Falaise: The Flawed Victory - The Destruction of Panzergruppe West, August 1944

Index

Aachen, viii, 187–9, 193, 196, 198

Alençon, 46–7, 57, 103, 147, 149, 150–2, 154

Amiens, 6, 10, 84, 107, 178, 180–1, 186

American Army 12th Army Group, 27, 175

Armies:

US 1st Army, 25–7, 76, 205

US 3rd Army, 27,148,160-1,189,198, 203

US 9th Army, 203, 205

US 15th Army, 205

Corps:

US V (5th) Corps, 182

US VII (7th) Corps, 203

US XII (12th) Corps, 25, 153

US XV (15th) Corps, 72, 103, 147, 150–1, 153–4, 161, 183

XIX (19th) Corps, 79

US XX (20th) Corps, 153

Armoured Divisions:

US 2nd Armored Div, 55, 80, 101, 136, 138, 144, 177, 189, 205

US 3rd Armored Div, 55, 133–4, 160, 203, 205

US 4th Armored Div, 137

US 5th Armored Div, 81, 103, 147, 151–2, 154, 190

US 6th Armored Div, 201

Infantry Divisions:

US 1st Div, 13

US 4th Div, 55, 78, 103, 183, 190

US 5th Div, 190

US 9th Div, 52, 55, 78, 133

US 28th Div, 190–1, 196

US 30th Div, 51, 102, 133, 138, 144

US 35th Div, 138

US 39th Div, 51

US 44th Div, 202

US 47th Div, 51

US 65th Div, 215

US 79th Div, 78, 133, 161

US 83rd Div, 133

US 90th Div, 147

US 100th Div, 202

US Army Air Force:

9th Air Force, 8, 103, 196

Antwerp, 181, 184, 190, 196

Argentan, 11, 27–8, 46, 103, 147, 154, 160, 162, 171

Arnhem, viii, 59, 113, 192–6, 198

Arnswalde, viii, 208–9

Arras, 180

Atlantic, Operation, 111, 231

Avranches, 6, 16, 25, 27–8, 72, 101–2, 137–8, 146

Bachmann, Lieutenant Colonel, 202

Bagration, Operation, viii, 20

Barkmann, Sergeant Ernst, 133–5, 137

Bastogne, viii, 199–201

Bayeux, ix, 9, 12, 13, 49, 50, 62, 77, 97

Bayerlein, General Fritz, 45, 47–8, 50–1, 54–5, 132, 134, 144, 158, 201, 228

Becker, Major Alfred, 32, 42–3

Behr, Major Winrich, 193

Belchem, Colonel David, 174

Bittrich, General Wilhelm, xi, 113–14, 155, 162, 165, 192–3, 197, 228

Blaskowitz, General Johannes, 4, 29, 56, 132, 205

Blauensteiner, Colonel Ernst, 168

Blumentritt, General Günther, xi, 7, 9, 23, 205

Bluecoat, Operation, 25, 232

Bourguébus ridge, 25, 43–1, 108–11, 214

Bradley, General Omar N, 25, 76, 148, 154, 156

Braun, Hans Erich, 97–9, 166, 167

Brest, 137

British Army 21st Army Group, 203

Armies:

2nd Army, 15, 19, 21, 26, 110, 203

Corps:

I (1st) Corps, 11, 176

VIII (8th) Corps, 65, 68, 114

XXX (30th) Corps, 50–1, 65, 196, 204

Armoured Divisions:

7th Armoured Div, 19, 41, 50–1, 82, 84–5, 87–8, 109, 121, 127, 156

11th Armoured Div, 41, 44, 67–8, 91, 109–10, 121–2, 172, 178, 180–1

Guards Armoured Div, 41, 43, 91, 110, 121

Infantry Divisions:

3rd Division, 36, 38, 68

15th (Scottish) Div, 67, 114, 122

43rd (Wessex) Div, 67, 6, 178, 198

49th (West Riding) Div, 65, 156

50th (Northumbrian) Div, 50–1, 61, 88

51st (Highland) Div, 19, 71, 156

53rd (Welsh) Div, 44

59th (Staffordshire) Div, 68, 70, 93

Airborne Divisions:

1st Airborne, 41, 192, 194, 195

6th Airborne, 19, 33–8

Brussels, 181

Buenau, General von, 231

Caen, 2, 9, 12, 15, 19–21, 23, 25, 30–1, 34–6, 41, 60–1, 65, 68, 82, 84, 105, 107, 109, 143, 214–15

Canadian Army

Armies:

1st Army, 154, 160, 176, 203

Corps:

II (2nd) Corps, 154, 160, 176

Armoured Divisions:

3rd Armoured Div, 180

4th Armoured Div, 70–1, 91, 160, 174, 180

Infantry Divisions:

2nd Div, 71, 111, 180

3rd Div, 36, 39, 61–2, 64–5, 68, 108

Carentan, 61, 74, 77–8

Carpiquet airfield, 38, 61, 68, 70

Caumont, 19–21, 26, 51, 85, 87, 97

Celles, 200–1

Chambois, 139, 160–1, 163–4, 166, 168–9, 170, 172, 176

Charnwood, Operation, 21, 68, 88, 108, 231

Cherbourg, 2–3, 7, 20, 23, 78

Chevallerie, General Kurt von der, 4, 74–5

Choltitz, General Dietrich von, xi, 24, 51–2, 54, 56, 132, 143–4, 182

Churchill tank, xiv, 18, 19, 89, 90, 110, 164

Cobra, Operation, 16, 23, 25, 41, 53–4, 56, 79, 101, 134, 137, 143, 232

Collins, General J Lawton, 25, 203

Cologne, 201, 203

Cook, General Gilbert R, 153

Cromwell tank, xiv, 18, 84, 85, 86,91, 99,110, 122

Dauntless, Operation, 65, 231

Dawans, General Ritter von, 14

Dieppe Raid, 1, 5, 19

Dietrich, General Josef ‘Sepp,’ xi, 2, 26, 42, 58, 75, 105, 108, 113, 162, 176–7, 180, 207, 209–13

Dollmann, General Friedrich, xi, 2, 4, 9, 10, 14, 23, 46, 115 Domfort, 103, 149, 150, 155

Dragoon, Operation, 28, 232

Duclair, 178, 180

Eberbach, General Heinrich, xi, 14, 22–3, 26–8, 31, 42, 68, 103–4, 111, 157, 161–2, 165, 174, 176

Elbeuf, 177–80

Elfeldt, General Otto, xi, 56, 143, 145, 155, 169

Epsom, Operation, 21, 65–6, 68, 88, 108, 114, 124, 132, 231

Fahrmbacher, General Wilhelm, x, 137 Falaise, 15,19, 27, 44, 70–2, 93-4,108,154–5, 176, 215

Falaise pocket, 56, 72, 81, 104, 112–13, 122, 140, 154–75, 185, 188

Feuchtinger, General Edgar, 30–1, 33–9, 42, 202, 214, 227

Fey, Will, 89, 90, 94, 164, 170–1, 178–9, 181

Fischer, General Wolfgang, 6

Flak 36 8.8cm anti-aircraft gun, 31, 42–3, 67, 109, 182

French 2nd Armoured Division, 103, 147, 151–4, 182–3, 189

Funck, General Hans von, xi, 50, 55, 101, 138, 142, 144–6, 155, 163

German Army(Heer)

Army Groups:

Army Group B, 4, 11, 142–3, 156, 176–7, 181, 188, 197, 203, 222, 225

Army Group G, 4, 21, 28–9, 56, 108, 132, 176–7, 183

Armies:

1st Army, 4, 65, 74, 76, 141, 183-4 1st Parachute Army, 190, 205

2nd Panzer Army, 5, 211

5th Panzer Army, 26,28, 111, 138, 156,

161–2, 177, 180–3, 197, 203, 205, 209, 225

6th Army, 210–12

7th Army, x, 4, 11, 12, 14, 16, 21–2, 25, 27–8, 51, 61, 76–7, 121, 136, 157, 161, 177, 180, 182–3, 185, 223, 225

15th Army, 4, 21, 41, 61, 142–3, 176, 181,

190, 196–7, 203, 205, 223 19th Army, 4, 65, 75, 108, 184, 188, 224

Panzer Groups:

Panzergruppe Eberbach, 26, 28, 56, 103, 138, 140, 157, 226

Panzergruppe West, x, 1, 2, 4–6, 11–16, 21–2, 24–5, 28, 38, 43, 52, 54, 56, 82, 109, 113, 138, 141–2, 154, 157, 169, 185, 222, 225

Corps:

II (2nd) Parachute Corps, 23–5, 52–3, 56–7, 75, 77, 80, 101, 144, 155, 168, 204, 223, 225

III (3rd) Flak Corps, xi, 43, 109, 225

XXV (25th) Corps, 137, 223, 225

XXIX (29th) Panzer Corps, 197

XXXIX (39th) Panzer Corps, 199, 201, 208

XLVII (47th) Panzer Corps, xii, 13, 24–5, 50, 55, 65, 67, 101, 104, 127, 138, 142, 146, 155, 158, 162, 168, 171, 186, 197, 203–4, 222, 225–6

LIII (53rd) Corps, 204 LVIII (58th) Panzer Corps, xii, 25, 56, 101, 103, 131, 150, 155, 182, 186, 197, 222, 225–6

LXII (62nd) Corps, 56, 224

LXXIV (74th) Corps, xii, 24, 44, 155, 199, 223, 226

LXXXI (81st) Corps, xii, 5, 112, 138, 150–1, 153, 177, 223, 226

LXXXIV (84th) Corps, xii, 24–5, 33, 35, 51, 53, 55–6, 75, 77–8, 80, 88, 132, 145, 155, 223, 226

LXXXVI (86th) Corps, xii, 6, 24, 41, 108, 110, 155, 224, 226

Panzer Divisions:

2nd Panzer Div, 4, 7, 10, 21, 24–6, 84, 87, 96–104, 144–5, 154, 158, 164, 166–9, 171, 187, 191–2, 197–8, 201, 216, 219, 222, 225, 227

9th Panzer Div, 4–5, 28, 57, 96, 1, 103, 141, 147, 148–55, 161, 185, 189, 196–8, 203–5, 216, 219, 222, 226–7

10th Panzer Div, 1, 6

11th Panzer Div, 4, 29, 75, 132, 141, 222

21st Panzer Div, 3, 9, 11–13, 21–2, 25, 30–44, 49, 61, 65, 88, 109–10, 114, 155, 157, 177, 185, 198, 201, 214, 216, 219, 222, 226, 227

116th Panzer Div, 4, 9, 24–6, 96, 101–3, 110, 140–7, 154–5, 158, 161, 166, 168–9, 171, 177, 179, 186–7, 189, 191–3, 196, 198, 203–4, 216, 219, 222, 226–7

155th Reserve Panzer Div, 5, 141, 148–9, 222

178th Reserve Panzer Div, 5, 141, 222

179th Reserve Panzer Div, 5, 140–1, 222

273rd Reserve Panzer Div, 5, 141, 222

Panzer Lehr, 3, 4, 7, 9–10, 12, 21–4, 26, 41, 45–57, 79, 88, 91, 96–7, 102, 134, 144, 151, 156, 171, 185, 190, 198, 216, 219, 222, 226, 228

Panzergrenadier Divisions:

3rd Panzergrenadier Div, 203

10th Panzergrenadier Div, 5, 141

15th Panzergrenadier Div, 203–4

16th Panzergrenadier Div, 5, 140

Infantry Divisions:

48th Div, 224

77th Div, 20, 223, 225

84th Div, 146, 155, 169, 224

85th Div, 71, 156, 176, 224

89th Div, 24, 44, 71–2, 111, 155, 188, 224

180th Div, 204

190th Div, 204

243rd Div, 20, 52–3, 155, 221, 223, 226

245th Div, 5, 143, 223

265th Div, 223, 225

266th Div, 223, 226

275th Div, 52, 223, 226

271st Div, 24, 26, 29, 72, 93, 155, 163, 188, 224,

272nd Div, 24, 26, 29, 44, 71, 108, 110, 120, 156, 176, 224 275th Div, 53, 79, 155, 223, 226

276th Div, 29, 142, 155, 224–5

277th Div, 26, 119, 155, 166, 169, 224–5

325th (Security) Div, 182

326th Div, 101, 142, 155, 221, 224–5

331st Div, 25, 112, 155, 171, 176, 180, 221,

224, 226 343rd Div, 223, 226 344th Div, 57, 223

346th Div, 26, 65, 176, 188, 221, 224

348th Div, 143, 223

352nd Div, 52, 61, 65, 77, 79, 101, 151–2, 154, 221, 223, 225

353rd Div, 52–3, 132, 155, 163, 168, 188, 221, 223, 226

363rd Div, 155, 166, 224

708th Div, 29, 57, 75, 81, 150–1, 153, 155, 224, 226

709th Div, 20, 223

711th Div, 5, 11, 65, 176, 223

716th Div, 21, 33, 61, 65, 223, 225

Parachute Divisions:

2nd Parachute Div, 204, 224, 226

3rd Parachute Div, 20, 24, 52, 57, 77, 79, 97,

155, 168–9, 205, 223, 225

5th Parachute Div, 53, 78, 223

6th Parachute Div, 152, 204

7th Parachute Div, 204 8th Parachute Div, 204

Luftwaffe Field Divisions:

16th Luftwaffe Field Div, 22, 41–2, 44, 68, 108–9, 223

17th Luftwaffe Field Div, 5, 177, 180, 223

91st Airlanding Div, 3, 52–3, 75, 77, 80, 223, 226

German losses, 20, 22–3, 25, 41, 44, 50–2, 54, 68, 72–3, 79–81, 104, 122, 136, 139, 153, 174, 181–2, 184–7, 195, 201, 203, 205, 212, 213

Gerow, General L T, 182, 205

Gersdorff, Colonel Rudolf-Christoph von, 56, 162, 167, 168, 181

Goodwood, Operation, 21–3, 30, 42, 44, 58, 70, 82, 88–9, 101, 109–10, 113, 120, 214, 231

Gottberg, Captain Wilhelm, 36–7

Greenline, Operation, 101, 108, 231

Haislip, General Wade H, 72, 150, 153–4

Hartdegen, Captain Alexander, 47

Harpe, General Josef, 205

Harmel, General Heinz, 123–4, 193, 195, 207, 228

Harzer, Walter, Lieutenant Colonel, 116, 193–4, 228

Hasse, General Conrad, 6

Hausser, General Paul, xi, 23, 25, 26, 52, 54, 115, 129, 136, 144, 157, 162, 169, 170, 180

Henning, Sergeant Otto, 53, 162

Herr, Captain, 36

Hill 112, battle for, 64–5, 67, 89-90,117, 215

Hill, Lieutenant Stuart, 172

Hitler, Adolf, xi, 1–3, 6,15, 19–21, 26, 53, 58, 60, 74, 113, 147, 157, 183, 196, 201, 203, 207, 213

Hodges, General CourtneyH, 27, 203, 205

Höller, Lieutenant Hans, 34

Hummel self-propelled gun, xiii, 46, 60, 96, 98, 107, 130, 136, 167, 171

Hurtgen forest, viii, 196, 198

Jodl, General Alfred, xi, 7, 10

Jolasse, General Erwin, 148–9, 227

Jubilee, Operation, 1

Jupiter, Operation, 108, 6, 231

Kauffman, Lieutenant Colonel Kurt, 50, 88

Keitel, General Wilhelm, xi, 7, 22, 43, 188

Kluge, Field Marshal G önther von, xi, 22, 26–7, 52, 54, 101, 143, 157–8, 161, 164

Kortenhaus, Corporal Werner, 30, 33–5, 37–8, 2, 49

Kraas, Brigadier Hugo, 197, 210, 212, 228

Kröger, General Walter, xi, 56, 101, 127, 131, 138, 197

Kumm, Brigadier Otto, 210, 228

Kuntzen, General Adolf, xi, 5, 112, 150–1, 177

Lammerding, General Heinz, 129–32, 138, 197, 228

Langanke, 2nd Lieutenant Fritz, 130, 135, 136, 180, 200 Le Havre, 2, 138

Lehmann, Colonel Rudolf, 211, 228

Le Mans, 11, 56, 81, 148, 151

Luck, Colonel Hans von, 31, 42–3

Lumberjack, Operation, 203

Luftwaffe, 13, 14, 16, 45, 62, 67, 74, 77, 80

Löttwitz, General Heinrich von, 96–7, 103, 166, 169, 197, 227

Lyon, 184

Mailly-le-Camp training ground, 44, 89, 114, 124, 149

Mantes-Gassicourt, 8, 177

Manteuffel, General Hasso von, 197

Marcks, General Erich, xi, 2, 33, 35, 52

Marder self-propelled gun, xiii, 4, 18, 53, 75, 151, 188

Market Garden, Operation, viii, 186

Marseilles, 56, 184

Meindl, General Eugen, xi, 52, 56, 75, 77, 144, 155, 168, 169

Metz, viii, 74, 81, 150, 180, 187, 189, 196, 198

Meyer, Colonel Kurt, 11, 38, 58–9, 60–3, 65, 68, 70–1, 91, 106, 186, 228

Meyer, Otto, Lieutenant Colonel, 114, 122, 180

Misch, Officer Cadet Kurt, 156

Model, Field Marshal Walther, xi, 22, 158, 161–2, 176–7, 180, 186, 188, 193, 205

Mont Ormel, battle for, 139, 160

Mont Pinçon, 25, 84, 121

Mortain counterattack, 16, 26–7, 74, 81, 102, 127, 138, 146, 150, 158, 185, 196

Nijmegen, viii, 194, 195, 196

Obstfelder, General Hans von, xi, 108, 110, 156

Oissel, 8, 178, 180

Oppeln-Bronikowski, Colonel Hermann, 31, 33, 37, 38, 88

Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, 116, 131

Ostendorff, General Werner, 74, 76–8, 229

Overlord, Operation, 3, 8, 28, 30, 230

Pak 40 7.5cm anti-tank gun, 68, 79, 97, 109–10

Pak 43 8.8cm anti-tank gun, 31–2, 42, 63, 79, 110

Panzers:

Mk IV, xiii, 16-18,21,28, 32,42,46,48, 59, 61, 72, 95, 102, 107, 111, 114,

121, 124, 126, 128, 130, 136, 142, 171, 211

Mk V Panther, 17–19, 21, 28, 32, 46, 49, 59, 61, 72, 95, 102, 107, 111, 114, 121, 124, 130, 134, 142, 171, 185

Mk VI Tiger, xiii, 17, 19, 34, 42, 46, 49, 51, 82–94, 171, 179, 180–1, 207, 208–9, 211

Jagdpanther, xiii, 18, 204

Jagdpanzer, xiii, 18, 46, 59, 75, 81, 97, 124, 142, 167

Jagdtiger, 204

Sturmgeschütz, xiii, 4, 17, 32, 46, 51, 53, 75, 96, 107, 124, 126, 128, 151, 171

Paris, 14, 20, 24, 35, 107, 114, 182, 183, 185, 188

Patton, General George S, 15, 148, 154, 177

Perch, Operation, 84, 231

Pickert, General Wolfgang, xi, 43, 109

Point 213, battle for, 84–6

Polish 1st Armoured Division, 70–1, 91, 139, 156, 160, 170, 174, 180

Priess, General Hermann, xi, 155, 197

Ribbentrop, Rudolf von, 63, 69, 201

Richter, General, 33, 34

Ritgen, Captain Helmut, 11, 47–8, 53, 182

Rommel, Field Marshal Erwin, xi, 2, 4, 6–7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 32, 42, 107, 115, 142

Roncey, pocket, 80, 136, 185

Rouen Bridghead, 176–82

Royal Air Force:

British 2nd Tactical Air Force, 8, 72, 102, 174

Bomber Command, 115

Rundstedt, Field Marshal Gerd von, xi, 1–4, 7, 9–10, 15, 19, 21, 23, 52, 58, 115, 186, 188, 201

Salmuth, General Hans von, 2, 4, 143, 176, 183

Schwerin, General Gerhard Graf von, 140–5, 171, 189, 227

Schweppenburg, General Geyr von, xi, 2, 5–7, 11–13, 20–1, 23, 62, 75, 107

Sherman tank, xiv, 17–18, 43, 61, 63, 66, 80, 84, 89, 93, 110, 133, 135, 161, 170, 190, 200–2

Sherman Fireflytank, xiv, 19, 25, 66

Speidel, General Hans, 9, 143

Spring, Operation, 25, 231

Spring Awakening, Operation, 210

Stadler, Brigadier Sylvester, 116–20, 197, 228

St Lamber-sur-Dives, 112, 139, 159, 161–2, 167–9, 171 St LÔ, 7, 22, 24, 53–4, 77, 79, 101, 133

St Malo, 137

St Vith, viii, 199–200

Straube, General Erich, xi, 155

Toulon, 184

Toulouse, 25, 29, 56, 101, 131, 132

Totalise, Operation, 28, 58, 70–2, 91, 111, 113, 232

Tractable, Operation, 28, 58, 72, 156, 232

Trun, 128, 150, 159–60, 162, 164, 166, 169, 176

Typhoon fighter-bomber, 72, 92, 98, 111, 174, 185

Villers-Bocage, 19, 84, 85–8, 91, 125

Waffen-SS:

Armies:

6th SS Panzer Army, viii, 197–8, 203, 207, 210–14

11th SS Panzer Army, 208

Corps:

I (1st) SS Panzer Corps, 4, 12–13, 24–5, 39–41, 66–7, 71, 83–4, 106, 108, 111, 113, 124, 143, 155, 186, 197, 210

II (2nd) SS Panzer Corps, viii, 4, 10, 21, 24–5, 67, 113–14, 116, 155, 157, 161, 166, 170–1, 186, 197, 211

III (3rd) SS Panzer Corps, 208, 209 X (10th) SS Corps, 208

Panzer Divisions:

1st SS Panzer Div, viii, 4, 6–7, 22, 24–5, 41, 44, 68, 83, 102, 105–12, 128, 154, 156, 168, 186–7, 197, 207, 214, 216, 219, 222, 225, 228

2nd SS Panzer Div, 4, 8, 21–2, 24–5, 52–3, 81, 102, 105, 114, 128–39, 144, 151, 155, 157, 164, 170, 177, 186–7, 190, 197, 207, 211, 214, 216, 219, 222, 225–6, 228

9th SS Panzer Div, viii, 10, 21, 24–5, 67, 91, 106, 108, 113–22, 132, 151, 155, 157, 166, 170–1, 186–7, 191–2, 194, 207, 214, 216, 219, 224–5, 228

10th SS Panzer Div, viii, 10, 24, 32, 67, 82, 91, 103, 105–6, 108, 114–15, 123–8, 151, 154, 166, 168, 180, 186–7, 191–2, 194, 197, 201–2, 207, 209, 215–17, 219, 224–5, 228

12th SS Panzer Div, viii, 4, 6, 7, 9–11, 21–2, 24–5, 39–41, 49–50, 58–73, 82, 87, 94, 108, 110, 114, 126, 151, 155–7, 159, 166, 170, 186–7, 197, 207, 215–17, 219, 222, 225, 228

Panzergrenadier Divisions:

17th SS Panzergrenadier Div, 4, 8–9, 11, 22, 24–5, 28, 52, 74–81, 97, 102, 128, 136, 151, 155, 180, 186–7, 189, 196, 201–2, 206, 216–17, 219, 222, 225–6, 229

Walker, General Walton H, 153 Weise, General Friedrich, 4, 75, 184

Wespe self-propelled gun, xiii, 18, 44, 60, 96, 98, 107, 124, 130, 171

Wisch, Brigadier Theodor, 106, 108, 163, 228

Witt, General Fritz, 58–9, 61, 65, 228

Wittmann, Lieutenant Michael, 84–8, 91, 92

Zangen, General Gustav-Adolf, 183, 190, 203