June 1944

Western Front - Battle For Caen

In the British 2nd Army's XXX Corps area, the 50th Division overruns Bayeux and gets 2 regiments south of the Bayeux-Caen highway. The 47th Royal Marine Commando begins the battle for Port-en-Bessin in the afternoon. In the I Corps area, the Canadian 3rd Division brigades push south of the Bayeux-Caen highway.

There is a renewed attempt by the British 3rd Division to take Caen frontally while the Canadian 3rd Division moves on their right flank, driving southeast. Both are supported by their respective armored brigades. Landing behind them, on the I Corps front, is the 51st Infantry Division and another armored brigade. Far to the right of the XXX Corps has landed the 7th Armored Division, the 49th Infantry Division and another armored brigade.

The Germans, on the other hand, are moving up under continual air attack which causes losses and delays. The Panzer Lehr Division has not yet arrived and only part of the 12th SS Panzer Grenadier Division, the battle group commanded by Col Kurt 'Panzer' Meyer. The German plan is to attack out of Caen with Col Oppeln Bronikowski's 22nd Panzer Regiment of the 21st Panzer Division in line with the whole of the 12th SS when it comes up and deploys. At the same time Battle Group Luck is to attack the 6th Airborne's bridgehead east of the Orne. All these movements are up and down roads radiating from Caen.

The Warwicks are ordered to take Lebisey Ridge and the village. This is to be after an arillery bombardment which is delayed by the Warwicks. The 2 lead companies do not get word of the postponement and attack on time. They have 1000 yards of open ground to cover. Advancing seemingly unopposed, the unit commander commits the remaining companies. The Germans hold their fire until the enemy moves closer. The few British survivors are pinned down. The battalion's carriers and anti-tank guns drive into Lebisey Woods, assuming it had been taken, meet the same result with few survivors.

A mile to the west, Sr-Lt Braatz's 8th Heavy Company of the 21st Panzer Division withdraws to Lebisay unmolested taking up positions on favorable high ground covering the bridges between Hérouville and the Caen industrial suburb of Colombelles. While the British 3rd Division is making small advances west of the Orne, the 6th Airborne, supported by the Commandos, is to expand their bridgehead east of the Orne. This is ib preparation for a drive to outflank Caen from the east by units of the 51st Division after they have been brought up. To oppose this threat Battle Group Luck delivers a spoiling attack. His tank company, supported by grenadiers in half-tracks, are to advance to Ranville, the location of the Headquarters of the British 6th Airborne. After passing through empty St Honorine the British artillery opens up. The grenadiers unload and dig in. The tanks turn to the left toward Longueval. Unsupported by their own artillery or infantry, the tanks are in the middle of enemy anti-tank and infantry positions. The 4th Company is hit hard as they are forced to retire to a quieter postion.

The British 3rd Division reports this action as a breakthrough by Tiger tanks and infantry. As a result several British units that were to attack Caen are switched to the defense of the Ranville-Bénouville bridges. Thereafter, the main aim of Battle Group Luck is the containment of the British bridgehead east of the Orne. Battle Group Luck consists of the 125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment and the 4th Company of the 22nd Panzer Regiment with supporting arms. They are to conduct local counterattacks to tie down the British troops in this area.

The main German effort planned for now is a counter-offensive designed to split the beachhead and drive the British and Canadians into the sea. The 3 remaining tank companies of Bronikowski's 22nd Panzer Regiment are already in postion and when the 12th SS Panzer Grenadier Division comes up, they are to attack together. The 12th SS Panzer consists of 2 armored battalions of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment and the 25th and 26th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiments with the normal reconnaissance, artillery and engineer elements. Leading their march to the front is the 25th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment led by Kurt Meyer.

The Canadian 3rd Division is driving confidently and aggressively toward Carpiquet Airfield, while their left flank is supposed to be protected by the British 3rd Division which is lagging behind. The leading infantry of the 9th Brigade is already in Authie and the 27th Armored Regiment is moving by country lanes and approaching St Contest, less than 2 miles from Caen. The bulk of the Canadian armor is in Buron making for Authin to support the infantry there, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. The Canadian armor is advancing into an accidental ambush. The German anti-tank guns hold their fire until the Canadians are most vulnerable. The Canadians are driven back pell-mell from Authie and Buron with heavy tank and infantry losses. The Canadians do not disintegrate, they hold and call for fire and tank support. The fire support from the ships halt any kind of German counterattack, as they are just as demoralized as the surprised Canadians. Meyer can not continue his attack without support. On his right, the 21st Panzer Division has been halted at Epron and on his left, the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade has broken through the remnants of the 716th Infantry Division and are in sight of Carpiquet, actually behind Meyer's battle group.

Starting at dawn the 6th Armored Regiment support the Regina Rifles into Bretteville l'Orgueillese, then turn left heading for Caen. They come close to Carpiquet, but because of action on their left, they drop back to Secqueville-en-Bessin. At midnight they receive word that the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade is suffering greatly, they move to the Bray crossroads as a mobile reserve force.