For Goodwood some unfortunate things happened for the Allied ( =Monty ).
1. Somehow the reconnaissance failed to notice that Caen was empty of Germans and even though the main bombing did destroy alot of German tanks the main reserves were totally untouched just outside the city. Instead 3,000 French civilians dies. AS well the 5-line defence ring was totally unnoticed by the Allied reconnaissance. I think the bosses ( Monty? ) was sure that the bombings would destroy everything and theyīd juts walk right throught he lines in Caen and further...
You want to read how the allied were stopped read Von Luckīs book.
2. The starting point area was narrow if I remember correctly so the tanks had to pour into tha battle scene through a bottle neck...88īs just love that...
3.
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The biggest failure in doctrine though was the distinct lack of co-operation between the armour and infantry
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I donīt think there was any lack actually as the infantry was separated from tanks because the Allied command HAD ORDERED SO to keep the men losses down.
Ok, so the 88īs and at guns shot some 400-450 tanks, a total of 1/3 of western front allied tanks...If the infantry had been there mayeb they could have eliminated the 88īs...who knows?
And I donīt really think Monty was just holding down the German forces...you put 1/3 or more of the tank forces in Normandy in attack and call it defending yourself? I donīt believe in that. That
is major breakthrough attempt!
PS. Almost forgot, very well written work, Mahross!
[ 28. May 2003, 01:49 PM: Message edited by: Kai-Petri ]