The Times reveals the deception plot that fooled the Germans to General Bernard Montgomery's whereabouts on the eve of D-day. A washed up Australian actor, Clifton James, who bore a close resemblance to the General was selected to go to Gibraltar to deceive a known Spanish spy for the Germans.

We're taking a tour to the D-Day beaches, if anyone is interested.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 D-Day deception France Normandy ruse spies Swiss Normandy World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII

I am very happy to announce that Battlefield Biker has teamed up with MSL Tours for our first tour! It is scheduled for the 3rd-6th July 2009. Please use the contact form with the BB_MSL_Tour category option, for more information.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 Ardennes Offensive Battle of the Bulge Belgium December France Germany Luxembourg Operation Watch on the Rhine Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle touring battlefields motorcycle military history MSL Tours

On the 24th of July 1944, the German forces around St Lo, in Normandy, did not have a clue about the hell that was about to be unleashed upon them. Their dispositions looked like this:

Source; http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/AtlasesTableOfContents.html

To the west of St Lo, you can see the area that the Americans chose to breakout from the close hedgerow fighting that had so favoured the Germans for the months of June and July 1944.

Source; http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/web03/atlases/AtlasesTableOfContents.html

The Allies delivered a devastating aerial bombardment on the German front lines in the area on 25 July 1944. The line did not immediately give way. This was due to the American infantry not pushing quickly at first. Who could blame them? They had just spent 2 months fighting in the hedgerows and had learned to be cautious. Additionally, the lingering shock of the bombardment, which also killed and wounded several hundred Americans was still wearing off.
However, the American Commander on the ground, General J. Lawton Collins, saw no need to delay and committed his exploitation forces on the morning of the 26th. This was risky, because if the Germans had managed to slow down the attack further, it would have meant an American traffic jam right on the front lines. Luckily, they couldn't and the Americans pushed right through and found the German line disintegrating like it had not done for the Americans before in Normandy.
Thus began the great race from the beachheads to the German frontier that occurred over the next 2 months, including the liberation of Paris and most of the rest of France.

I rode through the breakout zone recently and below is some video of a wonderfully twisty ride I took from Gavray towards Avranches. This area was liberated around 28-30 July.

Normandy Breakout from TJ on Vimeo.

Ride Recommendation

Check out the Terre Liberte' route of Cobra- La Percee (the Breakout). The video above is from this route and starts in Gavray which is about half way in between Coutances and Avranches. Here's a Google map of the stretch of road on the video.

Book and Map Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 25 25th 26 26th 4th Armored Division Avranches Breakout Coutances FR-D-7 France Gavray George Patton J Lawton Collins July June Manche Normandy Normandy Operation Cobra St Lo World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle touring motorcycles motorcycle-touring battlefields military history military-history

The Boston Globe reports on the search for 2 American pilots lost 64 years ago over Papua New Guinea.

The search is being conducted by the US Army and is staffed mainly by Afghanistan and Iraq veterans. I can imagine how this team is feeling. It might not be something you think about day to day, but once a soldier got a mission like this between his/her teeth, they will search high and low to find these 2 MIAs. I think this mission is an example of one of the great strengths of the US Army... an institutional memory that says "we will not forget you. It might take us a while to develop the technology to find you, but we will not forget!"

Technorati Tags: 1940s 2008 Japan JPAC MIAs Papua New Guinea Veterans World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle touring motorcycles motorcycle-touring battlefields military history military-history

There are things that you read sometimes that make you realize that some people are better than you. Jacob DeShazer was one of those people.

A Corporal in the US Army Air Force who was captured by the Japanese in occupied China as part of the Doolittle Raid in 1942, DeShazer was very badly treated by the Japanese. However, he survived the war and returned to Japan after the war as a missionary and stayed ..... for 30 years.

I seriously doubt whether I could have forgiven my captors to the extent he did. As the article says, there is little doubt that this good man is resting in peace.

Technorati Tags: 1940s Doolittle raid Japan POW torture World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle touring motorcycles motorcycle-touring battlefields military history military-history

Here's a short article on the photographer, Al Bullocks, who captured the Japanese attack on the USS Franklin and its aftermath on film. The photos have been given a new platform with the publication of The Inferno a book by Joseph Springer.

Technorati Tags: 1940s 1945 Al Bullocks Joseph Springer USS Franklin World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle touring motorcycles motorcycle-touring battlefields military history military-history

Pointe du Hoc - D-Day - World war II

	A tank bag sized guide to the 2 Day battle with 16 pictures from the ride, a map of the planned assault and a custom route map of the ride from Ouistreham to Pointe du Hoc and the surrounding countryside, including the American cemetery at Omaha Beach and the German cemetery at La Cambe..
USD $4.99 for electronic PDF	USD $9.99 for laminated hard copy by snail mail

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 2nd Ranger Battalion 6 6th Artillery Earl Rudder FR-D-10 FR-D-113 FR-D-5 FR-D-514 FR-D-517 FR-D-6 German June Omaha Beach World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII

In mid January 1944, the slow, hard slog up the Italian peninsula was into its fourth month already and the Allies were looking for innovative ways to break the formidable German defenses. With the plan for an amphibious operation at Anzio, US Fifth Army Commander Mark Clark feared the landing force being forced back into the sea by the German reserve forces around Rome. In an attempt to draw the Germans away from the Rome and Anzio area and further south, he ordered an attack by the 36th Infantry Division from Texas across the Rapido River to the south of Cassino. Secondarily, there was even some hope that the attack might succeed with an armored follow up by the 1st Armored Division that would storm up the Liri River valley and beyond. Clark met his first objective, but failed miserably with the secondary objective. The Battle of of the Rapido River, or "Bloody River" as its participants called it, was a disaster on the scale of Omaha Beach, but without the merit of a final success.

The Allied plan was for a forceful movement against the Gustav Line, of which the Rapido River area around Sant' Angelo was a central part of, to tie down the German defenses. Additionally, Clark wanted to inflict enough damage to bring out German Field Marshal Kesselring's reserve forces away from Anzio. Clark instructed the British 10th Corps, led by Lieutenant General Richard McCreery, to attack the Gustav Line on 18 January at three places. The British 5th Divison would attack across the Liri River near Minturno on the west coast of Italy. The British 56th Divison would attack over the Liri near Castelforte. Finally, the British 46th Divison would attack over the Liri near Sant' Ambrogia and most importantly continue to the area of Sant' Apollinare and secure the high ground that overlooked the US 2nd Corps' 36th Division's assault area near Sant' Angelo. The 36th's Commander General Fred Walker had real reservations about his part of the operation and claimed (with some support) that Clark promised the 36th would not have to proceed if the southern high ground around Sant' Apollinare had not been secured by the British 46th. This issue would prove disastrous.

A little background is in order about the relations between the British and the Americans in Italy. British General Harold Alexander was in overall command of the Allied forces in Italy in the form of the 15th Army Group, which consisted of Mark Clark' Fifth Army and Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese's UK 8th Army. Fifth Army consisted, in part, of the US 2nd Corps under General Geoffrey Keyes and the British 10th Corps under McCreery. The British and the American military leadership often saw the same battlefield in two different ways. According to Carlo D'Este in Fatal Decision, the British were all about concentration of force, but the Americans liked to probe on a broad front, then exploit weak spots. More importantly, the key Generals in this fight exhibited their countrys' worst stereotypical traits. Whereas Eisenhower was known first and foremost as a humble diplomat and a great smoother of Allied tensions, Clark seemed pathologically ambitious, vane and held contempt for anyone who might have the gall to cross him. Likewise, where Churchill's manner was leavened by his American mother, Alexander showed the British aristocracy's patronising view of all things American. These traits combined with Clark's coming of age in the Salerno campaign and finding that the Alexander controlled publicity machine made it out to be a British victory made the ground fertile for bad decisons. Clark held a deep distrust of the British and could not stomach the Brits getting any more glory in the Fifth Army sector. Therefore, Clark had made up his mind that the breaking of the Gustav Line, if it happened at all, would be led and exploited by the Americans.

In the Liri Valley plan, McCreery felt his 10th Corps had been spread too wide and did not want to force any particular area too hard for fear of getting in a fight with too few troops and taking heavy losses. This led to the tragically predictable consequence of McCreery's Corps delaying their start by 24 hours, knowing full well it would enrage Clark, then, despite early success, not pushing to take the high ground near Sant' Apollinare without having secured a bridge over the Liri behind them. Clark was livid, if not surprised, but was now presented with two decisions. First, Clark could, but not realistically, delay the 36th's Rapido River assault, because he was already butting up against the 22nd of January which was the planned date for Operation Shingle, the Anzio landings. The Rapido River assault was needed to ensure that Kesselring would have to deploy his reserves away from Rome and Anzio. Second, and ironically, Clark had a good choice and refused to take it. Clark could have followed American doctrine and re-enforced the British 10th Corps's definite, but limited success, but just could not accept the idea of the British getting the credit for the break through. Clark declared the operation was to proceed as planned. The 36th Infantry's Texans and General Walker would bear the brunt of this All-American bravado.

All of this high level bickering and positioning did not mean that the 36th were inevitably doomed to fail, but it surely seems that they were. The 36th had fought hard and painfully in the area around San Pietro in the bloody slog up to the Rapido. They were battle weary and filled with too many green replacements. However, most importantly, the 36th seemed to be filled with the belief that they drew all of the hard missions and the ones no one else wanted. In this case, they may have been right, but that belief in a combat unit is contagious and almost always self defeating. This included their General and at least one of their Colonels, who made their doubts about the operation public, without any notable objections up the chain. The 36th entered the battle looking for failure and they found it in spades.

The plan was for 2 line regiments of the 36th, the 141st and the 143rd to attack across the Rapido on the night of the 20th and in the early morning hours of the 21st of January. The lead elements would cross in boats, then be followed by the engineers who would build foot bridges for the remainder of the regiments' troops to cross. It was a clear and simple plan, but the execution was under-equipped and ill practiced to the point of negligence. The fact that so much coordination was needed was obvious to many, but 36th officers were too busy feeling hard-done-to. Some basic exercises were practiced on the Volturno River, but nothing to the scale that was required of such a tough operation. It was as if the 36th felt the result was not in question, so no real effort should be spent in preparation. The engineers were woefully short on the proper equipment and got little support from Fifth Army. Rather than amphibious DUKWs and specially made foot bridges, the troops got rubber dingys, wooden scows and catwalks laid over pontoons. Adding to the mess was the fact that no roads led to crossing sites and the area was open to German observation all throughout the day. The engineers cleared the mines during the night as best they could, but the infantry had to drag all of the boats and equipment forward themselves.

The movement started as it was to follow, chaotically. Many of the boats had been damaged by German artillery and the infantry had not been trained how to handle them or even how many or what kind of oars were needed. The infantry stumbled through mine lanes in the dark, rattling boats and equipment all the way with at least one group straying into a minefield. The Germans were alerted by the sounds and started to bring fire down on the hapless Texans. When some did make it to the Rapido River, they found that it was narrow, but deep and fast. Many of the boats foundered or were hit by German fire. Shamefully for the 36th, a small number, but too many refused to go or fell in the river on purpose to avoid going. Many of those that did get to the western side of the river were drenched and exhausted. Each regiment got significant numbers across, but could not follow up with supporting battalions and the engineers could not keep their footbridges in tact for more than few hours. The tenuous positions on the western side of the river were quickly becoming untenable and the disaster was setting in by mid morning of the 21st. The lead battalion of the 143rd fell back across the river to their start point. This certainly helped them, but it allowed the Germans to concentrate all of their fire on the northern crossing and the 1st Battalion of the 141st. This battalion was stuck and would never be rescued.

By midday on the 21st, Clark and Keyes were demanding a renewed offensive. Walker wanted a new offensive too, but only to retrieve the lost 1/141st and Walker wanted it under the cover of darkness. Keyes demanded that the new offensive should take place in the mid afternoon, but various other foul-ups meant it did not happen for the 143rd until 15:00 and the 141st until 21:00 on the 21st. Both crossings established a perimeter on the German side, but not large enough to get armor across for fire support. These assaults worked no better than the earlier ones. In fact, the new was exactly like the old, only worse. By midday on the 22nd, the situation was dire and all units were looking to pull back, but had their bridges and boats destroyed. In Cassino: The Hollow Victory, John Ellis says Keyes was not having it and demanded that the Division reserve, the 142nd Regiment, be committed. Walker balked, but complied. Soon, however, the losses became too great and the attack was cancelled in the mid afternoon of the 22nd. What was left of the 2 regiments retreated as best they could, but the 1st of the 141st, as a unit, was never heard from again.

The numbers tell the soldiers' story. 143 killed, 663 wounded an 875 missing ( approximately 500 were confirmed later to have been taken prisoner by the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division ). The 36th Texas Infantry Division ceased to exist as a combat capable unit. The German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division had 64 killed and 179 wounded. Clark achieved his goals of tying up the Germans prior to the Anzio landings and even managed to get the Germans to send their reserves south. However, embarrassingly for Clark, they were sent in response to McCreery's 10th Corps assaults, not the 36th's.

Churchill had pushed for the Italian campaign, calling it the "soft underbelly" of the German monster, but nothing could have been further than the truth. The German military machine was probably the best defensive army ever assembled and the succession of mountains on the Italian peninsula gave them a natural advantage. The Italian theatre was as grueling a campaign as anything in World War II and worst than most. The Battle of the Bloody River was its saddest moment for the Americans.

Ride Suggestion

Check out this ride that starts in Naples, then winds through the mountains south of the Liri River and finally follows the Liri up to the Rapido River around Sant' Angelo in Theocides.

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Book Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 20 20th 21 21st 22 22nd Alexander Anzio Battle for Rome Cassino Castelforte Clark Italian Campaign January Keyes McCreery Minturna Sant' Ambrogio Sant' Angelo Sant' Apollinare Shingle Walker World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields Italy

In between Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy lies a promontory called Pointe du Hoc. Prior to D-Day on 6 June 1944, the Germans had six 155mm artillery pieces that could effectively fire on either Omaha or Utah beaches. Pointe du Hoc (typo'ed as Pointe du Hoe on many D-Day documents and maps) was target number one for the Americans to neutralize.

Feeling the pointe was unassailable from the sea, the Germans focussed most of the defenses facing rearward. The Americans, knowing this, sent their elite infantrymen, Companies D, E & F of the 2nd Ranger Batallion, to scale the seaside 100 foot vertical walls of the pointe in an attempt to surprise the Germans.

The pointe was subjected to an unprecedented aerial and naval bombardment prior to the invasion. You can see the effects of this in the giant craters that still exist here today. The firing lifted just before the Rangers were to land at 06:30. This is where things begian to go wrong.

At approximately 06:20, the Rangers’ landing craft were heading for the wrong pointe (Pointe de la Percee, a similar pointe) 2 miles closer to Omaha beach. The Ranger leader, Lieutenant-Colonel James Rudder, noticed the error and corrected the flotilla. However, to correct, the Rangers had to run parallel to the coast and against a strong tide. Swells engulfed several boats, including a supply boat. This meant they were 40 minutes late, short of men, food and ammunition. The delay meant the Germans had begun to re-occupy the pointe after the aerial and naval bombardment had lifted.

The Rangers landed at the base of the cliffs at approximately 07:10. Using grappling hooks and ladders, the first elements were up in 10 minutes. The Germans killed and wounded 15 by firing down on the Rangers and dropping grenades on them, but supporting naval fire suppressed them enough to allow the Rangers to get on top of the pointe.

The next problem came when the Rangers realized that the guns they had come for were not there. However, being trained to never dally around, the Rangers began to move toward their next objective which was to get to the main road (today’s D514) and set up a blocking position. Some Rangers had to fight from trench to trench to move forward, but others had a clear run to the road. Once at the road, elements from the 3 companies that had landed on the pointe set up blocking positions on the road and began immediate patrolling of the area. A CP element and an element trapped by snipers and an anti-aircraft position on the western side remained on the pointe.

Back at the road, the patrols were out. During 2 of these patrols, the missing German guns were found hidden in an orchard. One of the patrols with two Ranger sergeants moved to the south of their positions along a farm track and hedge row. At the end of the track, they found the heavily camouflaged guns in the orchard. They could hear their German crews being briefed and formed up in the distance. The Rangers destroyed the guns with thermite grenades. They quickly made their way back to the highway and sent a messenger to report to the CP back at the pointe.

After landing late in the face of determined opposition and not initially finding the guns, the Rangers had accomplished their mission in approximately 2 hours. Colonel Rudder sent the message that still inspires soldiers today; “mission accomplished - need ammunition and reinforcements - many casualties.”
Rudder thought that his scheduled relief would arrive at any minute, but only a single platoon had made it through. The near disaster at Omaha Beach was preventing the mass of the Rangers’ organic reinforcements from reaching Pointe du Hoc. Rudder and his decimated force were alone. Over the next 2 days, there were 5 German counter-attacks. The Rangers, initially strung out over a mile from pointe to the road, were forced back inside a 200 meter perimeter. They fought for their lives on low ammunition and little food to avoid being pushed off the cliffs and into the sea. In the end, the 190 man strong Ranger force was down to 90 that could defend the position. On D+2, the relief force arrived. The Rangers had taken 70% casualties, but a near mythical founding chapter of an elite force had been written.

In my current life it is hard to imagine the amount of personal sacrifice required for such an undertaking as Pointe du Hoc. This is one of the reasons I ride to these historic battlefields. I may never have to do what these Rangers did, but I have a responsibility for keeping the institutional memory alive. An excellent description of the action can be found at the US Army's Center for Military History.

Not far from Pointe du Hoc is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It is well worth the visit and the new interpretive center there is superb.

Ride Recommendation

This is not hair on fire riding. However, you can see all of the key points of the battles for Sword, Juno, Gold and Omaha beaches. Relax, take the day, drink lots of espresso and eat some nice meals. Once in your hotel for the evening, take in the local Calvados.

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Book Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 6 6th Arromanches Colleville Courseulles D-Day ferry FR-D-514 June Omaha Ouistreham Portsmouth St Laurent World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields carnival November

Cool video of the song by the band Contrarian about the D-Day invasions of Normandy.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 6 D-Day France June Normandy Song Video World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

Burmese Monks are challenging the military authorities. I visited the Thai/Burmese border a few years ago and the view reminded me very much of the old East German border I used to patrol. I hope for their sake that they can withstand the government repression and deliver their nation from the thugs that rule it. Additionally, and not to sound too light-hearted, but once it is free, we can do some serious WWII battlefield touring there.

At the bottom of the article, the BBC lays on its best Homer Simpson deadpan;

"Are you in Burma? How have you been affected by the current situation? What is the mood like in the country? Send us your comments and experiences.

You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +447725100100.

At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws." (My emphasis)

Note to BBC; Doh!

Technorati Tags: 1900 1940s Burma to come World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields Burma

I rode around the Suisse Normande back in March and had all kinds of plans to write up the whole ride, but work and family considerations have left me berating myself for not getting something up. With that in mind, I am putting up some info from the Battle of Mont Pincon. The battle for the area lasted a few days, but the interesting bit to me happened in the evening of 6 August 1944 and overnight.
A quick intro to the battle can be found here.
In short, British tanks from the 13/18 Hussars barrelled up the hill along an uncovered track and occupied the key communications node of a hill before the Germans knew what happened.

The map below shows many of the tracks on the hill and the track running from the southwest side to the west side of the hill was the one taken by the Hussars.

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I'm including 2 short videos on Youtube.

The first is riding up the main road to see the 2 modern radio towers / antennae, which give a good idea of why Mont Pincon was so important to the German defense of this area. One could surmise that the loss of these posts led to some of the confusion that caused the Germans to get trapped in Falaise pocket not long after this.

The second video is to show the road (that is not shown on Google Maps), from the north, to the Hussars overnight leaguer area. They actually came up from the southwest, but, alas, I cannot find my video for that part of the ride. There is a battle interpretation board at the end and the monument to the 13/18 Hussars is nearby.

I'm planning on writing a lot more on Mont Pincon, Operations Bluecoat and Cobra and the great riding around the Suisse Normande, but this should hold you for a while. ;o)

Book and Map Recommendations

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 6 airborne radar August Communications towers D-106 D-165 D-26 German Le Plessis Grimoult Mont Pincon Normandy s 13 18 Hussars Suisse Normande Swiss Normandy Wiltshire Regiments World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII military history military-history motorcycle touring motorcycle-touring battlefields motorcycle

Here is a selection of photos taken during my ride to Normandy. I covered mainly the British / Canadian area of operations on this trip with the exception of the American Cemetery Omaha beach which has a brand new interpretive center which worth anyone's time.

Technorati Tags: 10 12 13 14 1900s 1940s 1944 6 7 8 9 Battle of Normandy Cahaganes D Day Gold June Juno Mont Pincon Normandy Omaha Sword World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

Of the soldiers who died on 6 June 1944 and in the days and weeks following, many were never identified. This blog post is a reminder of the soldiers who died in anonymity to accomplish a task that is almost incomprehensible to us today.

If you want to read about the campaign to and out of Omaha, check out the US Army's history from 6 June to 24 July 1944.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 D-Day Omaha-beach Unknown-Soldier World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

I was talking with a friend the other day and he had asked me what my favourite Battle of Normandy book was. I told him it was Max Hasting's Overlord, because it was the most even handed on the strengths and weaknesses of all of the armies and commanders in Normandy in the Summer of 1944. He is harsh on some, but is very meticulous in making his arguments. An example is that Hastings makes it very clear that Montgomery was not weak in not taking Caen due to the circumstances, but he heaps scorn on Montgomery's attempts to retro-justify his actions.
If you can only read one book on the subject, I recommend this one.
Below are two versions of the book from Amazon.com.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 Operation Overlord World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII Operation Overlord Normandy Max Hastings

On 4 March 1941, 500 troops of the British 3 and 4 Commando units with the company of 50 Norwegian sailors landed on the Lofoten Islands off the coast of northwestern Norway to destroy fish oil (used in German ammunition) refining factories and boats. The raid was a rousing success and almost captured a German enigma machine, until the German captain of the trawler Krebs threw his machine overboard. The raid did yield a couple of extra enigma rotors which helped in the longer term struggle to break the German codes.
For a war weary nation, though, the raid gave the Brits their first taste of real success against the Germans and put the Germans on notice that fighting the Btrits would not be a cake-walk.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

I've been to Narvik and northwards on the E-6 and eastwards on the E-10, but I have not travelled to the Lofoten Islands. If the roads there are the same as the rest of Norway, you'll be smiling.
Take the E-6 and E-10 from Narvik to Melbu. Then take the ferry from Melbu to Fiskebol. Then take the E-10 from Fiskebol to Svolvaer / Vagan, where some of the Commandos came ashore. Check out the Lofoten museum dedicated to the military actions in the area at Svolvaer.

Book Recommendation: Enigma: The Battle for the Code from AbeBooks.co.uk or Amazon.co.uk

Map Recommendation: Norway North Road Map: Narvik No. 3 from AbeBooks.co.uk

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1941 4 4th Commandos March Narvik NO-E-10 NO-E-6 Raid World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

As part of my research on Operation Bluecoat, I travelled along this road running from Villers Bocage to Vire.

It was a great ride and, just off it, I visited the British cemetery at Saint-Cahrles-de-Percy, which was quite a moving place. The American cemeteries have the stark white marble crosses and stars of David, but are bare except for name, rank, unit, home state and date of death. The British traditional headstones are made in what looks like the local Normandy stone, which resembles Cotswold stone, and had all of the basic data as well. However, the British also allowed the families to put incriptions on the stones. When I walked along reading the families' inscriptions, I welled up like I never had in the American cemeteries. I think the British stones make the visit far more personal. You feel the pain that parents, wives and children.... many of whom are still alive today... felt with the loss of huge chunks of their lives with each man's passing. I recommend this cemetery to anyone travelling in Normandy. It truly drives home the magnitude of human suffering, including those back home.

Heres a picture of the cemetery at Saint-Charles-de-Percy;

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Try this circular route, which takes in Villers Bocage, Vire, Montchauvet, Aunay and Saint-Charles-de-Percy.

Book Recommendation: Operation Bluecoat from AbeBooks.com or Amazon.com

Map Recommendation: Michelin Historical Map 102: Battle of Normandy from AbeBooks.com or Amazon.com

Accor Hotels in the Caen area

Technorati Tags: 1 1900s 1940s 1944 2 29 3 30 31 4 5 6 August Commonwealth Graves Commission D-114 D-26 D-290 D-407 D-55 D-56 D-577 D-6 D-675 FR-NO July Operation Bluecoat World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

MONTEITH, JIMMIE W., JR.

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Richmond, Va. Born: 1 July 1917, Low Moor, Va. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. 1st Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where 2 tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.

From http://www.army.mil/cmh/mohiib1.htm

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Take the ferry from Portsmouth, England to Ouistreham, France then follow the following beach route to the US Cemetery at Omaha Beach.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 6 6th Armor Heroism June Medal of Honor Omaha Beach World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

This is a picture I took on 21 February 2007 on Omaha Beach just under the infamous German bunker WN62. The men who rest silently on the plateau above must be proud that one of the bloodiest battlefields of World War II is now the playground of French parents and children. Note the little boy running through the ditch with nothing more on his mind than catching his brother. How many American soldiers died in that ditch? All I can say is that this picture is as they would have hoped.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 children Omaha Beach playing World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last few days. I've had a lot of work going, but also I've been preparing for a 2 day trip to the Normandy coast to visit the D-Day beaches again. My first trip to Normandy was what inspired me to start Battlefield Biker.

I've been re-reading Overlord by Max Hastings to get the units and sectors fresh in my head. I am going to try to spend more time in the British and Canadian sector this time, specifically around Caen and Villers Bocage. It will be hard for me to avoid a quick run to Omaha, Pont du Hoc and St Lo, but I'll try to stay focussed on the Juno, Sword and Gold area.

I'm also going to look into the "Suisse Normande" and Orne River valley area for some great bike rides. The area is plastered with scenic routes on the map, so I want to see what they look like on the ground.

I'm taking the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen tonight. I'll spend Wednesday and Thursday in the area, then take the ferry back overnight Thursday and Friday. I used H-C Travel for the ferry booking and booked my hotel through Accor hotels, which I often recommend on this site.

People sometimes ask me how I book my travel and why I recommend certain things. I used H-C Travel for this trip, because they have been able to get me cheaper ferry prices than I can get on my own, but also because they are excellent for motorcycle travel. David Grist and his team at H-C Travel know what bikers need and the documentation and instructions are always clear. I use and have used for years Accor hotels for business and leisure. What I like about Accor is that their website seems to work for me every time. Nothing drives me up the wall more than going through a long booking process and then finding that I cannot complete the reservation for one reason or another. Additionally, Accor has a great stable of hotels from the super cheap to the higher class. I can pick and choose depending on my riding style planned. i.e. If I am riding long and hard and will arrive late, I choose Formule 1 or Motel 6 just for a clean bed. If I am looking for a place to be comfortable and read with a couple of beers in the evening (like this time), I may book a Mercure or Ibis to get a bar and a restaurant. If I've got the wife and/or kids in tow, I may go for the Sofitel or Novotel for a pool and nicer room. You get the picture.

I'm really looking forward to this trip and look forward to sharing some rides, pictures and stories from the trip.

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The US Army got its first taste of the German Army in the Atlas Mountains of Tunisia in mid February 1943. It was not a glorious time for the untried American II Corps. Exceptionally poor leadership by II Corps commander Floyd Fredendall led the Americans to a humiliating defeat in a series of defensives positions and ill-conceived counter-attacks. Almost 6,000 were killed or wounded and hundreds more were captured in the battles around Sidi Bou Zid (14th/15th), Sbeitla(16th) and the Kaserine Pass(19th). The whole action is often referred to in the aggregate as the Battle of the Kasserine Pass.

In early February 1943, General Erwin Rommel and his German Africa Corps were in danger of being cut off from its provisions in Tunisia. The American Army's II Corps had taken up positions in the passes of the Grand Dorsal section of the Atlas Mountains which were blocking Rommel's way. Rommel sent two Panzer Divisions to take the passes. They surprised The American 1st Armored Division, led by General Orlando Ward, on the morning of the 14th with a well choreographed air and land maneuver. The disarrayed Americans were ordered by Fredendall to regroup, with minimal re-enforcements, and counter-attack. Ward thought this was crazy, but did not object vigorously. Rommel was prepared and unleashed hell on the unsuspecting Americans with a classic ambush near Sidi Bou Zid. The 1st Armoured was in a very bad way.

Finally, the Americans were allowed to fall back and re-group. The next point of defense would be the Kasserine pass, which was an opening in the range where a road, a river and a railroad track went through...an obvious point to hold. Rommel knew this as well. After probing the line sufficiently, Rommel launched. Already learning the very hard lessons that Rommel was teaching them, the Americans held at first and Rommel had to try again. The Desert Fox's second attempt was to prove successful and the way was open for his panzers to rush through the gap.

Rommel was in open conflict with the Italians and many of his German colleagues and superiors, so he did not hold the area for long. However, in conducting the actions around the Kasserine Pass, he had taught the Americans a great lesson and it was taken to heart fully.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

Google maps does not give directions for Tunisia, but this map clearly shows the points of interest along the P13 highway that runs from Sfax through Faid, Sibi Bouzid, Sbeitla and Kasserine.

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On 12 February 1941, General Erwin Rommel arrived in North Africa as the leader of the German Africa Corps. The most celebrated German tanker amongst modern U.S. tankers was actually not a tanker for most of his long career. Before World War II, he was famous for Infantry Attacks.

Rommel came to North Africa under the command of the Italians, but immediately made his mark for his initiative and taking the fight to the British. Rommel went after the force led by British General Richard O'Connor that had made such a feast of the Italian incompetence in Lybia in 1940. Rommel quickly smashed the British force, captured O'Connor and besieged Tobruk. It wouldn't take long until his name would become synonymous with the Axis effort in North Africa.

Motorcycle Ride Recommendation

This is the ride I want to do in Lybia. Burdi (Bardia) to Tubruq (Tobruk).

Book Recommendation: Together We Stand: North Africa 1942-1943, Turning the Tide in the West from AbeBooks.co.uk or Amazon.co.uk

Map Recommendation: Map of Lybia from AbeBooks.com

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1941 Bardia British Burdi Egypt German Italian Lybia Lybia Tobruk Tubruq World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII motorcycle motorcycle-touring motorcycle touring military history military-history battlefields

Although Warsaw born Soviet Marshal Konstanty Rokossovskiy stood on a hill overlooking Warsaw on 2 August 1944, he was not to complete the capture of it until 17 January 1945. The Russians had encouraged an uprising by citizens of Warsaw in preparation for the Soviet capture. However, German Marshal Walther Model, the "Fuhrer's Fireman," decided to counter-attack to the east of the city.*

The German counter-attack was viewed as a mere local setback to the Russians' continent wide front, but it was disastrous for Warsaw. The Warsaw Uprising went ahead from 1 August 1944 to 5 October 1944 with devastating results for the occupants of Warsaw.

Although the Soviet forces "liberated" what little was left of Warsaw on 17 January 1945, the Poles were actually just experiencing a change in ownership. Rokossovskiy was to later become the Soviet imposed Minister of Defense of Poland.** The Poles were not to have real liberation until 1989.

*Europe At War, No Simple Victory, Norman Davies, Macmillan, 2006, pages 115-116.
**Ibid, pages 242-243

Books by Amazon.com

Check out Norman Davies's new book, Europe At War, where he makes clear that eastern Europe was not "freed" by the Soviets. Indeed, the Soviets ran more people through concentration camps than the Germans. Rokossovskiy himself spent time in the GULag.

Technorati Tags: 17 17th 1900s 1940s 1945 January Model Poland Rokossovskiy Warsaw Uprising World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII WWII military history military-history motorcycle touring motorcycle-touring battlefields

On 5 January 1940, The Finns began an offensive on the Raate Road, near Suomussalmi and ended up destroying or capturing the Russian 44th Division. The 44th had been halted at a roadblock southeast of Suomussalmi around the present day intersection of roads 912 and 843. The Russians hunkered down along the road between Suomussalmi and Raate in what the Finns called motti formations, a logging term doubling in meaning that the 44th's sub units could be broken into smaller chunks and cut up individually like so many logs. The Finns operated in small units all along the road and and spent days conducting close range grenade attacks and terrifying the Russian officers with highly selective sniper fire. The Russians were out of their mind with cold, hunger and fear. A single sniper round fired by a Finn marksman would unleash totally undisciplined "mad minutes" from the Russians, normally killing nothing, but trees. Soon, ammunition ran short and re-supply from the air turned the starving troops into in-fighting hords. After 2 days of this nightmare, the 44th dissolved in death, capture or flight. It was the high water mark for the Finns and showed the Russians that taking the grossly outnumbered, but skilled Finns would not be a cake walk. Check out the book recommendation below, Frozen Hell by William R. Trotter, which has an entire chapter dedicated to this battle.

Books from Amazon.co.uk

Motorcycle Ride

If you find yourself in Finland, try following the road from Kemi to Suomussalmi for a daylong ride. I rode the E75 from Kemi to Oulu and on to Helsinki last year and I can highly recommend the area. If finishing around Kemi look for campgrounds on the Gulf of Bothnia. Its a beautiful place to wake up (in the summer anyway).

Maps

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On 5 January 1941, Australian troops taste their first victory in WWII by taking the Town of Bardia (Burdi) in Lybia near the Egyptian border. The Aussies take approximately 40,000 Italians prisoner.

Books from Amazon.com

Motorcycle Ride

Now that Lybia is opening up, maybe I'll be able to take this ride from Burdi (Badria) to Tubruq (Tobruk) to follow some of the British / German North African campaigns

Maps

This is a map of the country which combines topographic mapping with road and tourist detail.

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On 22 December 1944, the German Army was near their zenith in the Battle of the Bulge and had surrounded the town of Bastogne, a key road hub of the area. The USA 101st Airborne had control of the town, but had no support. The German Army sent 2 officers and 2 NCOs to deliver the ulimatum to surrender, but were met with the reply of 101st acting commander General Anthony McAuliffe of "NUTS!" A source of great pride in the 101st forever more, McAuliffe's response has gone down in history as possibly the 2nd best defiance of a surrender request. Molon Labe being the undisputed best.

Books from Amazon.com

Motorcycle Ride

Try the N84 southeast out of Bastogne to the Luxembourg border where the road continues as the N15 to Ettelbrook.

Maps

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1944 22 22nd December military history military-history motorcycle touring motorcycle-touring World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII WWII

General Patton died this day in 1945* after an automobile accident on December 9th 1945. He was buried amongst the dead of the Battle of the Bulge on Christmas Eve 1945.

Books from Amazon.com

Motorcycle Ride

Check out this ride in Luxembourg, then head down to the US military cemetary in Luxembourg.

Maps

*"Old Blood and Guts" dies, http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6650 (last visited Dec 21, 2006).

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1945 21 21st December military history military-history motorcycle touring motorcycle-touring patton World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII WWII

The conflict between the Allied and Axis Powers from 1939-1945 was truly global and left very little of the civilised world untouched.

Motorcycle Rides

European Theatre (Western Hemisphere)

• Battle of the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) 13 December 1939
• Finns Attack Russians on the Raate Road in the Winter War 5 January 1940
• Australians Capture Bardia Lybia 5 January 1941
• Rommel Takes Over the Afrika Corps 12 February 1941
• British and Norwegians Conduct Operation Claymore Against German Targets in Norway 4 March 1941
• German and Italy Declare war on the USA 11 December 1941
• Battle of Kasserine Pass Tunisia 14-22 February 1943
• 1LT Jimmie W. Monteith, Jr. Medal of Honor Recipient Omaha Beach 6 June 1944
• The Road to Vire / Saint Charles de Percy and Operation Bluecoat 29 July 6 August 1944
• 8 December 1944 General Patton's Prayer
• NUTS! 22 December 1944 Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne
• Red Army "Liberates" Warsaw from Germans 17 January 1945
• General Patton Dies After Automobile Accident 21 December 1945

Pacific Theatre (Eastern Hemishpere)

• 9 December 1942 Australians Capture Gona from Japanese
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Three days after Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared that the USA was at war with Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the USA.

"Benito Mussolini, made his declaration first - from the balcony over the Piazza Venezia in Rome - pledging the 'powers of the pact of steel' were determined to win."

The Piazza Venezia was the site of a happier moment 12 years later as Gregory Peck tooled around with Anglo/Dutch war survivor Audrey Hepburn on a scooter in the movie Roman Holiday.

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I know very little about the Pacific campaign in WWII, but have begun reading some of the online resources about it. I knew the Japanese had threatened mainland Australia from Papua and I knew the Australians fought hard in securing Papua, but I didn't know any of the specifics. Anyway, enough of what I didn't know, because there is a lot I don't know. Today is the anniversary of the Australians taking Gona, Papua. Read more, here.

Amazon.co.uk Books

Motorcycle Ride

If you want to know more about motorcycling in Papua, check out Mr BeEm's wesite.

Technorati Tags: 1900s 1940s 1942 9 9th Australians December Japanese Pacific Papua World War 2 World War II WW2 WWII WWII