Operation Charnwood

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Operation Charnwood was an English-Canadian offensive that took place from 8 to July 9, 1944, during the famous Battle of Normandy. The operation was meant to take the city of Caen that was occupied by German troops, which was a major Allied objective during the first days of Operation Overlord. The British and Canadians were progressing on a broad front and at dusk on July 9 they had conquered Caen to the river Orne and Odon.

The night before the offensive began, Lancasters and Halifax aircraft of the RAF dropped over 2000ton of bombs on the city. The city was almost reduced to rubble. Units of the German 21th Panzer Division were also involved in these fights.

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Panzergrenadier of the 21th Pz Div attempt to take strong positions are forced to fight the enemy from house to house. To take these positions, they have to find a passage between the ruins.

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Grenadiers of the 192nd Panzer Grenadier Regiment under the command of Colonel Josef Rauch, looking for a path through the rubble city, while heavily armed.

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Grenadier Hartmann and Ober Grenadier Stark find their way through the bombed city ....

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Once they have found a good spot, it's time to take a break and send out some scouts.
The panzergrenadier could enjoy a smoke and even take a quickly photo tos end to the home front.

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Oberleutnant Krahl looks at his mens positions and try to put their perimeter that they must defend on his map. His melder is always close by. Now its waiting for the first confrontation.

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The unit, consisting of veterans and young recruits, waiting anxiously. The old timers try to reassure the young men, Grenadier Gehring who is the 2nd MG schutze is trying to ease his nerves by thinking about home.

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Scouts have seen the first enemy units, time to get ready ....

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They bring their MG's in position, find the right line of fire and make improvements where necessary. The supply'ers with lots of ammunition around their necks, a spare barrel and additional ammo boxes in hand, have a tough task ahead.

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After the first battle, the panzer grenadiers, are beaten apart and have to move.
Between the debris they find new positions that are beneficial enough to slow down the enemy.

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Oberleutnant Krahl looks at his options.
No time rest, the British-Canadians hunt them down and their artillery pounding keeps firing.

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They must constantly seek new places and now they have tob e more conscouis as the Allies lurk with snipers who make more victims.

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After the last shots are fired, the rest of the 21st Panzer Division begin to regroup in a nearby French village. The battle was heavy and countless young people killed, Its clear for them that the war will not be over soon.

[A.Weiss]

Congratulations, very good!

A.Weiß

[Pyotr]

wow! Great photographs. Yo are lucky- we never get permission to blow up a city so the reenactments look better. How did the residents of Caen react when they found out you were blowing them up to do photographs?


Seriously, great job. Wish I was there with you to experience fighting in rubble..
Patrick