Sunday, February 24, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
44-9-19 Hürtgen Forest 44-12-16
Hürtgen forest and the end of WW2 - DWdoc > .
Battle of the Bulge 1944 - Ardennes Counteroffensive - K&G > .
Western Front 1944-45: 1/2 - Animated History > .
The Battle of Hürtgen Forest (Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) was a series of fierce battles fought from 19 September to 16 December 1944, between American and German forces on the Western Front during World War II, in the Hürtgen Forest, a 140 km2 (54 sq mi) area about 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the Belgian–German border. It was the longest battle on German ground during World War II and is the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought.
The U.S. commanders' initial goal was to pin down German forces in the area to keep them from reinforcing the front lines farther north in the Battle of Aachen, where the US forces were fighting against the Siegfried Line network of fortified industrial towns and villages speckled with pillboxes, tank traps, and minefields. A secondary objective may have been to outflank the front line. The Americans' initial tactical objectives were to take Schmidt and clear Monschau. In a second phase the Allies wanted to advance to the Rur River as part of Operation Queen.
Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model intended to bring the Allied thrust to a standstill. While he interfered less in the day-to-day movements of units than at the Battle of Arnhem, he still kept himself fully informed on the situation, slowing the Allies' progress, inflicting heavy casualties, and taking full advantage of the fortifications the Germans called the Westwall, better known to the Allies as the Siegfried Line. The Hürtgen Forest cost the U.S. First Army at least 33,000 killed and wounded, including both combat and non-combat losses, with upper estimate at 55,000; German casualties were 28,000. The city of Aachen in the north eventually fell on 22 October at high cost to the U.S. Ninth Army, but they failed to cross the Rur or wrest control of its dams from the Germans. The battle was so costly that it has been described as an Allied "defeat of the first magnitude," with specific credit given to Model.
The Germans fiercely defended the area because it served as a staging area for the 1944 winter offensive Unternehmen: Wacht am Rhein (later known as the Battle of the Bulge), and because the mountains commanded access to the Rur Dam at the head of the Rur Reservoir (Rurstausee). The Allies failed to capture the area after several heavy setbacks, and the Germans successfully held the region until they launched their last-ditch offensive into the Ardennes. This was launched on 16 December and ended the Hürtgen offensive. The Battle of the Bulge gained widespread press and public attention, leaving the battle of Hürtgen Forest less well remembered.
The overall cost of the Siegfried Line Campaign in American personnel was close to 140,000.
Western Front 1944-45: 1/2 - Animated History > .
The U.S. commanders' initial goal was to pin down German forces in the area to keep them from reinforcing the front lines farther north in the Battle of Aachen, where the US forces were fighting against the Siegfried Line network of fortified industrial towns and villages speckled with pillboxes, tank traps, and minefields. A secondary objective may have been to outflank the front line. The Americans' initial tactical objectives were to take Schmidt and clear Monschau. In a second phase the Allies wanted to advance to the Rur River as part of Operation Queen.
Generalfeldmarschall Walter Model intended to bring the Allied thrust to a standstill. While he interfered less in the day-to-day movements of units than at the Battle of Arnhem, he still kept himself fully informed on the situation, slowing the Allies' progress, inflicting heavy casualties, and taking full advantage of the fortifications the Germans called the Westwall, better known to the Allies as the Siegfried Line. The Hürtgen Forest cost the U.S. First Army at least 33,000 killed and wounded, including both combat and non-combat losses, with upper estimate at 55,000; German casualties were 28,000. The city of Aachen in the north eventually fell on 22 October at high cost to the U.S. Ninth Army, but they failed to cross the Rur or wrest control of its dams from the Germans. The battle was so costly that it has been described as an Allied "defeat of the first magnitude," with specific credit given to Model.
The Germans fiercely defended the area because it served as a staging area for the 1944 winter offensive Unternehmen: Wacht am Rhein (later known as the Battle of the Bulge), and because the mountains commanded access to the Rur Dam at the head of the Rur Reservoir (Rurstausee). The Allies failed to capture the area after several heavy setbacks, and the Germans successfully held the region until they launched their last-ditch offensive into the Ardennes. This was launched on 16 December and ended the Hürtgen offensive. The Battle of the Bulge gained widespread press and public attention, leaving the battle of Hürtgen Forest less well remembered.
The overall cost of the Siegfried Line Campaign in American personnel was close to 140,000.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Kanalkampf II
As the Kanalkampf comes to a close, the Battle of Britain heats up. Hitler wants Britain out of the war. But before the Germans can invade Britain, it will have to deal with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
Battle of Britain - tb >> .
Battle of Britain - tb >> .
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Luftwaffe attacks shipping convoys, ports
Attacks on shipping convoys
With the fall of France, Hitler's forces reached the English Channel where they waited for a British surrender. When this was not forthcoming, Hitler started planning for a cross-Channel invasion. With his Chiefs of Staff agreed that air superiority over the RAF was crucial, the German air force began their offensive. They called it 'Kanalkampf', or Battle of the Channel.
From the beginning of July, the Luftwaffe probed the RAF's defences as a prelude to launching an all-out assault. On the 4th, there was a major attack on Portland and the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank. Three days later, four RAF pilots were killed in battle and three more the following day.
Then, from 10 July, attacks focused on the ships bringing vital supplies to Britain. The Luftwaffe tempted RAF fighters out over the Channel to test their defences and daily dogfights took place over the water and the south coast. On 14 July, BBC reporter Charles Gardener excitedly (and, for some, inappropriately) described an attack on a convoy by Junkers Ju87s (Stukas) and Messerschmitts that was fought off by Spitfires and Hurricanes.
During this period, 30,000 tonnes of shipping was lost, although this was from a total of almost a million tonnes passing through the Channel every week. However, on 29 July, the Admiralty re-routed daylight convoys out of the Channel as it was becoming too costly to sustain.
Bombing of ports on the South coast
As well as attacking convoys, the Luftwaffe also bombed ports on the south coast and as far afield as Swansea. Dover was particularly badly hit, earning it the name 'Hell-Fire Corner'. The plan was to destroy some of the ports' defences in order to make an invasion easier.
The Luftwaffe also attacked some airfields and radar stations. Fortunately, the Germans did not fully understand the importance of radar or how it was used and never launched an attack strong enough to cripple the system completely. However, radar stations were a favoured target for the Stukas and some were very badly damaged.
But changes were afoot. On 1 August in his Directive Number 17, Hitler ordered the obliteration of all RAF flying units, ground units and supply organisations, as well as the destruction of the British aircraft industry.
So Hermann Goering, head of the Luftwaffe, added Fighter Command's airfields to his hit list. The probing was over - the 'Eagle Attack' was about to begin.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/germany_bombs_british_coastal_airfields .
Battle of Britain - tb >> .
Battle of Britain and Artie Holmes' Hurricane - HiGu > .
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Malta - Siege of Malta
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Surviving The Siege Of Malta - time > .Malta - History, Geography, Economy and Culture - Geodiode > .
40-7-31 Operation Hurry 40-8-4 > .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hurry .
41-1 Operation Excess - Luftwaffe attacks Malta > .
41-1 Operation Excess - Luftwaffe attacks Malta > .
HMS Illustrious and Operation Excess - Fliegerkorps X - Drach > .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Excess .
42-8-3 Operation Pedestal 42-8-15 > .
Operation Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta > .
Operation Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta > .
Indomitable - WoW > .
Operation Pedestal: HMS Indomitable bombed > .
Stuka pilot interview 47: Attack on HMS Indomitable August 1942 > .
The Only Country That Has Been Awarded A George Cross > .
Operation Pedestal: HMS Indomitable bombed > .
Stuka pilot interview 47: Attack on HMS Indomitable August 1942 > .
This Tiny Island Was Key for Allied Forces to Secure North Africa > .
SS Ohio and the Siege of Malta (Pedestal) > .
Mediterranean Theatre & Malta - 42-4-3 - WW2 > .
Operation Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta > .
Operation Pedestal: HMS Indomitable bombed > .
Malta bombing
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-grand-opera-house-bombed-to-ruins-by-the-luftwaffe
The Battle for Malta
Caught in a struggle between Britain and Germany to control the Mediterranean, Malta became the most bombed place on Earth. Beyond unimaginable austerity, the island was close to starvation by the summer of 1942, and the magnitude of the attacks reflected the importance of its strategic position. Like ants, the Maltese were forced to move by their thousands into man made caves and tunnels carved in island’s limestone. Historian James Holland presents a fresh analysis of this vicious battle and argues that Malta’s offensive role has been underplayed.
Clash of Wings 5/13 The African Tutorial > .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGiw5Lo0hxg
playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtq7-dtiDy8&list=PLSawWIooz_XpVAxHUUkN42HyHUy-uYhFC .
Ġgantija & Ancient Malta ..
SS Ohio and the Siege of Malta (Pedestal) > .
Mediterranean Theatre & Malta - 42-4-3 - WW2 > .
Operation Pedestal: The Convoy That Saved Malta > .
Operation Pedestal: HMS Indomitable bombed > .
Malta bombing
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-grand-opera-house-bombed-to-ruins-by-the-luftwaffe
Caught in a struggle between Britain and Germany to control the Mediterranean, Malta became the most bombed place on Earth. Beyond unimaginable austerity, the island was close to starvation by the summer of 1942, and the magnitude of the attacks reflected the importance of its strategic position. Like ants, the Maltese were forced to move by their thousands into man made caves and tunnels carved in island’s limestone. Historian James Holland presents a fresh analysis of this vicious battle and argues that Malta’s offensive role has been underplayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGiw5Lo0hxg
playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtq7-dtiDy8&list=PLSawWIooz_XpVAxHUUkN42HyHUy-uYhFC .
Ġgantija & Ancient Malta ..
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sī vīs pācem, parā bellum
igitur quī dēsīderat pācem praeparet bellum therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war sī vīs pācem, parā bellum if you wan...
