Telecommunications Research Establishment 99
Tempelhoff, Oberst Hans-Georg von 16
Tennant, Rear-Admiral Bill 86, 87
Texas, USS 150, 154, 195–6
Thierville 291
Thomas, Major-General Gwilym Ivor ‘Butcher’ 400, 487–8
Thomas, General Wilhelm Ritter von 43
Thornton, Sergeant ‘Wagger’ 136
Thouars 287
Thunderbolts see under United States Army Air Forces
THUNDERCLAP, Exercise 50–52
Thury-Harcourt 250, 281
TIGER, Exercise 157
Tilly-sur-Seulles 249, 251, 261, 265, 274, 275, 290, 298, 314, 366, 393, 465, 475
Time magazine 345
Tintin (member of Maquis Surcouf) 290
TITANIC, Operation 139, 151
Tobruk 33, 60
‘Tobruks’ 54, 170, 180, 197, 198, 212
Todd, Captain Richard liii, 125–6, 135, 136, 204, 205, 272–3, 274, 525, 538
Todt, Organisation 53, 54
‘Tombola’ 535
Tonkin, Major Bill 292, 293
TORCH, Operation 49
‘Torpille, La’ (member of Maquis Surcouf) 324
TOTALIZE, Operation 508–11, 512, 516–18, 524; map xlvi
Touffréville 451
Tourville-sur-Pont-Audemer 71
Tout, Lance Corporal Ken liii, lvii, 297; lacks a tank 355; appalled at losses 355–6, 385; in attack on Caen 386–8, 389; as tank crew 394, 395; in Operation TOTALIZE 508, 508–10, 512–15, 517, 518; given command of a Sherman 530; post-war 538
Toye, Corporal Joe 187
TRACTABLE, Operation 525, 528–9
‘Transportation Plan’ 23, 30, 35, 95
Trevor, Lt-Colonel Tom 236
Tribehou 402
Troarn 128, 145–6, 456
Tucker, Tommy (tank loader) 387
Tunisia 14, 34, 56, 60, 62, 140, 157, 445, 472, 489
‘TURCO’ (Turn Around Control) 86, 87
Turner, Major Dick liii, lvii, 40–41, 225–6, 267–9, 319, 370–71, 439–40, 505–6, 531, 537
Turner, Lt Colonel William 235
Tychsen, Obersturmbannführer Christian 483
Typhoons see under RAF
Ultra decrypts 316, 356, 505
Unger, Oberscharführer 287
United States Army
Airborne Divisions: 11th 112; 17th 112; 82nd 73, 74, 77, 112, 115, 124, 133–4, 143, 145, 231–2, 261–2, 302, 303, 379–81, 325th Glider Parachute Regiment 231, 261–2, 303–4, see also 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 101st 73, 74, 77, 112, 115, 124–5, 130–31, 133, 143, 145, 213, 232, 234, 303, 381; see also 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Armored Divisions: 2nd 286, 464, 469, 480, 482, 67th Armored Regiment 464; 3rd 469, 480, 482; 4th 485, 499, 502; 6th 498, 499; see also tank battalions
Armies: First 49, 50, 51, 75, 310, 381, 499, 503; Third 51, 69, 74, 435, 441, 473, 498, 500, 505; Seventh 311–12, 472
Army Groups: 12th 74, 485, 498, 499; 21st 381, 485, 536
102nd Cavalry Squadron 446
Corps: VII 73, 75, 302, 363, 376, 378, 403, 468, 469, 470, 480, 503; VIII 482, 498; XII 499; XV 499, 503; XX 499, 505
58th Field Artillery Brigade 259
Infantry Divisions: 1st (‘Big Red One’) 61–2, 251, 275, 311, 381, 405, 469, 477–8, 482, 489, 503, 536, see also 18th Infantry Regiment; 2nd (‘Warrior’) 382, 384, 405–6; 4th 61, 156–7, 159–60, 229, 234, 302, 343, 378, 392, 469, 474, 480; 8th 477, see also 121st Infantry Regiment; 9th 304, 310, 311, 345–8, 355, 469, 483, 503, see also 47th Infantry Regiment; 29th 61, 63, 236, 237, 286, 383–4, 466, 503, see also 116th Infantry Regiment; 30th 474, 469, 503, 505; 79th lix, 499; 83rd 378, see also 331st Infantry Regiment; 90th Division 302–4, 321, 403–4, 493, see also 357th Infantry Regiment
Infantry Regiments: 16th 155, 162, 194, 208; 18th 62, 195–6, 208, 251–3, 272, 503; 47th 355, 463–4, 479, 483, 530; 116th 62–3, 154, 155, 161–3, 165–7, 194, 234, 235, 237, 259–60, 301, 305–6, 392, 393–4, 466, 503–4, 534; 120th 502, 523; 121st 404, 405, 477, 483, 485, 502–3, 526–8; 175th 237; 331st 526; 357th Infantry Regiment 321, 403–4
Parachute Infantry Regiments: 501st 234; 505th 109, 110–11, 134, 213–14, 232, 261, 303–4; 506th 131–2, 186–9, 234–5, 263–5, 285–6; 507th 261–2
Rangers 139, 140, 141–2, 154, 155, 163–5, 167, 191, 192, 193–5, 235–7, 247, 248, 259
165th Signal Photographic Company 155–6
Tank Battalions: 67th 480, 486; 70th 156, 157, 160, 213, 343–4, 378–9, 440, 480, 522–3; 741st 155, 163, 174; 743rd 155, 259
United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 88, 439, 471, 485–6
Eighth Air Force 26, 28, 29, 31, 36, 37, 39, 40, 96, 123, 150, 157, 271; 91st Bomb Group 124; 385th Bomb Group 96; 550th Bomb Squadron 96–7, 226, 476–7; VIII Fighter Command 39; 4th Fighter Group 28; 56th Fighter Group 23, 29; Fighter Squadrons: 61st 23, 24–5; 62nd 24; 63rd 24
Ninth Air Force 33, 34, 89, 90, 97, 255, 468, 499, 519; 391st Bomb Group 97–9, 226–7, 363; IX Fighter Command 33, 39, 89, 90–91, 148; Fighter Groups: 354th 28, 39–40, 41, 225, 226, 267, 319, 369–72, 439–40, 505–6, 521, 521; 365th 148, 439, 480; Fighter Squadrons: 356th 40, 225–6, 267–9, 318–19, 370–72; 388th 148–9, 480, 506, 521; IX Troop Carrier Command 73–4
XIX Tactical Air Command 499
US Strategic Air Forces 4, 31, 76
aeroplanes
B-17 Flying Fortresses 23, 40, 96, 97, 124, 149
B-24 Liberators 39, 97, 149, 157
B-26 Marauders 98, 148, 157, 159, 227, 478
C-47 Skytrains (Dakotas) 74, 113, 130, 134, 368
P-38 Lightnings 39
P-47 Thunderbolts 23, 24, 25 24, 37, 148, 379, 404, 448, 463, 484, 480
P-51 Mustangs 27–8, 37, 39, 90–91, 226, 267, 440
United States Navy 83, 154, 256, 280, 345; see also Augusta, USS
Utah Beach 50, 51, 53, 61, 73, 111, 115, 124, 142, 148, 156, 157–8, 159, 160, 186–9, 191, 208, 213, 229, 255, 302, 315, 446, 500, 538
V-1 flying bombs (‘doodlebugs’) 36, 95, 97, 104, 269, 270–71, 301, 308, 309, 318, 325, 360, 367, 371, 372, 374, 433, 434, 534, 535
V-2 rockets 36, 95, 309, 360
Vassy 528
‘VCP’ (visual control point) 439, 447
Vers-sur-Mer 173
Verson 333, 356
Vian, Rear-Admiral Philip 84, 230
Vierville 57, 149, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 218, 234, 236, 237
Vietinghoff, Generaloberst Heinrich von 128
Villedieu 503
Villers-Bocage 250, 251, 275, 276, 277, 282, 283, 487, 488, 491, 492, 531, 534
Vimont 450
Vimoutiers 530
Vire 250, 491, 503, 515, 530, 531
Vire, River 262, 305
Wallwork, Jim (pilot) 118, 121–2
Walterscheid, Leutnant 39
Walton, Captain David 244, 245
Warlimont, General Walter 202, 501–2
Warren, Major Trumbull 248
Watten-Stracourt 97
weaponry 70, 281–2, 328; anti-tank guns: Allied 130, 142, 145, 217, 232, 239, 317, 351, 414, 417–19, 449, German 55, 170, 173, 177, 238, 277, 328, 382, 399, 414–15, 425–6, 449, 518; Bangalore torpedoes 183, 212–13, 384; beehives 182, 213; Bren machine guns 70, 176, 330, 414; Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) 194, 347, 413–14; Colt semi-automatic guns 411–12; Garand rifles 145, 166, 347, 412; Lee-Enfield Mk IV guns 412; Luger pistols 411; M3 ‘grease guns’ 412–13; Mauser-breech K.98 guns 412; MG34 guns 170, 413; MG42 guns 133, 162, 165, 173, 176, 264, 413, 414; MP38 guns 413; MP40 guns 179, 412, 413; Nebelwerfer (‘Moaning Minnies’) 218–19, 262, 273, 328, 336, 399, 492; PIATs 136, 199; Sten guns 70, 199, 319, 413; Thompson guns 412; Walther pistols 411; Webley pistols 412; see also tanks
weather and weather forecasting 75–6, 77, 78, 79, 102, 130, 131, 159, 314–15, 316, 318, 331
Wegner, Obergrenadier Karl lv; mans machine gun at WN71 149, 158, 161–2, 165, 209; runs out of
ammunition 209; escapes 218, 220; posted to Grenadier-Regiment 914. 218, 220; attacks Rangers at Pointe du Hoc 236, 237, 247; pulls back 260; digs in 300; shelled by the Americans 304–5; hates nights 383; defends Saint-Lô 466–7; and death of friend 467; post-war 536–7
Welborn, Lt-Colonel John 343
Wellbelove, Trooper Ernie 517
Wells, Denny (tank crew) 322
Wells, Johnny 438
Werkmeister, Unteroffizier 452
Wertenbaker, Charles 345, 346, 347
Widerstandsnester (WNs) 54, 161, 170; WN1 54; WN5 159; WN16 (Morris) 54, 182, 211, 212, 229; WN17 (Hillman) 54, 182, 211, 212, 213, 219, 229, 239; WN18 199; WN20 54; WN27 175; WN28 175; WN30 197; WN33 170, 171–3; WN61 192; WN62 57, 137, 149, 150, 158, 159, 161, 162, 192–3, 195, 196, 207, 209, 212; WN62b 209; WN63 161; WN64 207, 209; WN65 195,196; WN66 195; WN70 195; WN71 149, 158, 161–2, 165, 209
Widewing (US weather centre) 76, 77, 270
WILD OATS, Operation 274
Williams, PFC ‘Fats’ 466
Wimpey 86
Wingate, Lieutenant George 214–15, 232, 233
Winstead, Lieutenant Ralph 384
Winters, Lieutenant Dick liii, 131–2, 145, 186–9, 213, 234, 235, 264–5, 285–6, 538
Witmeyer, John ‘JJ’ lix
Witt, Obergruppenführer Fritz 228
Wittmann, Sturmbannführer Michael 275–7, 513–14, 516, 534, 539
WNs see Widerstandsnester
Wood, Flight Lieutenant 101
Woollcombe, Captain Robert liii, 296–7, 329; comes ashore at Gold Beach 297; reaches forward assembly area 331–2; advances towards Saint-Manvieu 333–4, 338; disarms German prisoner 334; in charge of burial party 353; fears for his life 465–6; rests in Caumont 486; attitude to the dead 491; back in action 492; survives war 538
Wright, Lance Corporal Frank liii, 196–7, 243, 244–5, 246, 525, 538
Wright, Len 355
Wünsche, Obersturmbannführer Max 333, 339, 340, 352, 353, 529
Wynn, Corporal ‘Popey’ 187, 188
Yates, Colonel Donald 76, 77
Zemke, Colonel Hubert ‘Hub’ 23, 25, 40
‘Zemke Fan’ 23–4
Ziegelmann, Oberst Fritz 191, 200
Men of the US 29th Infantry Division in Weymouth, southern England, before the invasion.
American airborne troops with French civilians.
American soldiers of the 3rd Armored Division beside a knocked-out StuG assault gun.
British troops take a break, August 1944.
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First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Bantam Press
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Copyright © Griffon Merlin Ltd 2019
Cover photographs: © Imperial War Museum. Cover design by Rhys Willson/TW
James Holland has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
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CHAPTER 9: D-Day: The First Hours
1 Den Brotheridge’s military death certificate has recently come to light and curiously states that he died of ‘Multiple Injuries, Aircraft (Glider crash.)’. It also says that his body was received at the mortuary in Portsmouth at 2.50 p.m. on 8 June. His grave, however, is in Ranville churchyard. The only conceivable explanation for this strange anomaly is that while still alive he was taken to the CCP, set up in a glider, and his bruised and badly wounded face was mistakenly believed to be a result of the crash rather than of a bullet. The reception of his ‘body’ must refer to his personal belongings rather than his mortal remains. It is inconceivable that the countless eyewitness accounts of his fatal wounding have been wrong. In war, many administrative mistakes occurred.
CHAPTER 10: D-Day: Dawn
1 The SAS had been briefly renamed the Special Raiding Squadron, and it was under this name that the attack in Sicily had been mounted. They had been renamed 1 SAS early in 1944.
CHAPTER 12: D-Day: The British and Canadian Landings
1 There has been some debate over precisely when the Sherwood Rangers landed. Skinner records ‘stand to’ was at 07.00 and that they beached at 07.25, but this cannot be so. Other sources make it clear he was an hour early in his diary, an entirely justifiable error in the circumstances. I have amended his timings to reflect this.
CHAPTER 13: D-Day: The Turning of the Battle
1 Oberst von der Heydte of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 later claimed he discovered that the gun battery at Brécourt had been abandoned at around 7 a.m., so had his own men take over. He must have mistaken this battery for another, however, as Winters was certain they were not Fallschirmjäger. The quality of the defenders suggests Winters was right.
2 This comes from the original after-action report into the actions at Pointe du Hoc, which was later significantly altered. Later in life, Lomell claimed he had destroyed all the guns, but I think the original report conveys the most accurate account of events. Why the report was so significantly changed is intriguing.
CHAPTER 15: Bridgehead
1 German Kampfgruppen were named after their commanding officer.
CHAPTER 29: Goodwood
1 Hans von Luck’s account has often been called into question, but there were certainly tanks being knocked out later from Cagny and there were also Luftwaffe flak guns around Caen. Although not picked up by Allied aerial reconnaissance, the evidence of events suggests these were exactly as von Luck always claimed. I see no reason to doubt his version of events.
Table of Contents
Title Page
About the Author
By the Same Author
Dedication
List of Maps
Maps
Principal Personalities
Gallery of Portraits
Foreword
Prologue
Part I: The Battle Before D-Day
1 The Atlantic Wall
2 Command of the Skies
3 Understanding Montgomery and the Master Plan
4 Countdown
5 The Winds of War
6 Big War
7 Air Power
Part II: Invasion
8 D-Day Minus One
9 D-Day: The First Hours
10 D-Day: Dawn
11 D-Day: The American Landings
12 D-Day: The British and Canadian Landings
13 D-Day: The Turning of the Battle
14 D-Day: Foothold
Part III: Attrition
15 Bridgehead
16 Fighter-Bomber Racecourse
17 Linking Up
18 The Constraints of Wealth and the Freedom of Poverty
19 Behind the Lines
20 The Grinding Battle
21 The Great Storm
22 EPSOM
23 Cherbourg and the Scottish Corridor
24 Trouble at the Top
25 Bloody Bocage
26 Living Like Foxes
Part IV: Break
out
27 A Brief Discourse On Weapons And the Operational Level of War
28 Crisis of Command
29 GOODWOOD
30 Saint-Lô
31 COBRA
32 BLUECOAT
33 LÜTTICH
34 Tank Battle At Saint-Aignan
35 The Corridor of Death
Postscript
Picture Section
Glossary
Appendices
Timeline: Normandy 1944
Timeline: D-Day
Notes
Selected Sources
Acknowledgements
Picture Acknowledgements
Index
Copyright
Table of Contents
Title Page
About the Author
By the Same Author
Dedication
List of Maps
Maps
Principal Personalities
Gallery of Portraits
Foreword
Prologue
Part I: The Battle Before D-Day
1 The Atlantic Wall
2 Command of the Skies
3 Understanding Montgomery and the Master Plan
4 Countdown
5 The Winds of War
6 Big War
7 Air Power
Part II: Invasion
8 D-Day Minus One
9 D-Day: The First Hours
10 D-Day: Dawn
11 D-Day: The American Landings
12 D-Day: The British and Canadian Landings
13 D-Day: The Turning of the Battle
14 D-Day: Foothold
Part III: Attrition
15 Bridgehead
16 Fighter-Bomber Racecourse
17 Linking Up
18 The Constraints of Wealth and the Freedom of Poverty
19 Behind the Lines
20 The Grinding Battle
21 The Great Storm
22 EPSOM
23 Cherbourg and the Scottish Corridor
24 Trouble at the Top
25 Bloody Bocage
26 Living Like Foxes
Part IV: Breakout
27 A Brief Discourse On Weapons And the Operational Level of War
28 Crisis of Command
29 GOODWOOD
30 Saint-Lô
31 COBRA
32 BLUECOAT
33 LÜTTICH
34 Tank Battle At Saint-Aignan
35 The Corridor of Death
Postscript
Normandy '44 Page 83
