Opposition Forces to Britains Strike Attack (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

We have a customer wanting to set up a diorama using Britains WWII Strike Attack sets. He also wants to set up some opposition German forces, but wants it to be somewhat historically accurate. Anyone know who the German forces would have been at Carentan? Were they SS or Wehrmacht?

I Googled it a little and only found 101st Airborne sites who only metioned a vague 'opposition.'

Any recommendations?

 

[Joey]

I believe the opposition in Carentan mainly consisted of Fallschirmjäger....

 

[jazzeum]

Pete,

Check out the following, http://www.normandie44lamemoire.com/versionanglaise/fichesvillesus/carentanus2.html

As copied from the site:

CARENTAN Manche
American parachutists against German paratroops
In the first days of June 1944, Carentan was a key position between the two American landing beaches of Utah and Omaha. The Germans launched only local attacks, or they entrenched in their strong points. On 9 June, the Americans made little progress in front of Carentan, which was naturally protected by the river Douve in the west and the river Vire in the east. They encountered difficulty against a crack unit, the paratroops of the 6th Para Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel von der Heydte, and an eastern volunteers unit. On 11 June, the Americans launched several attacks both from the north and the south. On 12 June, after heavy shelling of the town, the parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division renewed the assault simultaneously on three axes. They drived back the Germans out of Carentan, and ended up clearing the city in the evening.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi guys,

The short answer to the question about Wehrmacht or HEER units in Normandy is yes. However here is a bit of what I have handy at my desk. In July of '44 the main German battle line extended east from Periers. It included the following units, 275th and 353rd Army Infantry Divisions, the 6th Parachute Regiment elements of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" and elements of the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division. Two additional Parachute Regiments the 13th and the 15th entered the line near Saint Lo in early July. The Panzer Lehr Division also moved from the British sector near Tilly to an assembly area west of Saint Lo on about the 5th of July.

Check out the books Breakout at Normandy by Mark Bando and Hell on Wheels by Houston and Iron Knights by Blaker. These books along with any of the detailed Normady Battle accounts should give you a good idea about who was where during this battle. I dont have time right now to get all of my books on this fight out but if you need more information I will certain do some digging in the stacks.

Dave

 

[OzDigger]

Here's a few links that may help.

Battle of Normaday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy
Note that the British/Commonwealth forces faced nearly 7 (mainly SS) Panzer Divisions in Normandy while the Americans forces faced less than two, and over a much wider front. Something that is often overlooked when the Caen episode is mentioned

Battle of Carentan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carentan
The Carentan (Cherbourg) Peninsula was a thorn in the allies side for some time, and the much needed deep water port facilities could not be used after being destroyed by the Germans.

Map showing German ground units at Normandy as at June 5th (click to enlarge): http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/maps/Nor_5_6_44.jpg
Of course this soon changed as the Germans put most of their forces against the British/Commonwealth forces. I'm not taking anything away from the huge American contribution, but I feel it does get to much recognition in movies etc.

An interesting article on German tanks at Normandy:http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/articles/article.html

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Hi guys,

The short answer to the question about Wehrmacht or HEER units in Normandy is yes. However here is a bit of what I have handy at my desk. In July of '44 the main German battle line extended east from Periers. It included the following units, 275th and 353rd Army Infantry Divisions, the 6th Parachute Regiment elements of 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" and elements of the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division. Two additional Parachute Regiments the 13th and the 15th entered the line near Saint Lo in early July. The Panzer Lehr Division also moved from the British sector near Tilly to an assembly area west of Saint Lo on about the 5th of July.

Check out the books Breakout at Normandy by Mark Bando and Hell on Wheels by Houston and Iron Knights by Blaker. These books along with any of the detailed Normady Battle accounts should give you a good idea about who was where during this battle. I dont have time right now to get all of my books on this fight out but if you need more information I will certain do some digging in the stacks.

Dave

Correct about the 6th Parachute supported the next day by the 17th SS...

 

[maddadicus]

Here's a few links that may help.

Battle of Normaday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Normandy
Note that the British/Commonwealth forces faced nearly 7 (mainly SS) Panzer Divisions in Normandy while the Americans forces faced less than two, and over a much wider front. Something that is often overlooked when the Caen episode is mentioned

Battle of Carentan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carentan
The Carentan (Cherbourg) Peninsula was a thorn in the allies side for some time, and the much needed deep water port facilities could not be used after being destroyed by the Germans.

Map showing German ground units at Normandy as at June 5th (click to enlarge): http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/maps/Nor_5_6_44.jpg
Of course this soon changed as the Germans put most of their forces against the British/Commonwealth forces. I'm not taking anything away from the huge American contribution, but I feel it does get to much recognition in movies etc.An interesting article on German tanks at Normandy:http://web.telia.com/~u18313395/normandy/articles/article.html

Hey Oz, are you sure it was not because of the rumor that Patton was commanding the British ? Michael

 

[OzDigger]

Hey Oz, are you sure it was not because of the rumor that Patton was commanding the British ? Michael

You're a funny guy Michael

 

[Eazy]

The "Carentan" episode of Band of Brothers is well worth watching for a dramatised account of the battle. It also shows fallschirmjager defending the town.