Page 34 - History of War - Issue 05-14

BLOODBATH IN THE BOCAGE

on 7 June, elements of 21st Panzer w THIS IS FOR
were supporting the attacks of the YOU, MONTY
15th Army’s 346th and 711th Divisions THE NORMANDY
against the paratrooper and commando COMMUNE OF
bridgehead east of the Orne. Their COLLEVILLE-
counter-attacks recaptured some ground SUR-ORNE
WAS RENAMED
but were broken off when the guns of the COLLEVILLE-
Royal Navy pulverised advanced units, MONTGOMERY
while the 51st Highland Division moved IN JUNE 1946, IN
across the Orne to support the airborne HONOUR OF THE
and the commandos. In the centre, the MAN WHO HAD
advance guard of the 12th SS Panzer LED THE ALLIED
Division was already counter-attacking LIBERATION OF
the Canadians north of Capriquet, a THE REGION TWO The men responsible for the
battle group succeeding in cutting off YEARS EARLIER. beachhead. From left: Courtney Hodges,
the Regina Rifles in Bretteville. Because Harry Crerar, Bernard Montgomery,
speed was now essential, Panzer Lehr Omar Bradley and Miles Dempsey
was trying to advance on the left of
the 12th SS against the British 50th only just reached
Division, but it was attacked constantly Limoges, 200 miles south of Normandy. all the fuel and civilian vehicles they
from the air. Its commander, Fritz The rest of the division was strung out could lay their hands on. But during the
Bayerlein, who had served as Chief over 180 miles of the winding RN 20, next 48 hours, the Resistance ambushed
of Staff to Rommel in North Africa, back to Montauban. Everything had gone the advance guard on a bridge before
described the air attacks as the worst wrong for, although the division had been Souillic, where RN 20 crossed the
he had experienced. The move cost in a high state of alert, on 7 June the Dordogne, and hit the long flanks of the
Panzer Lehr 80 of its half-track trucks, Resistance had blown up much of its stalled column in a dozen other places.
self-propelled guns and prime-movers. fuel reserves and some of its transport. The SS, frustrated by the casualties
Panzer grenadiers hastily requisitioned caused by hidden enemies who quickly
Brutal tactics melted into the countryside, retaliated
The Resistance also played a vital THEY HERDED with the same brutal tactics they had
role in preventing the movement of used to quell partisan activity on the
formation – the 2nd SS Panzer Division THE WOMEN AND Eastern Front. On 9 June, Lammerding
German forces to Normandy. Had one
led a panzer grenadier battalion into the
“Das Reich” – got to Normandy in the CHILDREN IN, town of Tulle, 50 miles south of Limoges,
first few days after the invasion, the and caught the citizens in the middle
course of the battle might have been THREW IN SOME of celebrating their liberation. The SS
different. Das Reich was one of the troops publicly hanged 99 men, women
20,000 superbly trained, battle-hardened HIGH EXPLOSIVES, and children from balconies along the
most formidable formations in Europe:
main street, and forced their families to
guns, including 100 Tigers and Panthers. THEN GUNNED DOWN watch. The following day, the advance
troops with 240 tanks and self-propelled
guard surrounded then occupied the
But on D-Day, it was still at Montauban, THE SURVIVORS village of Oradour-sur-Glane, north-west
400 miles from the beachhead. of Limoges. The SS separated the
On the evening of 6 June, the officer men from the women and children,
commanding, Heinz Lammerding,
received orders to move to Normandy.
A member of the
Under normal conditions, the move French Resistance
would have been completed by 9 June. poses proudly
However, by that date, advance units had with his Bren gun,
supplied by the Allies

Royal Air Force Typhoons launch
a rocket attack on a troop train
somewhere in northern France

34 34 HISTORY WAR

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