Marshal Rommel's Key to Normandy | Frontlines Ep. 05 | Documentary

Field Marshal Rommel called it ‘the Key to Normandy’ - to be held at any cost.
Three weeks after D-Day, it is the target for a massive British breakthrough of the German frontline and then following a highly controversial withdrawal, the graveyard for the British soldiers that try to re-take it. Their offensive is marred with debateable decisions, the refusal of British units to support each other and the sacrifice of two untested battalions. The killing fields around Hill 112 become a brutal war of attrition that the Nazis cannot afford to fight.
Hill 112 is a strategic ridgeline overlooking a river valley that controls the route around Caen and into France, blocked by the largest grouping of SS Panzer Divisions since the world’s biggest tank battle at Kursk (in 1943.)
The fighting in Normandy is far worse than anyone predicted - or planned for. The Germans exploit the natural terrain brilliantly - particularly the thick ‘bocage’ hedgerows - and make the Allies bleed for every metre. It is a battlefield where the frontline shifts backwards and forwards around very different types of combat, as first British tanks and then infantry (plus artillery,) suck in more and more of the SS Panzer units that Hitler dreamt of combining to repel the whole Normandy invasion.
The desperate fight for Hill 112 reveals all aspects of the vicious combat in Normandy, whose intensity is often overlooked after D-Day - and where the scale of fighting, and unit casualty toll, regularly surpassed anything on the Eastern Front. The British War Minister praised the troops fighting for Hill 112 as: “…forming the anvil upon which the German forces were held and pounded to destruction.”
#ww2 #westernfront #documentary #rommel
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Interesting links and sources:
www.britannica.com/biography/...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operati...)
www.battleofnormandytours.com...
www.history.com/topics/world-...
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[@hazardsandcatastrophes]

The Marines are back! Sound fixed. We are sorry!

[@MikeyRumi180]

Monty--History's most overrated commander. cheers Lads.

[@ericsahagun5344]

The fact that you show the blurry footage so we can't see the carnage and the suffering of these soldiers is like a slap in the face The world should see it and should know it because that's what happened and that's what these men went through and people need not forget!

[@GIJoe3333]

Thats bullcrap. Every man who went down to the recruiting office. The day after pearl harbor did it out of patriotism.

[@ioannisimansola7115]

Where was the RAF to plaster hill 112 ?

[@rajeshkanungo6627]

The total number of personnel lost in Shermans was 1417. It was the easiest tank to get out of when hit.

[@unitedwestand5100]

Please stop with the excuses for Montgomery's lack of competence and aggression.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

I'm glad that more people are starting to recognise the sacrifices the British made in holding off German counter attacks, allowing the Americans to breakout to the south and then head north.

[@tkyap2524]

There is bravery on both sides. One side stands for sanity, and the other is madness.

[@brucegoodall3794]

I can't even imagine how these men could retain any semblance of sanity. " Hey ! Has anyone seen my leg? "

[@jerryswallow]

PTSD terrible my dad had it from WW2, never said a thing till he was 85, l got it, had it when l was 18, now 77, still the same, just started getting treatment this year, when it starts whatever starts it, well every traumatic thing happens over the years just adds to it, was just getting to feeling ok the past few days, some one stole my truck, l came out and its gone, well, first thing was what year is this where did l put my truck, man this is such a terrible thing, l can not imagine what these soldiers went through and most never said a thing, they never said PTSD to me untill about 1989...Sad how the Canadians seldom get a mention in WW2, great show, Thanks

[@joepipito7431]

Excellent video as always

[@anselmdanker9519]

US 1st Army claim 195 tanks between 6th June and August 1944.

[@LeeHardingTV]

That was very insightful. Knowing tbe way artillery damages people will affect how I watch these sorts of films the rest.of my life. Neat to see how it gets called in. Thanks.

[@monjettgraham2989]

A significant amount of the footage is from the battle of the bulge. But its still a great documentary.

[@billbaker4379]

Young people need to watch this vary closely

[@RRM13]

Hello from São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷.

[@JB-rt4mx]

Grenadiers: Kurt Meyer...excellent overview of Hill 112...

[@Ammoalchemistreloaded]

Ooohh i lost me leg" lol wow badass

[@ericpanissidi6761]

Ww2vets are the true superheroes