Quote:
Originally Posted by Erich
was the Waffen SS escape attack dual fold or together..meaning was the 2nd SS attacking or trying to escape in accord with the 9th W-SS or independently and after the hole punching did the remnants of the W-SS Harmel/9th W-SS and other SS elements escape through it ?
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Early on August 19th ( as the actions at St Lambert and Moissy were almost at their peak ) II.SS-Panzerkorps ordered 2. and 9. SS-Panzerdivisions to attack from the area of Vimoutiers-Exmes ; 9.SS to to attack with a small attack force through St Gervais to Louvieres and the main force to move through Champeaux to Trun. 2.SS to attack through Champosoult to St Lambert and Chambois.
It must be remembered that only remnants of these units existed and were considerably exhausted and disorganized, having just fought their way out of the Cauldron. The attack could not be mounted immediately, but assembly positions were successfully organized during the night of 19/20 August.
The counterattack started at 04:00 on the 20th ; 2.SS-Panzerdivision ( supported by SS-Werfer Bn. 102 ) crossed the Vimoutiers-Chambois road and attacked the rear of the 1st Polish Tank Division , reaching Coudehard/Mont Ormel ( just behind and to the right of where I took the 'panoramic' photo ). 9.SS-Panzerdivision, advancing via Champeaux, protected the Northern flank of 2.SS.
The Poles successfully prevented the SS units from reaching their objectives of Trun/St Lambert/Chambois in the valley below ; but the fierce fighting on Mont Ormel during the 20th and until mid-day on the 21st allowed many more Germans to escape the Pocket along the Chambois/Vimoutiers road.
A most dramatic incident.