Play World of Warships though my link https://wo.ws/3TLBJCe and use the invite code IMPACTFORCE to claim your rewards!!!
The Battle for Caen 1944 would be one of the most intense battles the Allies would face in Normandy from D-Day through to mid-July.
Both British and Canadian Divisions would be thrown against Caen in an attempt to break the German defences in and around the city.
This would take weeks rather than days due to the Germans armoured divisions being centred around Caen making the going slow, but in the long term advantageous as it enabled greater freedom of movement for American forces from Omaha and Utah Beaches to swing across country with little opposition.
In this episode of WW2 Wayfinder I take a look at wartime archive footage of the final stages of the battle for Caen during Operation Charnwood. From Sherman Tanks to British Infantry moving through the rubble strewn streets of Caen, this is an in-depth look at some wonderful original WW2 combat footage.
The Battle for Caen 1944 Episode Chapters:
00:00 – 00:45 – Introduction
00:46 – 01:46 – World of Warships
01:47 – 03:05 – The Battle for Caen 1944
03:05 – 06:15 – Sherman II of the 4th (Independent) Armoured Brigade
06:16 – 08:35 – 33rd Armoured Brigade Shermans
08:36 – 10:05 – British Jeeps
10:06 – 11:51 – Captured Luftwaffe Troops outside Caen
11:52 – 13:48 – British M10 SP and Universal Carrier
13:49 – 22:14 – British and Canadian Infantry in Caen 1944
22:15 – 25:27 – The Liberation of Caen July 1944
#BattleOfCaen #Normandy1944 #DDayCampaign #OperationEpsom #OperationCharnwood #OperationGoodwood #WWIIHistory #LiberationOfCaen
Like what I do? If you’re able to, you can support the channel here:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WW2Wayfinder?l=de
WW2 Wayfinder Merch: https://www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/ww2-wayfinder
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ww2wayfinder
Follow WW2 Wayfinder On:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WW2Wayfinder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ww2wayfinder/
Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ww2wayfinder
Music: https://www.epidemicsound.com
21 Comments
Play World of Warships here: https://wo.ws/3TLBJCe and use Invite Code: IMPACTFORCE to claim you rewards!
I hope you enjoyed this look at the footage of Op Charnwood and the battle for Caen in July 1944. If you did please let me know in the comments below.
Why were they referred to as intermediate and subordinate regiments? Is this indicative of the level of their training or TOE, etc.?
Great footage and well presented as always Jon
The Commonwealth forces are overshadowed by the soviet's and Americans in Europe. Many history channels and such focus more on the Eastern front or the Americans more than they do the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth contributed a lot more than what is generally shown. I wish to see and hear more on their operations and contributions as time goes on. They need the recognition they deserve from not just the UK and territories, but also from around the rest of the world
Brilliant video fascinating stuff thanks 😊
When I was stationed with the US military in West Germany in the 1980’s I had the opportunity to meet SS Colonel Max Wunsche, Hitler’s SS adjutant from 1938-40. He later commanded the 12th SS Pz Regiment of the 12th SS Pz Division in the Normandy campaign in 1944 and who survived the war into old age. Long story of chance as to how that came about, but I found him to be a fascinating character. Up until then I had never expected to meet anyone who had lived and worked at the absolute center of power in Nazi Germany, and who had commanded and fought at his level in on the German side in Normandy, especially in the fierce fighting around Hill 112 during the Battle of Caen. I can only speculate if the post war years of raising a family and his subsequent financial success as a business manager mellowed him in any way…probably so, but he never came across as a stereotype fanatic, at least not in our conversations. As adjutant he watched the New Reich Chancellery being built throughout 1938 and worked in the building in the adjutant staff office next to Hitler’s. Wunsche had already been wounded at the time of his capture in the Falaise Pocket in August 1944 and spent the rest of the war as a POW in Scotland before being released in 1948. He died in 1995 a few days before his 81st birthday.
Great to see some footage of 33rd Armoured Brigade, one of my uncles was with them, quite elusive in finding info on them!
Hello, very great job for comment this pictures, thank you for sharing.
Excellent, please much more of the same. We usually see b/w footage of battlefield scenes with no clear description of what vehicles are there or what's going on. It's so nice for a change to have more depth and precise behind each section of film.
09:21 shows what looks like a 1940’s monster of a truck!
I know nothing of the truck but it looks like an absolute Beast! Time to research the SV2S.
Muy interesante, la verdad.
Thank you for the analysis. You need a keen eye to make sense of so many details!
In your excellent episode “Breaking Caen” there is a scene around 18.56 minutes of a German soldier being escorted out of a building in Caen. One of the escorting soldiers, the one carrying a map case in one hand and a pistol in the other is Lieutenant John (Jack) Eaves, who was the intelligence officer with the 2nd Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light infantry. The “German” soldier was in fact Polish and forced to serve in the German army. He was very happy to be in the hands of the British and had been bought to Lieutenant Eaves for interrogation. The scene in your film was staged for the benefit of a newsreel crew who turned up shortly after the interrogation.
Back in England a couple of weeks later Johns parents were at the cinema and during the newsreel part of the programme, much to their great surprise who should suddenly pop up on the screen but their son.
How do I know all this? John was the subject of a Shropshire Star newspaper article in May 2004. The article was headed “How D-Day veteran found himself on cinema screen”. I have a copy, given to me by my father who, along with his twin brother got to know John after the war through the regimental association.
My father and his brother also served in the KSLI as part of the mortar platoon and took part in the attack on Caen in July 1944.
John went on to be instrumental in organising the construction and dedication (in June 2004) of a memorial in the village of Lebisey to the 2nd Battalion KSLI. Lebisey being the furthest inland the battalion got on D-Day and, so I’m told, the furthest inland any of the seaborne forces got on D-Day.
So the Americans had the Scammel Pioneer, hence the white star on the side? Or was it British?
Thank for your video, really enjoyed. Also by bringing in the different units, opened up the interest. My father( RIP), was in the Argyles. Went through Africa, part of Italy, then into France. I believe it was d day +6 but not sure, he would not talk about it. It’s a shame because his history and service has now gone.
The Piat spring doesn't launch the round, neither does the Piat need to be recocked by hand
PIAT did have propellant, it's in the back of the bomb, like a spigot mortar.
The vehicle on the recovery trailer behind the Scammell is Lloyd carrier, NOT a universal carrier. Check the suspension details for easy recognition.
The PIAT DID have a propellant charge. It was ignited by the spring driven spigot. The spring alone could not give the bomb useful velocity; the propellant was essential. But the propellant alone could not be ignited without the spigot. When the propellant was ignited it gave the round enough boost to reach its target, much like a mortar round.
Tened presente esto: LA SEGUNDA GUERRA MUNDIAL, en occidente, comenzó en Caen y terminó en la misma Caen. Analizarlo y os sobre cogerá. Gracias por el vídeo.
Great video