All:
I have placed something of interest for you on my website (bottom of the main page) for you to download. It is a student thesis from the US Army Command and General Staff College titled:
"50 Div in Normandy: A Critical Analysis of the British 50th (Northumbrian) Division on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy"
Here is the abstract: In late 1943, the British Army ordered the veteran 7th Armored, 51st (Highland) and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions to return to Great Britain to provide combat experienced troops for the D-Day invasion of northwest Europe. On D-Day, the 50th Division achieved nearly all of its objectives. But by mid-June, the 50th held positions only a few miles beyond its final D-Day positions. The apparent failure of this veteran division in later operations led many senior leaders to believe that veteran divisions had become a liability. This thesis evaluates the performance of the 50th Division in Normandy by examining the following: the 50th's prior combat experiences in France, North Africa, and Sicily; the 50th's overall readiness for war during the period before the invasion, including pre-invasion training; and the performance of the 50th Division in specific combat engagements in Normandy.
I hope it generates some discussion.
The website is:
Maginot Line at War 1939-1940
Regards, Marc