716th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 716th Static Infantry Division (German: ''716. Infanterie-Division'') was a Nazi Germany, German World War II infantry division. It was raised on May 2, 1941, and sent to German military administration in occupied France during World War II, German-occupied France in June 1941. Many of the division's troops were elderly Germans and Conscription in Germany, conscripts from other German-occupied countries. The division also had some young German conscripts as well. As a ''bodenständig'' (static unit), it was not equipped with the standard configuration of vehicles and heavy weapons. Much of the division's artillery and anti-tank guns were from captured armaments. It is well-known for its involvement as a defensive unit in the Allied Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. Divisional history The 716th Infantry Division was mobilized for occupation duties in the 15th Wave Replacement Army on 2 May 1941 in Wehrkreis VI in Munster. After formation in Bielefeld, and transfer to Occup ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Balkenkreuz
The ''Balkenkreuz'' () is a straight-armed cross that was first introduced in 1916–1918 and later became the emblem of the ''Wehrmacht'' (German Armed Forces) and its branches from 1935 until the end of World War II. It was used by the '' Wehrmacht Heer'' (Army), ''Luftwaffe'' (Air Force), and ''Kriegsmarine'' (Navy). History Balkenkreuz symbol is based on the cross of the Teutonic Order. Germany's ''Luftstreitkräfte'' (the army air service of the German Imperial Army) first officially adopted the ''Balkenkreuz'' in mid-April 1918 (about a week before the death of Manfred von Richthofen), and used it from that time until World War I ended in November 1918. The IdFlieg directive of 20 March 1918 to all manufacturers states in the first sentence (translated to English): "To improve the recognition of our aircraft, the following is ordered: ... In paragraph 2, the second sentence specifies: "This alteration is to be carried out by 15 April 1918." The closing sentence reads: " ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Amiens
Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region of Hauts-de-France and had a population of 135,429, as of 2021. A central landmark of the city is Amiens Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in France. Amiens also has one of the largest university hospitals in France, with a capacity of 1,200 beds. The author Jules Verne lived in Amiens from 1871 until his death in 1905, and served on the city council for 15 years. Amiens is the birthplace of French president Emmanuel Macron. The town was fought over during both World Wars, suffering significant damage, and was repeatedly occupied by both sides. The 1918 Battle of Amiens (1918), Battle of Amiens was the opening phase of the Hundred Days Offensive which directly led to the Armistice with Germany. The Royal Air Force heavily bombed the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Languedoc
The Province of Languedoc (, , ; ) is a former province of France. Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately . History The Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis fell to the Visigothic Kingdom from the 5th to the 8th centuries. Occupied briefly by the Emirate of Córdoba between 719 and 759, it was conquered and incorporated into the Kingdom of the Franks by Pepin the Short in 759 following the Siege of Narbonne. The term Languedoc originated to describe a cultural region that was not necessarily politically unified. After the decline of the Carolingian Empire political rule fragmented into small territorial divisions. King John of England lost his holdings in northern Languedoc to Philip II of France. He visited the region in 1214 seeking the restoration of those lands. In the 13th century, the See of Rome challenged the area's spiritual beliefs, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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France–Spain Border
The France–Spain border was formally defined in 1659. It separates the two countries from Hendaye and Irun in the west, running through the Pyrenees to Cerbère and Portbou on the Mediterranean Sea. It runs roughly along the drainage divide defined by the Pyrenees, though with several exceptions. Features Main border The Franco-Spanish border runs for between southwestern France and northeastern Spain. It begins in the west on the Bay of Biscay at the French city of Hendaye and the Spanish city of Irun (). The border continues eastward along the Pyrenees to the sovereign nation of Andorra (). At this point, the small country interrupts the border between Spain and France for on the Spanish side and on the French side. Then the border continues eastward () to the Mediterranean Sea at Cerbère in France and Portbou in Spain (). From west to east, crossing the border: Llívia Spain has an exclave in France, Llívia, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Pheasant Island Ne ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Southern France
Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as , is a geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', Atlas et géographie de la France moderne, Flammarion, Paris, 1984. Spain, the Mediterranean Sea and Italy. It includes southern Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the west, Occitania in the centre, the southern parts of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the northeast, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the southeast, as well as the island of Corsica in the southeast. Southern France is generally considered part of southern Europe because of its association with the Mediterranean Sea. The colloquial French name for the region, ''le Midi'', is derived from an Old French compound composed of ''mi'' ("middle") and ''di'' ("day"), meaning literally "midday". Thus, the term is comparable in both origin and meaning to , which to indicates southern Italy, and Romanian whic ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Falaise Pocket
The Falaise pocket or battle of the Falaise pocket (; 12–21 August 1944) was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. Allied forces formed a pocket around Falaise, Calvados, in which German Army Group B, consisting of the 7th Army and the Fifth Panzer Army (formerly ), were encircled by the Western Allies. The battle resulted in the destruction of most of Army Group B west of the Seine, which opened the way to Paris and the Franco-German border. Six weeks after the 6 June 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy, German forces were in turmoil, having expended irreplaceable resources defending the frontline and with Allied air superiority threatening the availability of food and ammunition. However, on the Allied side, British forces had expected to liberate Caen immediately after the invasion, an operation which ended up taking nearly two months, and US forces had expected to control Saint-Lô by the 7 June, yet German resistance delayed this u ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Generalleutnant
() is the German-language variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of OF-8. Germany ''Generalleutnant'', short ''GenLt'', ('lieutenant general') is the second highest general officer rank in the German Army (''Heer'') and the German Air Force (''Luftwaffe''). This three-star rank in other countries is lieutenant general. Rank in modern Germany The rank is rated Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers, OF-8 in NATO, and is grade B9 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany), Federal Ministry of Defence. It is equivalent to ''Vizeadmiral'' in the German Navy (''Marine''), or to Generaloberstabsarzt, and Admiraloberstabsarzt in the ''Central Medical Services, Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr''. On the shoulder straps (Heer, Luftwaffe) there are three golden pips (stars) ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Villers-Bocage, Calvados
Villers-Bocage () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in Northern France. History Second World War The Battle of Villers-Bocage was a significant battle between British and German forces on 13 June 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.Daniel Taylor: ''Villers-Bocage through the Lens''. 1999, . Further fighting occurred two weeks later during Operation Epsom, during which the village was destroyed by 250 RAF heavy bombers. Population International relations The commune is twinned with: * Bampton, Devon, UK since 1974 See also *Communes of the Calvados department The following is a list of the 526 Communes of France, communes of the Calvados (department), Calvados Departments of France, department of France. The communes cooperate in the following Communes of France#Intercommunality, intercommunalities ... References External links Website of the office of tourism(in French)Information about Villers-Bocage(Archived from the original, De ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War. Despite its name, the 6th was actually the second of two airborne divisions raised by the British Army during the war, the other being the 1st Airborne Division. The 6th Airborne Division was formed in the Second World War, in mid-1943, and was commanded by Major-General Richard N. Gale. The division consisted of the 3rd and 5th Parachute Brigades along with the 6th Airlanding Brigade and supporting units. The division's initial operation, which also resulted in it becoming the first Allied unit to land its troops in France as part of Operation Overlord, was Operation Tonga on 6 June 1944, D-Day, part of the Normandy landings, where it was responsible for securing the left flank of the Allied invasion. Having successfully carried out this task the division remained in Normandy for three months before being withdrawn in September. The division was entrained day a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sword Beach
Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord. The Allied invasion of German-occupied France commenced on 6 June 1944. Stretching from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the beach proved to be the easternmost landing site of the invasion after the abortion of an attack on a sixth beach, code-named Band. Taking Sword was to be the responsibility of the British Army with sea transport, mine sweeping and a naval List of ships in Sword Bombardment Group, bombardment force provided by the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Polish Navy, Polish, Royal Norwegian Navy, Norwegian and other Allied navies. Among the five beaches of the operation, Sword is the nearest to Caen, about from the goal of the 3rd Infantry Division. The landings were achieved with low Allied casualties but the advance ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Juno Beach
Juno and or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allies (World War II), Allied invasion of German occupation of France during World War II, German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 during the World War II, Second World War. The beach spanned from Courseulles-sur-Mer, Courseulles, a village just east of the British beach Gold Beach, Gold, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and just west of the British beach Sword Beach, Sword. Taking Juno was the responsibility of the First Canadian Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and List of ships in Juno Bombardment Group, a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Free French Navy, Free French, Royal Norwegian Navy, Norwegian, and other Allied navies. The objectives of the 3rd Canadian Division, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day were to cut the Caen-Bayeux road, seize the Caen – Carpiquet Airport, Carpique ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gold Beach
Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the five areas of the Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of German military administration in occupied France during World War II, German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the World War II, Second World War. Gold, the central of the five areas, was located between Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, Port-en-Bessin on the west and the Lieu-dit La Rivière in Ver-sur-Mer on the east. High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings took place on the flat section between Asnelles, Le Hamel and La Rivière, in the sectors code-named Jig and King. Taking Gold was to be the responsibility of the British Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and List of ships in Gold Bombardment Group, a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Navy as well as elements from the Royal Netherlands Navy, Dutch, Polish Navy, Polish and other Allied navies. The objectives at Gold were to secur ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |