![]() ![]() The 1st SS Panzer Division was reinforced by the Füsilier Bataillon 272 of the 272nd Infantry Division and the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion an independent Tiger detachment. The divisions were supported by the artillery of the I SS Panzer Corps, recently reinforced by the 8th Nebelwerfer Brigade. The division had a Sturmgeschütz III battalion and its Panzerjäger battalion had a company of Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyers. The 1st SS Panzer Division had its normal panzer regiment with two panzer battalions, one with Panthers, the other with Panzer IVs and two infantry regiments comprising six battalions, one of which was mounted on half-tracks. the XLVII Panzer Corps and the II SS Panzer Corps were ordered to send Kampfgruppen (battlegroups) across the Orne. Late on 19 July, a counter-attack against the gains made during Goodwood was delayed until the 116th Panzer Division had arrived, which had been ordered to move by road regardless of loss. The Germans were expecting further attacks on Verrières Ridge and sent reinforcements. Twelve field regiments had 264 field guns, comprising a hundred and ninety-two 25-pounder gun-howitzers and ninety-six 105 mm howitzers, nine medium regiments with a hundred and forty-four 5.5-inch guns, two heavy regiments with sixteen 155 mm guns and sixteen 7.2-inch howitzers and a heavy anti-aircraft regiment with twenty-four 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns in use as ground artillery, a total of 488 guns. Ģ5-pounder field guns in action during an attack on Tilly-sur-Seulles, 17 June 1944.Īrtillery support was to be provided by the divisional artilleries of the participating divisions, the 2nd Canadian Army Group Royal Artillery, the 8th Army Group Royal Artillery (8th AGRA) and 83 Group RAF. In phase III, the 7th Armoured Division was to capture Point 122 and exploit towards Cintheaux and in phase IV the Guards Armoured Division was required to capture woods to the east of Garciers-Secqueville as the 3rd Canadian Division occupied La Hogue. Phase II, to begin at H+2½ hours, required the divisions to press on and capture Fontenay-le-Marmion, Rocquancourt and Carciers-Sequeville. ![]() Phase I of the plan required the 2nd and 3rd Canadian divisions to capture May-sur-Orne, Verrières and Tilly-la-Campagne. The infantry brigades would have the support of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. The 3rd Canadian Division, on the east side of the road, was to capture Tilly-la-Campagne with the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade followed by Garciers-Secqueville. The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, on the left flank, would take Verrières and then Rocquincourt. The 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, on the right flank, would then capture May-sur-Orne and Fontenay-le-Marmion. The attack was to take place in four stages the 2nd Canadian Division would attack on the west side of the Caen–Falaise road with the 4th and 5th Canadian Infantry brigades after the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade had cleared the start line by retaking the Beauvoir and Troteval farms and capturing Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay. Attempts to take the ridge during Goodwood had been thwarted by the I SS Panzer Corps (General Sepp Dietrich). About 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Caen, Verrières Ridge blocked a direct advance by Allied forces on Falaise. ![]() The districts of Caen north of the Orne were captured during Operation Charnwood (8–9 July 1944) and those south of the Orne had been captured on July 19, during Operation Goodwood, in Operation Atlantic by the II Canadian Corps (Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds) at a cost of 1,349 casualties. The German defence of the ridge contained the offensive on the first day and inflicted many casualties on the Canadians. Operation Spring was intended to capture Verrières Ridge and the villages on the south slope of the ridge. The plan was intended to create pressure on the German forces operating on the British and Canadian front simultaneous with Operation Cobra, an American offensive. Operation Spring (July 25–27, 1944) was an offensive operation of the Second World War conducted by II Canadian Corps during the Normandy campaign in 1944. ![]()
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