DDay Normandy
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Close Combat Series -> The Mess
#1: DDay Normandy Author: ANZAC_Lord4war, Location: Sydney Australia PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:11 am
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"les sanglots longs des violons, d'automne blessent mon couer d'une langueur montone"
the words that signalled to the French Resistance the invasion was about to happen.

The role of the French Resistance in the success of Operation Overlord must never be underestimated.
In existence since the early days of the German Occupation of France, originally the resistance was a movement which comprised of many separate units, each working independently, without co-ordination with one another.
Bravely causing as many problems as possible to the occupying German troops. Many allied airmen owe their lives to these Frenchmen, who, through their web of contacts and safe houses, were able to help them back home to England.
In 1941 General Charles de Gaulle, who was based in London after the fall of France, set up the "Bureau Central de Reseignement et d' Action" (Central Intelligence and Operations Agency)
Working in close harmony with the British Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) and with the American Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.)
Agents were sent to France to equip and regroup all the underground forces.
Eventually all the French Resistance came under the command of the
"Comité Francais de Liberation Nationale" which was headed by General de Gaulle.
From this point the Resistance movement really expanded, from having 40,000 members in 1943, to reach 100,000 by early 1944. It must be remembered that a lot of French women were involved in the movement and fought bravely side by side with the men.
One of the most famous agents carried to France by the Lysander was Viollette Szabo, known to the resistance as "Corrine" she joined the S.O.E. in 1943 and went to spy out the Atlantic wall in April 1944.
Returning successfully to England, she was then parachuted in the Limoges area on D-Day + 1 to co-ordinate resistance activity. She was captured by the S.S. eventually to be executed in Ravensbruck in January 1945.
Her story can be seen in the film "Carve Her Name With Pride" excellently portrayed by Virginia Mc Kenna.
#2: Hobart`s Funnies Author: ANZAC_Lord4war, Location: Sydney Australia PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:21 am
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After the disaster at Dieppe, the British had learned that infantry assault troops must be preceded and supported by armour specially adapted to meet the expected obstacles and defences on the Atlantic Wall.
In March 1943, Major-General Percy Hobart was brought out of retirement. His command was to be over the specially formed 79th Armoured Division.
This was no ordinary armoured division, the task for Hobart and his men was to produce and be able to operate some of the most unusual pieces of military equipment ever seen.
These became affectionately known as……HOBART'S FUNNIES
Churchill and Sherman tanks were used as the platforms for the "Funnies" most still maintained their firepower even after conversion.
The funnies were offered to General Bradley to support the landings on Omaha and Utah, the offer was declined!
#3:  Author: Polemarchos, Location: Polemarchopolis PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:23 pm
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about the resistance...

in this point you can see how WW2 was the catalyst for asymmetric warfare we face today... Couple of reasons:

1) Shrinking technology gap between state and non-state actor.
2) Different interest asymmetry ( this means that totalitarian regimes and non-state actors fight withouit limits, while democratic states tend to fight with limited means)
3) Tactical asymmetry : Conventional versus guerilla warfare
4) strategic asymmetry: Germany had to win, Marquis just had to survive -->
check Kissinger:
“The guerilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.” 1

the Marquis fullfills all but the second peer. Their contribution to overall victory at normandy can indeed not be denied. In June alone they blew up over 1000 crosspoints of railroads, thus hampering the german supply lines.

I read in memoirs of allied field commanders that without the resistance, the allied landings may have ended in catastophy.... But thats just a what if..

-------
1 Kissinger, Henry: The Vietnam Negotiations, Foreign Affairs 47:2, January 1969, p. 211-234, here p. 214.
#4:  Author: ZAPPI4, Location: Belgium Liege PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:06 pm
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Just one things to say ...

Thank you all who came and die in Europe the 6Th June and all over the rest
of the days till the liberation.
I would like just to say, Happy birthday and than you will still forever
and ever in my memory. I'm surprised to see how it can be followed by the
news paper or tv only the 60Th birthday, 65 etc... Todays it's been 63 years birthday
And no news about it except maybe some sec. I know many people,
when u speak with them about that just reply, it s old things. We dont need to
following each years. Well for your owner birthday, u hope than no one will forgot.
So i Love you all for what u did so many years ago. Thx you, thx you
"La vie continue au travers de la mémoire de ceux qui la garde en vie."
#5:  Author: ZAPPI4, Location: Belgium Liege PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:17 pm
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About the resistance, u can just check about how long it was for German column
to made 100Kms. Of course allied plane was for big part in that, but the resistance
can take at least the same part of responsability in that.
Resistance cannot fight like the Army can. But by using some guerilla tactic,
they can slow done or cut off communication of enemis. What will defenetly give
a serious advantage to the friend army.
But Resistance still hidden face of what "friend army" did. That's not right,
but that's not surprise me. Simple exmple of that return of fire about Resistance is
The greece resistance, who were "annihilated" by Uk during 1945/1949.
Just to keep a door opened for possible Russian war.
#6:  Author: Polemarchos, Location: Polemarchopolis PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:41 pm
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oh yes i agree... People today dont know nothing about honoring the dead of wars... Thats why i actually love the CC community. we at least keep touch with the past, our past ...

ZAPPI4 wrote:

The greece resistance, who were "annihilated" by Uk during 1945/1949.
Just to keep a door opened for possible Russian war.


hmm thats a good example for a conventional army (greek republican forces) being able to force the ELAS (greek communists) to fight in a style which favors the conventional army.

This means that by 1947 ELAS (Peoples Liberation Army of Greece) engaged in direct strategy a much better equpped force (Greek Army + British support).

Just a summary of what happended in greece strategically...

1945-1946 Direct attack(Greek army) vs. indirect defence(ELAS) --> favored ELAS
1947-1949 Direct attack accompanied with barbarism (Greek army) vs. direct defence (ELAS) --> favored Greek Army.

subnote: The concept of barbarism is actually indirect, but favors the strong actor. It is understood as a strategy aimed not directly against an enemy but against everything the enemy might find useful.
#7:  Author: Dima,  PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:19 am
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Quote:
1945-1946 Direct attack(Greek army) vs. indirect defence(ELAS) --> favored ELAS
1947-1949 Direct attack accompanied with barbarism (Greek army) vs. direct defence (ELAS) --> favored Greek Army.

hey that's pretty same as for Chechen Caqmpaigns:
1993- direct attack (Russian Army) vs inderect defence (Chechen insurgents)--> Favored Chechens.
1999- direct attack (Russian Army) vs direct defence (Chechen insurgents) -->favored Russian Army
Close Combat Series -> The Mess


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