Dear Mark,
As always -- thank you very much, I am very grateful.
My first impression -- the figures look very good. In my opinion they are not so high, I would say they are rather small, so they look very realistic and credible. I am afraid that I know much more fantastic figures taken out of the air and coming from various quasi-scientific researches done by the troops or post-war veterans. Simple example of the August 8th10th period -- the Germans decorated themselves by various Iron Crosses, Oak Leaves etc. for destroying in that period 90 Polish tanks whereas according to Maj.-Gen. Stanislaw Maczek the Polish Division lost 60 tanks then. But frankly speaking Polish veterans are not much better
There are numerous interesting factors in your post. Before I show Polish estimation for the 1st Polish Armoured Div. to compare it and to try to discuss about it I have additional questions:
1. Who from Canada investigated the problem we are discussing about? Were they civilian historians? Or was it the Historical Section of the Canadian 1st Army? Or for instance personally Col. Charles P. Stacey? I am asking because, as you certainly know, he verified in France by personal inspection various Falaise Gap-related facts even in 1946.
2. From both American and Polish points of view it may be interesting the deadline of this estimation, August 20th, whereas Chambois were finally captured and closed by the US 90th ID and Polish 1st Armoured on August 21st at about 1400. Is there any reason known why the Canadians stopped their battle successes counting so early, a day before closing the Gap?
3. The SAR -- yes, I am also surprised that even Donald E. Graves did not get the figures in his excellent "South Albertas" monograph. Is there known why? Was it too hard to estimate it due to dispersing the regiment through wide area, permanent changing the situation or other factors? Graves showed detailed TOE in his SAR monograph but mentioned nothing about the numbers of particular tanks and other AFVs in the regiment during the Falaise Gap operations.
4. Do I understand correctly that in view of the regions mentioned in your post (Pierrefitte/Argentan/Chambois/Vimoutiers/Trun plus Falaise/Conde-sur-Noireau/Vassy/Tinchebray/Barenton/Domfront/La Ferte-Mace/Argentan) the figures are total value for the following divisions or groups?:
▪ Canadian 2nd Infantry Division
▪ Canadian 3rd Infantry Division
▪ Canadian 4th Armoured Division
▪ French 2nd Armoured Division
▪ British 11th Armoured Division
▪ British 53rd Infantry Division "Wessex"
▪ British 59th Infantry Division
▪ Polish 1st Armoured Division
▪ US Task Force Weaver (10 various units from the US 90th Infantry Division)
So, do I understand correctly that the figures from your post are team success of all these Allied divisions?
5. What about Coudehard -- the place of Polish fierce battles against SS troops? This is not the same as the Mace Hills 262. Did anybody count the German tanks/vehicles wrecks over there?
Mark, one more time thank you very much for your time, efforts and excellent information!
Best regards
C.
