at the moment, but it look very well researched. If his other books on the German side are like that, then I have a big hole in my WW2 library!
     
  14. Kiwiwriter

    Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member

    Check out Robin Neillands' book "Desert Rats," G.L. Verney's "Desert Rats," and Patrick Delaforce's "Churchill's Desert Rats" as well on 7th Armoured's view of the battle.

    I believe it cost Brigadier "Looney" Hinde his job. He got his name for his eccentricity.
     

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