Operation Epsom
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Operation Epsom was a British attack intended to outflank and seize Caen in France during the Battle of Normandy during World War II. It failed but forced the Germans to abandon their offensive plans and tied most of their armoured units to a defensive role.
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[edit] Situation and Plans
The Allies originally intended Caen to be captured on the first day of the invasion of Normandy. When this failed, the sector of front north of the city saw the heaviest fighting.
The Allied buildup in the Normandy beachhead was delayed by a storm which lasted from June 17 to June 23. The Germans were able to take advantage of the weather which grounded Allied aircraft, to move II SS Panzer Corps (under SS General Paul Hausser) to reinforce their troops in Normandy, intending to launch a major counter-offensive with them.
From ULTRA interceptions, General Bernard Montgomery knew this and planned to forestall them with an attack by the fresh VIII Corps, under Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor. The attack was launched west of Caen and was intended to cross the River Odon and River Orne southwest of the city, outflanking and surrounding its defenders.
[edit] The Operation
A preliminary attack, Operation Martlet, was launched on June 25 by the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division of XXX Corps, to secure ground on the flank of the intended advance. The attack gained some ground but the weather was still foul and the attackers were hampered by muddy ground and lack of air support. Some dominating terrain on the right flank of the intended attack by VIII Corps was still in German hands.
Nevertheless, to be certain of anticipating any German attack the main attack was launched on June 26 . Although held up on parts of the front by infantry of 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division and the 31st Armoured Brigade gained four miles on their left flank. Further to their left the 43rd (Wessex Infantry Division also gained ground.
On June 27, after repulsing small armoured counter-attacks, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division gained more ground and captured a bridge over the River Odon. The 11th Armoured Division passed through to capture Hill 112, a mile to the southeast. This deep penetration alarmed the German command and Hausser was ordered to commit his units to contain and eliminate the Allied salient. The German command was in some disarray, as General Dollmann, commanding the German Seventh Army died of a heart attack immediately after ordering Hausser to mount the counter-attack and Field Marshals Rommel and von Rundstedt were en route to a conference with Adolf Hitler and out of touch with their headquarters.
The weather was improving, and Allied aircraft harassed Hausser's units as they moved into position. The attack was launched against the Scottish division's right flank on the evening of June 29. The main attacking force was 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, supported by several other small "battlegroups" from other Panzer units. The attackers were hit hard by aircraft, artillery and anti-tank fire. Although some tanks reached two miles into the British lines, the attack was held by nightfall.
Nevertheless, the British salient was cramped and under fire from several sides. Fresh units could not be introduced to advance further. The Germans succeeded in recapturing Hill 112 on June 30, and the British operation was stopped[1].
[edit] Results and Aftermath
The Germans scored a defensive success in containing the Allied offensive. The British suffered heavy infantry casualties in the first days of the operation. (At one point, the River Odon was said to be choked by bodies). On the other hand, the Germans had been forced to commit their Panzer units piecemeal and counter-attack at a disadvantage. The Panzer units lost several tanks and were disrupted and worn down. Because there were few infantry units available the Panzer units were forced to remain in the front line.
Using information from ULTRA (and the fortuitous capture of a set of German orders), Montgomery had been able to force the Germans to react to Allied moves. As the German Panzer units were forming up to attack the salient across the River Odon, the British 11th Armoured Division was being withdrawn into reserve, ready for fresh attacks while the Germans were still trying to contain the last Allied offensive.
A few days after Epsom ended, Operation Charnwood finally captured the northern half of Caen in a frontal offensive.
[edit] References
- Belfield, Eversley and Essame, H. Battle for Normandy, Severn House Publishers Ltd; New Ed edition (April 1975), ISBN 0-72780-035-3
- Clark, Lloyd. Operation Epsom (Battle Zone Normandy), Sutton Publishing Ltd (16 Sep 2004). ISBN 0-75093-008-X
- Major Ellis, L.F. (Author), (Author), Lt- Col Warhurst, A. E. (Author), Butler, James (Editor). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series,Official Campaign History, Victory in the West: The Battle of Normandy, Naval & Military Press Ltd (Sep 2004), ISBN 1-84574-058-0
- Fortin, Ludovic. British Tanks In Normandy, Histoire & Collections (30 Nov 2004). ISBN 2-91523-933-9
- Reynolds, Michael. Steel Inferno: ISS Panzer Corps in Normandy , The History Press Lt; Rev Ed edition (14 Jul 1997), ISBN 1-87337-690-1
- Saunders, Tim. Operation Epsom - VIII British Corps vs 1st SS Panzerkorps, Battleground Europe Pen & Sword/Leo Coper ISBN 0-85052-954-9
- Wilmot, Chester. The Struggle For Europe, Wordsworth Editions Ltd; New Ed edition (25 Sep 1997), ISBN 1-85326-677-9
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Reynolds 1997, p.174.
[edit] See also
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