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Jonathan Ware Profile picture
@ReassessHistory
Jun 29, 2021 • 8 tweets • 8 min read • Read on X
Scrolly
The Administrative History of the Operations of 21 Army Group on the Continent of Europe: 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945

This covers Phase II, inc... a little Op you may have heard of... #MarketGarden

Please #RT, share & DL! /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
Our shared heritage is best shared! /2
If you particularly enjoy this feel free to sling me a coffee! /3

ko-fi.com/reassesshistory
/4
/5
/6
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I hope this has been of interest, still more to come!

If you particularly want to throw me a coffee, its always very much appreciated! /thread

ko-fi.com/reassesshistory

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More from @ReassessHistory

Jonathan Ware Profile picture
Jun 3
Wasps were tiny, low profile punchy flamethrower AFVs made from retrofitted Universal Carriers boasting effectively the same range as a Churchill Crocodile (120-140 yds) but carrying much smaller fuel tanks filled with Isobutyl Methacrylate or Napalm gel. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History Image
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In contrast to the earlier Ronson and Mk I Wasp, the Mk IIs had two fuel tanks (of 40 and 60 gallons) and pressured CO2 canisters astride the Ford V8, completely filling the rear fighting compartment.

Limiting Wasp to two crew with no wireless set . /2 Image
The Wasp IIC was a Canadian variant shoving a 75 gallon fuel tank onto the rear, granting a bit more space.

I mean the Universal's kangarooing three roadwheel suspension already made the damn things wallow enough. So both models really overloaded the poor lil' carrier chassis./3 Image
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Read 10 tweets
Jonathan Ware Profile picture
Jul 11, 2025
Throughout the Normandy campaign, Allied commanders anticipated that German soldiers would surrender in large numbers, but this... rarely happened.

The exception over predicted rule.

Why? /1
#WW2 #SWW #History Image
Throughout the campaign this question vexed the Allies, not least as Intelligence Officers repeatedly felt the enemy was on the cusp of collapse.

Such problems coincided with confusion as to why Army Group B didn't just withdraw to the Seine.

Many didn't understand the enemy./2 Image
About the time of Operation Epsom, German propaganda kicked up a gear as officers enthused about devastating new Vergeltungswaffen (vengeance weapons) devastating London night after night.

They claimed the British capital was in ruins with millions of dead, & victory loomed. /3 Image
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Read 24 tweets
Jonathan Ware Profile picture
May 28, 2025
Hastings and Normandy
His views on the campaign have been discredited by historians but dominated the field for nearly three decades, so how come he continues to gain traction? /1
#WW2 #SWW #History Image
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I've spoken about the campaign's complex historiography before. /2

I've also written about it... /3

web.archive.org/web/2018020318…
Read 25 tweets
Jonathan Ware Profile picture
May 31, 2024
Safe as Houses
Cracking defences in Normandy

Norman buildings are built well, especially churches and farmhouses - as both sides discovered in Normandy.

This required creativity. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History
#DDay80


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In short, there was no magic solution to cracking defences in Normandy, sure AVREs had massive 290mm petard mortars but these were specialist assets.

Not always available, or in the right place at the right time. /2


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German troops had better mortars than Second Army, and integral infantry guns in each Regiment. Due to problems developing 95mm the British lacked this capability & came to use attached Churchill V or other 95mm gun tanks to achieve this role.

But again, not common. /3
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Read 19 tweets
Jonathan Ware Profile picture
Apr 19, 2024
4 August 1944
“PIAT! PIAT! PIAT!"
Lt Donald Harvey, 244 Field Company Royal Engineers, alongside D Coy 1 Oxf & Bucks.

Probably the best PIAT related quote of the Normandy campaign, said as a Waffen-SS battlegroup appeared behind a British battalion. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History #DDay80


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I could go into this action in much more detail, but it's almost unbelievable - saving it for another day...

Soon.

A genuinely ridiculous scrap.

Moving on... /2 Image
PIAT was the infantry platoon's principle manhandled anti-tank weapon. 1 per platoon. A real marmite weapon, most complaints stem from poor handling & faulty munitions.

Range: 350 yds.
Effective : 40 - 70 (maybe 100) yds.
Weight: 32 Lbs (15 kg)
Pen: 75 – 100mm of armour /3
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Read 10 tweets
Jonathan Ware Profile picture
Apr 18, 2024
Rhino Barges

One of the dullest, coolest, more bizarre and fascinating pieces of kit used in Normandy.

Which no one *really* cares abou5.

But I do, and you should too... /1
#WW2 #SWW #History #DDay80


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Planning for Overlord and Neptune had a serious snag, how to get troops from LSTs onto the beach as simply ramming them up onto the beaches and dropping the ramp was known to damage the exceptionally vulnerable LSTs and felt to be unsustainable in the mid to long term. /2 Image
LSTs were essential in sustaining Overlord's progress and were a subject of major headaches in the planning phase, and a real subject of friction when it came to launching additional amphibious operations such as Op Dragoon.

Loss of a single LST represented a capability nick. /3 Image
Read 14 tweets

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