Quote:
Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
I wonder how the gun crews managed to fire 105mm shells from their 25pdrs....
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Mark,
I would say that it is typical unfortunately in the Falaise Pocket/Gap history. That is why I am not surprised that Mr. Brian A. Reid decided to write totally new book on this ETO episode. In the books on it from both sides of the ocean there is so big number of quasi-historic "facts" taken from the air. My country is the best example of this phenomenon but also when I read in Canadian book that the Polish 1st Armoured Div. attacked Chambois and its region... by mistake
... I do not know what to say...
In case of the Falaise Pocket/Gap history I am like priest-confessor -- nothing can surprise me, neither the greatest bullshit nor newly discovered real fact.
Look for example to the US books dedicated to the "Falaise-Argentan Gap" (as they call it) and the US Army's 90th Infantry Division history. You may read that only selected battalions of the 358th and 359th Infantry Regiments fought then in that region. I correspond with variouis 90th ID veterans, also with one of the commanders of the third divisional infantry regiment, 357th. I have always wanted to be sure that 357th was in fact in other place and was absent at Chambois region. I have always read and heard: "What? 357th at Chambois? Never, ever!"
Some time ago I received an email from the USA. Mr. Jim Hammitt wrote to me. I am quoting the fragments:
Quote:
Originally written by Mr. Jim Hammitt to Crewman
Dear Sir,
I was with the 90th Division at the Falaise Gap battle near Chambois! I was helping man a road-block on one of the roads leading out of the valley where the German 7th Army was trapped. [...]
I was in B Company, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division. I walked most of the way across France, to Mazieres le Metz, where a land mine took off my left foot, so i got to go home!
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Moral? Never too much research in the case of Falaise Pocket
Best regards
C.
