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Battle For Hill 140
The Battle for Hill 140The name entrenched in Canadian historiography. The battle took place 1.2 km northeast of Hill 140, closer to Hill 111 (hence sometimes also referred to as the "battle for Hill 111"). ; was fought on 9 August 1944 as part of Operation Totalize between a battle group from the 4th Canadian Division and German troops, mainly from the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". It occurred several miles east of the village of Estrées-la-Campagne, when, during a night attack, the Canadian troops strayed east from the axis of advance, occupying the wrong area on a forward slope. The consequence of the mistake was the destruction of the Canadian combat group by a German counterattack that lasted several hours. It was an unprecedented case during the Normandy campaign and probably the entire World War II, for such a large force to lose track of the terrain, lose its way and consequently be completely wrecked. Background The att ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Estrées-la-Campagne
Estrées-la-Campagne () is a Communes of France, commune in the Calvados (department), Calvados Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region in northwestern France. It is one of many villages in the north of France bearing the name ''Estrées''. The etymology of the name is from ''strata'' (cognate of English "street"), the word for the stone-layered Roman roads in the area (some of which turned into modern highways). Hence ''Estreti'', ''village on the road'' which developed into ''Estrées''. Population See also *Communes of the Calvados department References Communes of Calvados (department) Calvados communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia {{Caen-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cintheaux
Cintheaux () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Geography The commune is located between Caen and Falaise and is the home to the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. Gaumesnil was originally a separate village, now attached to Cintheaux; it has fewer than 19 residents. Sights The main town is situated around the church of Saint-Germain, classified as an official French historic monument. It was built around 1150 by the Marmion family; Robert Marmion offered it in patronage to the Barbery Abbey, subject to the Bayeux diocese, in 1181. The main (north) chapel and the cross tower, dating to the 16th century, was destroyed in 1688. The north bell tower was added in the 18th century. The church was restored between 1857 and 1902. History World War II Cintheaux was devastated by Allied artillery, which sought to annihilate the 12th SS Panzer Division in 1944, during Operation Totalize. Population See also *Comm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
85th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 85th Infantry Division (German: ''85. Infantrie-division'') was a Wehrmacht division used in the Second World War. It participated in the German defence in the Battle of Normandy, and took part in the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes. Operational history The 85th Infantry Division was raised in February 1944 and placed under the command of Lieutenant General Kurt Chill, previously the commanding officer of the 122nd Infantry. Participating as an occupational division in German-occupied France, the 85th was part of the 15th Army's rear-guard in Northern France during the D-Day landings. It was moved to Normandy in early August as part of a relief force in the forming Falaise pocket, where it was to replace the ''12th SS-Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"'' by August 11. On August 14, the division received help from second company of the 102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion as it travelled from Assy to Maizieres; its commander was killed when the escort convoy encountered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rouvres, Calvados
Rouvres () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Population 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 Communes of Calvados (department) Calvados communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia {{Caen-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tiger I
The Tiger I () was a Nazi Germany, German heavy tank of World War II that began operational duty in 1942 in North African Campaign, Africa and in the Soviet Union, usually in independent German heavy tank battalion, heavy tank battalions. It gave the German Army (1935–1945), German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle that mounted the 8.8 cm KwK 36, KwK 36 gun (derived from the 8.8 cm Flak 18/36/37/41, 8.8 cm Flak 36, the famous "eighty-eight" feared by Allied troops). 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944. After August 1944, production of the Tiger I was phased out in favour of the Tiger II. While the Tiger I has been called an outstanding design for its time, it has also been criticized for being overengineering, overengineered, and for using expensive materials and labour-intensive production methods. In the early period, the Tiger was prone to certain types of track failures and breakdowns. It was expensive to maintain, but generally mec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kampfgruppe
In military history, the German term (pl. ; abbrev. KG, or KGr in usage during World War II, literally "fighting group" or " battlegroup") can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the of Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II, and, to a lesser extent, the German Empire in World War I. It also referred to bomber groups in ''Luftwaffe'' usage, which themselves consisted of three or four (squadrons), and usually (but not exclusively) existed within bomber wings of three or four per wing. Nature The ''Kampfgruppe'' was an ''ad hoc'' combined arms formation, usually employing a combination of tanks, infantry, and artillery (including anti-tank) elements, generally organised for a particular task or operation.While the word ''Kampfgruppe'' in German literally refers to any battlegroup, the modern usage in the English-speaking world is restricted to World War II. ''Kampfgruppen'' in World War I lacked the panzer componen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
89th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 89th Infantry Division () was an infantry division of the German ''Heer'' during World War II. Operational history The 89th Infantry Division was raised as part of the 25th deployment wave, along with the 77th, 84th, 85th, 91st and 92nd Infantry Divisions. It was first assembled at Truppenübungsplatz Bergen near Celle on 15 January 1944. Like the other divisions of the 25th wave, the 89th Infantry Division originally contained only two (instead of the standard three) infantry regiments. The initial regiments of the 89th Infantry Divisions were Grenader Regiments 1055 and 1056. The manpower of the 89th Infantry Division was raised from the remainders of Grenadier Regiment 1023 as well as the third battalion of Grenadier Regiment 1032, both parts of the Ersatzheer. The division's initial military deployment happened in occupied Norway on 13 February 1944. The division was transferred to occupied France in late June 1944, in response to the Allied Operation Overlord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kurt Meyer
Kurt Meyer (23 December 1910 – 23 December 1961) was an SS commander and convicted war criminal of Nazi Germany. He served in the Waffen-SS (the combat branch of the SS) and participated in the Battle of France, Operation Barbarossa, and other engagements during World War II. Meyer commanded the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend during the Allied invasion of Normandy, and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. After ordering the mass murder of civilians and prisoners of war (POWs) several times during the conflict, Meyer was convicted of war crimes for his role in the Ardenne Abbey massacre (the murder of Canadian POWs in Normandy). He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. Released in 1954, he subsequently became active in HIAG, a lobby group organised by former high-ranking Waffen-SS men. Meyer was a leading Waffen-SS apologist and HIAG's most effective spokesperson, depicting most o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
M2 Half-track
The M2 half-track car was an armored half-track produced by the United States during World War II. Its design drew upon half-tracks imported from France in the 1930s, employing standard components supplied by U.S. truck manufacturers to speed production and reduce costs. The concept was designed, and the pilot models manufactured by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (before the prototype was officially labeled M2.) Production by the White Motor Company began in 1940 and was expanded to include Autocar. The M2 was initially intended for use as an artillery tractor, but also found use with reconnaissance units. International Harvester Company built the M9 half-track, a variant of their M5 half track, to fulfill the same purpose. It saw wide use in World War II, chiefly by the United States, but also by its allies. A few legacy units were used in the Nicaraguan Revolution. History The concept of a half-track vehicle had been evaluated by the US Army Ordnance Department using ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, officially medium tank, M4, was the medium tank most widely used by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. It was also the basis of several other armored fighting vehicles including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, and armored recovery vehicles. Tens of thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth, Soviet Union, and other Allied Nations. The tank was named by the British after the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. The M4 Sherman tank evolved from the M3 Lee, a medium tank developed by the United States during the early years of World War II. The M3, also known by its service names "Grant" and "Lee," was characterized by a unique design that featured the main armament mounted in a side sponson. The Grant variant, used by British forces, employed a lower-profile turret ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bretteville-le-Rabet
Bretteville-le-Rabet () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Population 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 Communes of Calvados (department) Calvados communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia {{Caen-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Kitching
Major-General George Kitching (9 September 1910 − 15 June 1999) CBE, DSO, CD was a senior Canadian Army officer who saw active service in World War II. Life and military career Early life George Kitching was born on 9 September 1910 in Guangzhou (Canton), China. He died on 15 June 1999 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was the guest of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld a couple of days before when he fell ill. He never recovered. Kitching received his military training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, joining the Gloucestershire Regiment. The British Army gave him several postings in Asia, including Singapore, Malaya and India. In 1938 he resigned his commission in order to join the Canadian Army. In 1939 he joined The Royal Canadian Regiment in the Canadian Army. He was appointed to several positions before attending Staff College, Camberley to become a senior officer. Again he held several positions, mainly at the staff of Hea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
