Villers-Bocage Morning

As the Allies expanded their bridgehead from Normandy, a combined British and US force thrust inland to secure the area in and around Caen. The US 1st Infantry Division gained ground against the beleaguered German 352nd Infantry Division thereby exposing …

1944-06-13

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As the Allies expanded their bridgehead from Normandy, a combined British and US force thrust inland to secure the area in and around Caen. The US 1st Infantry Division gained ground against the beleaguered German 352nd Infantry Division thereby exposing Panzer Lehr to a flanking attack by the British 7th Armoured Division — The Desert Rats. The village of ViIIers-Bocage and nearby point 213 had both been identified as the key objectives for operation. Approaching the area from the Northwest, the British force swept into the village unopposed. Believing the area free of German opposition, the British did not deploy flanking units. A tank squadron advanced up the hedgerow lined road to Point 213. The remaining units up positions along the road and in the village, many dismounting from their vehicles while preparing for their morning meal. Alerted to the presence of the British forces in the area. Obersturmführer Michael Wittmann, commanding the 2nd Company, SS Panzer Abteilung 101, raced his small force of six Tiger tanks to a position splitting the British force. Catching them completely Off guard, the Germans hammered the Brits and broke through their line. Wittmann's Tiger managed to advance into the village where he proceeded to singlehandedly knock out the majority of the 4th County Of London Yeornanry Regimental HQ. It was not until his tank was immobilized by a 6-pdr ant-tank gun that he his crew were forced to bail out and make their way foot back to Panzer Lehrs HQ.

Villers-Bocage, France

The Battle of Villers-Bocage took place during the Second World War on 13 June 1944, one week after the Normandy Landings, which had begun the Western Allies' conquest of German-occupied France. The battle was the result of a British attempt to improve their position by exploiting a gap in the German defences west of the city of Caen. After one day of fighting in and around the small town of Villers-Bocage and a second day defending a position outside the town, the British force retreated.

Wikipedia: Battle of Villers-Bocage

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