Sword Beach, 6 June 1944...

What was the weaponry in the German strongpoints and did the pre bombardment succesfully knock them out?

A more common question is how many casaulites were sustained on the beach and what was the main cause.

A recent archive visit answered these questions. The first figures showed enemy weapons by sector that had been identified. For Queen Sector, Sword Beach-

88mm None

75mm x3

5cm ATK x3

37mm x1

Mortars x7

Machine Gun x14-15

On the 5 June during the 80th anniversary period, @ShaunColdicutt, @WW2Explorer and I were granted access to Bieville-Beuville Chateau. It has remained unoccupied since June 1944. I had been privately contacted by the owner wanting to learn more of the Chateaus history during the SWW. The chateau was occupied and used by the men of the German 716 Infantry Division upon till 6 June, quickly they would leave as the British 3rd Infantry Division pushed through the area. Battle damage can be found on all four sides still, but it is heavily rebuilt due to battle damage.

Staying on the Battle of Breville theme, the 9th Battalion had running battles for the Chateau St Come over the coming days since they arrived on 7 June. On the evening of 10 June '44, 5th Black Watch of the 51st Highland Division had arrived at the sunken lane. The 51st Highland Div had come up onto the Breville Ridge to support the 6th Airborne Div. The 5th Black Watch would look to close the Breville Gap with an attack.

Lets take a look at the battle of Breville in June '44, in reality this would be the frontline on the left flank till Operation Paddle at the end of August.

Lets set the scene from 7 June, the 1 Special Service Brigade (Commandos) along with the 6 Airborne Div holding the line. There was a gap between Amfreville and Chateau St Come, about 1 mile long. The British line needed to be closed with the German forces occupying the village of Breville. A large area of no mans land existed during this period around there.

Following on from @ww2tv with @ReassessHistory episode British steel in Normandy I wanted to drop a few stats. These are from allied reports reviewing armoured warfare some stats cover all theatres of war.

This study is based on a sample of 12,140 allied tank. American, British, Canadian and French tanks. I will bring it in to British as it progresses. And more so, the Normandy campaign

December 15, 1944 (Germany)

Dearest Family,
You must consider my writing is for the benefit of you all. The opportune time for writing is sparse to say the least.

Tonight I am in my foxhole which has a log roof. The log roof primarily serves as protection for artillery but also with it one may have a light. Candles are the fashionable things here in the ETO. I'm getting along just fine, no gripes or complaints of course, living in a foxhole isn't the nicest place in the world. But that ole civilian saying applies, "This is war."

Following on from last weeks look at the 12 SS Panzer Divisions defensive positions around Galmanche and the impact on the British 59th Inf Div during Op Charnwood, today I wanted to look at the ridge leading up to Lebisey that the British 3rd Inf Div would attack...

https://twitter.com/BattlefieldBen/status/1460722707247603717

This photo is the D60 looking south, the road leads into Caen and would be a main axis of advance for the British on the 8 July '44. Behind me, 1km away is the village of Bieville. The British frontline had formed around this area since the 6 June. We will come back to here later

Back to Operation Charnwood, this time to look at the defensive positions standing in the way of the 59th Staffordshire Division. In particular the well planned, placed and sighted positions at Galmanche. This position could be classed as a classic hedgehog defence. Within days of the landings, the Germans looked to bolster their units and defence around Caen. The 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend" began to move into the villages north of Caen from the 7 June '44. Map- Panzerdivision Hitlerjugend Volume II, Stephen Cazenave

Yesterday I mentioned the Naval Operational Orders for the invasion of Normandy, it did not post some of my snippets I extracted on the detail of the planning, a few things that stood out to me contained within were.. Many of you will have seen this detail, but here is the breakdown of each beach area and task force including the beach area names and grid co ordinates. Not ground breaking information but very important to makes sure you head for the correct area.

11. La Breche, Queen Red/White sector of Sword Beach.

To be hit at H-30 to H-15 (or H-10).

RAF heavy day bombing, Priority 1. 12. East of La Breche, WN18

To be hit at H-45 by one fleet destroyer.

Remarks- At Call of FOsB when landed.

So after the @WeHaveWaysPod on Gold Beach, a question relating to the Sanatorium came up. It got me thinking so I decided to look at the targets designated to Force D, Sword to see exactly what was in the plan for the most eastern landing beach.

Video- IWM ADM 1258 With the use of the 27th Armoured Brigade HQ Diary '44, I had documents of the proposed targets and timings on Force D and how the pre bombardment would go. Its worth remembering Force S could also have their own plan on targets and timings. There is also evidently an overlap.

After a visit to the archives last week I came across an interesting order in relation to 'Burials'. Issued to the 27th Armoured Brigade ahead of Operation Overlord, section 29 lists the conditions for the burial of the dead. 1. Burial site for those killed on beaches and in assembly areas will be reserved by Beach Sub area immediately inland of beaches.

So I returned home from Normandy to find my uncle had dropped off a box containing items in relation to his Grandfather, Percy, who served in the FWW. Percy told the family he had been shot this one time... Serving in the Royal Fusiliers he survived the war. I sat down and began to work my way through the box and quickly see what I could ascertain before starting archive work. I photographed the items as I went...

Following on from last night, to show that it wasn't just SS units involved in war crimes atrocities, he is some detail of an incident involving men of the British 6th Airborne Division and the 1 Coy, 716 Division Engineering Battalion at Herouvillette on the 6th June '44 The following was witnessed by the local people of the village in those early hours, the Germans, clearly well known to them after years of occupation and them being at Herouvillette.

Recently I had the privilege to make a personal visit to a grave of a man killed on the 6th June 1944, I have the permission from his sister to share this story and it is who I was with for the visit. Her brother was Cyril Cooper Stubbins, 19 years of age. Cyril was part of the 7th Parachute Battalion, British 6th Airborne Division. Photographed here in April ‘44. They would drop in to Normandy to the east of the River Orne and Caen Canal. Photograph cc- Paradata