Breakout (Combined Operations Book 7)
Page 26
The details about the Commando equipment are also accurate. They were issued with American weapons although some did use the Lee Enfield. When large numbers attacked the Lofoten Islands they used regular army issue. The Commandos appeared in dribs and drabs but 1940 was the year when they began their training. It was Lord Lovat who gave them a home in Scotland but that was not until 1941. I wanted my hero, Tom, to begin to fight early. His adventures will continue throughout the war.
The raid on German Headquarters is based on an attempt by Number 3 Commando to kill General Erwin Rommel. In a real life version of 'The Eagle Has Landed' they almost succeeded. They went in by lorry. They failed in their mission. Commandos were used extensively in the early desert war but, sadly, many of them perished in Greece and Cyprus and Crete. Of 800 sent to Crete only two hundred returned to Egypt. Churchill also compounded his mistake of supporting Greece by sending all three hundred British tanks to the Western Desert and the Balkans. The map shows the area where Tom and the others fled. The Green Howards were not in that part of the desert at that time. The Germans did begin to reinforce their allies at the start of 1941.
Motor launch Courtesy of Wikipedia
Motor Gun Boat Courtesy of Wikipedia
E-boat
Short Sunderland
Messerschmitt 1tens over France
Aeroplane photographs courtesy of Wikipedia
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
Photographs courtesy of Wikipedia
The Dieppe raid was deemed, at the time, to be a fiasco. Many of the new Churchill tanks were lost and out of the six hundred men who were used on the raid only 278 returned to England. 3,367 Canadians were killed. wounded or captured. On the face of it the words disaster and fiasco were rightly used. However the losses at Dieppe meant that the planners for D-Day changed their approach. Instead of capturing a port, which would be too costly they would build their own port. Mulberry was born out of the blood of the Canadians. In the long run it saved thousands of lives. Three of the beaches on D-Day were assaulted with a fraction of the casualties from Dieppe. The Canadians made a sacrifice but it was not in vain.
S-160 Courtesy of Wikipedia
The E-boats were far superior to the early MTBs and Motor Launches. It was not until the Fairmile boats were developed that the tide swung in the favour of the Royal Navy. Some MTBs were fitted with depth charges. Bill's improvisation is the sort of thing Combined Operations did. It could have ended in disaster but in this case it did not. There were stories of captured E-boats being used by covert forces in World War II. I took the inspiration from S-160 which was used to land agents in the Low Countries and, after the war, was used against the Soviet Bloc. They were very fast, powerful and sturdy ships.
Sherman Tank- courtesy of Wikipedia
The first Sherman Tanks to be used in combat were in North Africa. three hundred M4A1 and M4A2 tanks arrived in Egypt in September 1942. The war was not going well in the desert at that point and Rommel was on the point of breaking through to Suez. The battle of El Alamein did not take place until the end of October.
The Hitler order
Top Secret
Fuhrer H.Q. 18. 10 1942
1. For a long time now our opponents have been employing in their conduct of the war, methods which contravene the International Convention of Geneva. The members of the so-called Commandos behave in a particularly brutal and underhanded manner; and it has been established that those units recruit criminals not only from their own country but even former convicts set free in enemy territories. From captured orders it emerges that they are instructed not only to tie up prisoners, but also to kill out-of-hand unarmed captives who they think might prove an encumbrance to them, or hinder them in successfully carrying out their aims. Orders have indeed been found in which the killing of prisoners has positively been demanded of them.
2. In this connection it has already been notified in an Appendix to Army Orders of 7.10.1942. that in future, Germany will adopt the same methods against these Sabotage units of the British and their Allies; i.e. that, whenever they appear, they shall be ruthlessly destroyed by the German troops.
3. I order, therefore:— From now on all men operating against German troops in so-called Commando raids in Europe or in Africa, are to be annihilated to the last man. This is to be carried out whether they be soldiers in uniform, or saboteurs, with or without arms; and whether fighting or seeking to escape; and it is equally immaterial whether they come into action from Ships and Aircraft, or whether they land by parachute. Even if these individuals on discovery make obvious their intention of giving themselves up as prisoners, no pardon is on any account to be given. On this matter a report is to be made on each case to Headquarters for the information of Higher Command.
4. Should individual members of these Commandos, such as agents, saboteurs etc., fall into the hands of the Armed Forces through any means – as, for example, through the Police in one of the Occupied Territories – they are to be instantly handed over to the SD
To hold them in military custody – for example in P.O.W. Camps, etc., – even if only as a temporary measure, is strictly forbidden.
5. This order does not apply to the treatment of those enemy soldiers who are taken prisoner or give themselves up in open battle, in the course of normal operations, large scale attacks; or in major assault landings or airborne operations. Neither does it apply to those who fall into our hands after a sea fight, nor to those enemy soldiers who, after air battle, seek to save their lives by parachute.
6. I will hold all Commanders and Officers responsible under Military Law for any omission to carry out this order, whether by failure in their duty to instruct their units accordingly, or if they themselves act contrary to it.
The order was accompanied by this letter from Field Marshal Jodl
The enclosed Order from the Fuhrer is forwarded in connection with destruction of enemy Terror and Sabotage-troops.
This order is intended for Commanders only and is in no circumstances to fall into Enemy hands.
Further distribution by receiving Headquarters is to be most strictly limited.
The Headquarters mentioned in the Distribution list are responsible that all parts of the Order, or extracts taken from it, which are issued are again withdrawn and, together with this copy, destroyed.
Chief of Staff of the Army
Jodl
FW 190 Courtesy of Wikipedia
The FW 190 had two 13mm machine guns with 475 rounds per gun. It also had two twenty mm cannon with 250 rounds per gun. It could carry up to five hundred kg bombs. It usually had just one bomb in the centre of the aeroplane
Ju 88 courtesy of Wikipedia
Faith, Hope and Charity were the nicknames given to the three Gloster Sea Gladiators which, for a time, were Malta's only air defence. These ancient biplanes did sterling work In actual fact there were more than three but it suited the propaganda of the time. To ascribe the success against the Italian bombers to just three aeroplanes. They were based at the Sea Air Arm base, H.M.S. Falcon.
The Royal Navy rum ration was 54.6% proof. It was an eighth of a pint. Senior ratings (Petty Officers and above) received their rum neat while junior ratings had it diluted two to one. 'Up Spirits' was normally between 11 and 12 each day.
Douglas C-47 Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Rangers under Colonel Darby were at Amalfi. The rocket launcher known as the bazooka was first used in North Africa. Italy was the first time it had a widespread use. It was limited to the Americans only at first but later was used by the Russians and the British. The Germans captured some and used them to make their own version, the Panzershreck.
M1A1 Rocket Launcher Courtesy of Wikipedia and the Smithsonian
PIAT courtesy of Wikipedia and Canadian War Museum
The Commando attack at Vietri Sul Mare went according to plan and the only losses they suffered were when they attacked Salerno itself. Nine Commandos were killed and thirty seven wounded. The Commandos were
opposed by the 16th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion which they defeated before capturing Salerno. It was an impressive feat for a brigade of Commandos. Following this and Lord Mountbatten's departure for the Far East Major General 'Lucky' Laycock was appointed commander of Combined Operations. It was a position he occupied until the end of the war.
The Noel Coward play of 1936 was eventually made into the wartime film of 1945- Brief Encounter. 'Beau Geste' was a popular film made in 1939. Brian Donleavy plays a particularly sadistic sergeant in the French Foreign legion. The film was very popular amongst servicemen.
Operation Bodyguard and Operation Neptune were the code names used in 1943 and 1944 although Operation Overlord was the umbrella name for the planned invasion of Europe.
No.4 Commando landing at Sword Beach Ouistreham Bill Millins is the large figure and Lord Lovat can be seen in the water by his left arm
Courtesy of Wikipedia (Imperial War Museum)
LC(I)523 leaving Southampton taken (I think) from LC(I)527 the Flotilla leader.
From my Dad's Collection
Sword Beach landings
Courtesy of Wikipedia (Imperial War Museum)
The term tobruk was the name given by the allies to the concrete emplacements. They were first encountered in North Africa, hence the name. Frequently the Germans would use the turrets from captured tanks.
Operation Tiger was the name given to the practice attacks on the south coast. German E-boats did attack the convoy and almost a thousand Americans lost their lives. There were problems with signals as well as with training on life vests. Many Americans died because of incorrectly fitted jackets.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Panzer Mark IV as used by the 21st Panzer Division
Mark 1 Tiger
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Battle of Bréville was called one of the major battles of World War II. The Commandos and the Airborne Division had to fight off two infantry divisions and the 21st Panzer Division. The 21st had been part of the Afrika Korps. As such they were veterans. Until the 6 pounder anti tank guns were dropped by parachute on the 90th of June they had to fight them off with PIATs and grenades. The counter attack of Bréville did take place. It was stormed and then the Commandos were withdrawn back to the ridge. Theirs was a holding action until the main attack could break out of Caen. The battle was won on June 12th. Had they not held then I wonder of the main attack might have been halted.
The slang was taken from an Imperial War Museum publication called service slang and http://www.oocities.org/faskew/WW2/Glossary/WW2-SoldierSlang.htm
6 Rad Sd.Kfz. 231
German Half Track Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. A
Courtesy of Wikipedia and German Federal Archive
American M2 Half track for comparison
Courtesy of Wikipedia
De haviland Mosquito
Courtesy of Wikipedia
For me, the finest aeroplane of WW2.
Hawker Typhoon
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Below is a copy of the 1947 map of the area. You can see the roads as they were then.
Operation Bulbasket was an SAS operation in France in 1944. Thirty SAS were sent into France to help the resistance. They were highly successful blowing up fuel dumps and destroying railway lines. The Germans found them and shot them as spies. 34 men, in total, were executed. I have used those as the inspiration, in this book, for Tom and his men. There was no fuel dump at Trun but the town was heavily damaged in the fighting and its capture was crucial to the closing of the Falaise Gap.
This is the full transcript of the Charles de Gaulle speech after the liberation of Paris. Apparently the Americans and British had little to do with it!
"Why do you wish us to hide the emotion which seizes us all, men and women, who are here, at home, in Paris that stood up to liberate itself and that succeeded in doing this with its own hands?
No! We will not hide this deep and sacred emotion. These are minutes which go beyond each of our poor lives. Paris! Paris outraged! Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated! Liberated by itself, liberated by its people with the help of the French armies, with the support and the help of all France, of the France that fights, of the only France, of the real France, of the eternal France!
Well! Since the enemy which held Paris has capitulated into our hands, France returns to Paris, to her home. She returns bloody, but quite resolute. She returns there enlightened by the immense lesson, but more certain than ever of her duties and of her rights.
I speak of her duties first, and I will sum them all up by saying that for now, it is a matter of the duties of war. The enemy is staggering, but he is not beaten yet. He remains on our soil.
It will not even be enough that we have, with the help of our dear and admirable Allies, chased him from our home for us to consider ourselves satisfied after what has happened. We want to enter his territory as is fitting, as victors.
This is why the French vanguard has entered Paris with guns blazing. This is why the great French army from Italy has landed in the south and is advancing rapidly up the Rhône valley. This is why our brave and dear Forces of the interior will arm themselves with modern weapons. It is for this revenge, this vengeance and justice, that we will keep fighting until the final day, until the day of total and complete victory.
This duty of war, all the men who are here and all those who hear us in France know that it demands national unity. We, who have lived the greatest hours of our History, we have nothing else to wish than to show ourselves, up to the end, worthy of France. Long live France!"
Charles de Gaulle
Ernest Hemingway and Colonel 'Buck' Lanham were good friends and Hemingway did disappear to the forest of Rambouillet where he became a guerrilla leader for the local resistance.
Hemingway and Colonel 'Buck' Lanham
Courtesy of Wikipedia
During Operation Cobra over 50% of all German casualties came from the attacks by the 2nd Tactical Air force. Eisenhower said, "The chief credit in smashing the enemy's spearhead, however, must go to the rocket-firing Typhoon planes of the Second Tactical Air Force. They dived upon the armoured columns, and, with their rocket projectiles, on the first day of the battle destroyed 83, probably destroyed 29 and damaged 24 tanks in addition to quantities of 'soft-skinned' Motorized Transport. The result of this strafing was that the enemy attack was effectively brought to a halt, and a threat was turned into a great victory."
There is an excellent web site with more information than I could put here. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/AAF-H-DDay/
General Montgomery is often lauded as a great general but Normandy was not his finest hour. He sent back Americans who had closed the Falaise gap because it was in the British zone of control. He could be petty and small minded. He did not like Patton. Had he behaved more reasonably then the gap would have been closed a day earlier.
I have simplified the liberation of Paris. Captain Dronne was sent by General Leclerc to liberate Paris. His regiment was from North Africa, the Regiment of Chad and they did name their vehicles. Many of them had fought in the Spanish Civil War. Major general Gerow forbade the French from going into Paris. General Leclerc flew back to speak with Omar Bradley in an attempt to get the order rescinded. When the columns did head for Paris it became a race to see who could get there first. Captain Dronne reached the Paris Hotel de Ville just before midnight. The Germans had wired all the bridges over the Seine but the majority were not destroyed.
There were no British involved in the liberation of Paris itself. This is a story after all!
Reference Books used
The Commando Pocket Manual 1949-45- Christopher Westhorp
The Second World War Miscellany- Norman Ferguson
Army Commandos 1940-45- Mike Chappell
Military Slang- Lee Pemberton
World War II- Donald Sommerville
The Historical Atlas of World War II-Swanston and Swanston
The Battle of Bri
tain- Hough and Richards
The Hardest Day- Price
Overlord Coastline- Stephen Chicken
Disaster at D-Day- Peter Tsouras
Michelin Map #102 Battle of Normandy (1947 Edition).
Griff Hosker September 2016
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