From: Nigel Hay (Nigel@milweb.net)
Date: Wed Nov 12 2003 - 12:31:04 PST
Yipee! well done David, you are absolutely correct,
Indeed its the panoramic view from the Polish Memorial at MontOrmel in
Normandy, overlooking the infamous Corridor of Death or the Falaise Pocket.
The Sherman is in Polish markings .... ok its a weak clue but its outside
th museum
Following Operation Bluecoat, and the failed German counter-attack at
Mortain, the Americans advanced and took Alencon then Argentan. At the same
time the Canadians took Falaise. The Germans began retreating through the
ground the ground between Trun and Chambois. A 'pocket' was created when
Trun was taken, and the Allies met up in Chambois. In the middle were the
Germans, being mercilessly pounded by artillery and airstrikes. The only
escape route was across Hill 262 - Montormel - and General Maczek's Polish
Armoured Division, part of the Canadian Corps, occupied the positions on
Hill 262 North on 19th August blocking the main route for the escaping
Germans. Now isolated, the Poles waited for relief and support from the
Canadians. Over the next few days bitter fighting took place on what the
Polish later called the 'Maczuga' (the 'Mace' - Hill 262 itself). On many
occasions the Germans penetrated the Polish perimeter. By 22nd August the
4th Canadian Armoured Division finally met up with the Poles, and the
fighting was over.
Casualties had been heavy: Over 12,000 germans were killed and many many
more wounded and captured. the 1st Polish Armoured Division lost 325 killed,
1002 wounded and 114 missing - then about 20% of the units strength.
Today Montormel is a Polish Memorial site, with an excellent visitors
centre, the Memorial de Montormel. The dead from the battle are buried in
the Polish cemetery at Granville-Langannerie, on the road between Falaise
and Caen.
There is now a superb 360 degree museum at the memorial which I strongly
reccomend to anyone who is visiting Normandy.
Nige
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Reay" <david@zundapp.freeserve.co.uk>
To: <MVlist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: [MVlist] Competition time....So where is this?????
> Nige,
>
> Thats a view from Mont Ormel over looking what was the Falaise pocket!
>
> Down there somewhere is Falaise, Trun and Villers Bocage etc.
>
> Its the hill where 2 nd SS tried to break through to relive the trapped
army
> group, and were stopped in bloody fighting with the Poles.
>
> Regards
>
> David
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nigel Hay -" <Nigel@Milweb.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>;
> <MVlist@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 7:37 PM
> Subject: [MVlist] Competition time....So where is this?????
>
>
> > Exciting contest - no purchase neccessary, so get your anoraks on
.......
> > can anyone correctly identify this recent view over part of the
Normandy
> > battlefield and its significance......
> >
> > http://www.warwalks.com/images/where.jpg
> >
> > and here is a vehicular clue......
> >
> > http://www.warwalks.com/images/clue.jpg
> >
> >
> > All correct answers win my total respect.
> >
> >
> >
> > Enjoy, Nige
> >
> >
> >
> >
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