Depending on whose history, the Normandy operation was to draw the Germans on to the British-Canadian forces and the Americans to close the gap---hence the brutal massacre of the Falaise Gap behind Caen. The Canadians---to be precise, regiments of my region---struck farthest into Normandy that day, seven miles.

Montgomery wasn't out-fought as you say, for all his fubars and every other Allied commander. No particular general under his command got Canadians in front of Caen that day, simply well-led formations leavened by veterans of the Italian and North Africa campaigns. Our tanks were no match for SS Panzer Kurt Meyer's. (He was imprisoned in our region for his troops' atrocities.)

Canada had a couple generals of the Patton cut-and-slash style. Wars aren't won through bravery and sacrifice alone. Ike didn't have particular field experience. Canadians were part of restoring his losses at Kasserine Pass. But Ike had formidable negotiating skills and the back-up of Marshall's intellect in building an indefatigable war machine.

They're my reasons for putting Ike and Marshall at head of the pack on the Western Front. Rommel knew the jig was up before the end of June. It cost him his execution. PS, I lifted this on Rommel's whereabouts and actions from "World War Two database:"

"Early 1944, Rommel was approached to participate in the July Plot to assassinate Hitler. It is popularly believed by historians today that Rommel had refused due to his loyalty, but the exact facts are still unknown.

"After the western Allies launched the Normandy landings in Jun 1944, Rommel was out of the area and unable to get a clear picture of the situation, and then Hitler hesitated to approve a counterattack by armor until it was too late. Rommel's nightmare came true over the next six weeks as the Allied beachhead strengthened. On 15 Jul, he communicated to Hitler that Germany should seriously consider ending the war on favorable terms when it was still possible . . ."

Last edited by King Brown; 11/08/16 12:41 PM.