Pic : 'Favourite' WWII Battlefield.... - Page 2

Mats · #26 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2007, 10:15 AM

Martin, The Moissy Ford is also my favourite place in France.

I have to ask you - did you dare driving over the Dive? I did not! It was one of the first days in June this year, not so much water in the Dive, but I was too cowardly! (Mazda 626, frontwheel drive)

Another thing, I think that one can drive around in those surroundings for days, but if you're after souveniers I think that wintertime is the best.

scarface · #27 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2007, 05:30 AM

Those are beautiful pictures!

I've always enjoyed comparing the 'Then' and 'Now' pictures, and the ETO is particularly nice for that kind of a comparison.

My personal area of interest (presently) is the Pacific Theater, but the THEN/NOW comparisons just don't have the same....well.....impact.

Take, for example, the Battle of the Coral Sea:

THEN

NOW

....I need to find a new theater!

(...Za!....lemme know when you're done with the Ost!...)

-whatever

-Lou

================================================== ======

jagdpanther44 · #28 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2007, 07:28 PM

Moissy is a sombre but fascinating place to visit, it has an eerie calm and silence about it.

One cannot imagine what it must have been like to be there at the time of the breakout.

Another interesting place close to Moissy is Mont Ormel and it's visitor centre.The fighting on and around the hill was particularly savage with hand to hand combat between the Germans and Poles who were defending the hill.

There is a great view from the hill across the Falaise Gap area and inside the visitors centre are lots of photographs taken at Moissy and the surrounding area after the battle.

Erich · #29 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2007, 07:54 PM

Skipper I think we all need another hint while Martin is traversing the fields and slopes of Normandie. wild guess not Cambrai is it ?........where the 9th W-SS Flak Abteilung did it's duty and shot up at least 40 Allied tanks

Paul Errass · #30 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2007, 09:48 PM

Martin,

Great photos of the Moissy Ford and St Lambert , we visit there every time we are in Normandy and that area is one my favourite parts of the Battlefield,together with the whole area around Chambois and Mont Ormel.

The visitors centre at Mont Ormel is one of the best in Normandy , looking down into the valley where such heavy combat , destruction and loss of life took place is very sobering and as Jagdpanther says when you compare with the original photos in the visitor centre it really brings home to you what the Battle of Normandy was all about,

Paul

Martin Bull · #31 (**permalink**) October 26th, 2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagdpanther44

Another interesting place close to Moissy is Mont Ormel and it's visitor centre.The fighting on and around the hill was particularly savage with hand to hand combat between the Germans and Poles who were defending the hill.

There is a great view from the hill across the Falaise Gap area

Which gives me a nice excuse to re-post this photo of exactly that view....

Paul Errass · #32 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 08:57 AM

Who could believe that such a beautiful view of the countryside could have been the scene of such carnage.

Got to say it is great that Sapper is also still on the Forums a man who saw this with his own eyes and for him to post all his experiences and memories, tremendous !!

Paul

Paul Errass · #33 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 01:45 PM

A few photos from some of my trips to one of the most interesting Battlefields i have visited

Stalingrad !

The Don crossing at Kalach the Don Steppe to the right , Pitomnik airfield and the Tsaritsa Gorge looking towards the Volga,

Paul

Martin Bull · #34 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 02:05 PM

Now, those views are really something.....

jagdpanther44 · #35 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Bull

Which gives me a nice excuse to re-post this photo of exactly that view....

According to the guide in the visitor centre at Mont Ormel, the light coloured field in the far top right of Martins photo, with buildings in front of it, is part of the route the germans took as they advanced towards the hill.

The farm at the foot of the hill is the final resting place to approximately 40 horses that died in the area.

The guide also said that after the battle, the water in the area was not fit for human consumption for a long time due to contamination from the rotting corpses.

The local children also took up smoking to mask the smell !

An unimaginable situation.

pegasus · #36 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarface

Those are beautiful pictures!

I've always enjoyed comparing the 'Then' and 'Now' pictures, and the ETO is particularly nice for that kind of a comparison.

My personal area of interest (presently) is the Pacific Theater, but the THEN/NOW comparisons just don't have the same....well.....impact.

Take, for example, the Battle of the Coral Sea:

THEN

NOW

....I need to find a new theater!

(...Za!....lemme know when you're done with the Ost!...)

-whatever

-Lou

================================================== ======

Yes, looks very similar

pegasus · #37 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jagdpanther44

According to the guide in the visitor centre at Mont Ormel, the light coloured field in the far top left of Martins photo, with buildings in front of it, is part of the route the germans took as they advanced towards the hill.

The farm at the foot of the hill is the final resting place to approximately 40 horses that died in the area.

The guide also said that after the battle, the water in the area was not fit for human consumption for a long time due to contamination from the rotting corpses.

The local children also took up smoking to mask the smell !

An unimaginable situation.

Hi, are sure its not top right ????

Mats · #38 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 08:12 AM

Neil!

I think that you are both right!

From way up left, they came from the Argentan-area.
From way up right the came from, Sevigny, Bailleul and Tournai.

Mats

Martin Bull · #39 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 09:18 AM

Mats is of course correct, but in the photo, most of the German forces approaching from the Dives crossings at St Lambert & Moissy would have been coming from top right/centre of the photo.

Here is a German's eye view as the slopes of Mont Ormel come into view as you approach via the 'Corridor of Death'.....

Mats · #40 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 10:15 AM

It is a pity that this map isn't better!

http://www.hometown.aol.co.uk/Falkeeins/map.jpg

Mats

jagdpanther44 · #41 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 10:51 AM

Thanks Neil, i was wondering when my delibrate mistake would be noticed....

Martin, another great photograph, keep them coming...

Mats · #42 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 11:33 AM

I have in front of me a map, copied from axishistory, which unfortunately I cannot find anymore on the net.

This map shows the ways that the germans took out from the pócket. And those who came from Argentan clearly left the road to Chambois and went via Aubry to Moissy Ford and St.Lambert. This must mean that it was impossible to go through Chambois, and that the guide might have been right that very many vehicles came from to top left side before they passed the Dives either over the bridge in St Lambert or the Moissy Ford.

Martin - Your pics are fantastic! Is that your occupation, photographer?

Mats

jagdpanther44 · #43 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mats

I have in front of me a map, copied from axishistory, which unfortunately I cannot find anymore on the net.

This map shows the ways that the germans took out from the pócket. And those who came from Argentan clearly left the road to Chambois and went via Aubry to Moissy Ford and St.Lambert. This must mean that it was impossible to go through Chambois, and that the guide might have been right that very many vehicles came from to top left side before they passed the Dives either over the bridge in St Lambert or the Moissy Ford.

Martin - Your pics are fantastic! Is that your occupation, photographer?

Mats

Mats, i'm assuming the map is a file or picture you have downloaded?

Can you post it here?

Martin Bull · #44 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mats

Martin - Your pics are fantastic! Is that your occupation, photographer?

Mats

Please spare my blushes !

I'm strictly an amateur, with a quite simple camera.....

Without checking my references, the bridge at Chambois was 'closed' to the German forces with the arrival of the Americans on ( I think ? ) the 19th August. The two bridges at St Lambert and the ford at Moissy remained open for another day-and-a-half.

Mats · #45 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 12:54 PM

John, first of all, I am a nut when it comes to how to use a computer!

The map I printed out from

http://forum.axishistory.com/files/9...ey_18_8_44.jpg

I intended to post that link, but when I tested it it didn't work. Hope that you have better luck!

Mats

Mats · #46 (**permalink**) October 28th, 2007, 02:06 PM

Jagdpanther44

John - I found the map. Look here, just scroll down a little bit.

Axis History Forum :: Photos of vehicles in the Falaise gap

Mats