Does Pointe du Hoc Still Matter?

Kjaersgaard · 20-08-2007, 06:23 PM

I am not sure whether or not this has been properly discussed, but here goes...

During my recent vacation to Normandy I visited the Maisy Battery at Grandcamp. The guide there had a pretty amazing story to tell about the theories of the battery.
According to Gary Sterne, the owner and the man who discovered the Maisy Battery, this battery complex should have had first priority instead of the assault on Pointe Du Hoc, considering the many casualties when the 2nd Ranger Battalion finally reached the top and discovered there were no guns. Sterne believes that the reason the bunker site has been buried for more than 60 years was to cover up the very mistake of Du Hoc so that no one would ever find out that at the Maisy Battery the real assault should have taken place.
Instead of me giving a long summary this article covers it all:

TheHistoryNet | World War II | Does Pointe du Hoc Still Matter?

What do you think? Was the courageous and bloody climbing by the rangers really nessesary?

Kyt · 20-08-2007, 06:48 PM

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. However there are two things that should be pointed out:

1) the perceived threat from the guns on the Hoc was severe enough that a major operation was planned and carried out

2) the Maisy battery was obviously not as important because it did not inflict any major damage to the landings.

20-08-2007, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kjaersgaard Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Randers, Denmark Posts: 198	Does Pointe du Hoc Still Matter? I am not sure whether or not this has been properly discussed, but here goes... During my recent vacation to Normandy I visited the Maisy Battery at Grandcamp. The guide there had a pretty amazing story to tell about the theories of the battery. According to Gary Sterne, the owner and the man who discovered the Maisy Battery, this battery complex should have had first priority instead of the assault on Pointe Du Hoc, considering the many casualties when the 2nd Ranger Battalion finally reached the top and discovered there were no guns. Sterne believes that the reason the bunker site has been buried for more than 60 years was to cover up the very mistake of Du Hoc so that no one would ever find out that at the Maisy Battery the real assault should have taken place. Instead of me giving a long summary this article covers it all: TheHistoryNet \| World War II \| Does Pointe du Hoc Still Matter? What do you think? Was the courageous and bloody climbing by the rangers really nessesary? __________________ Good night, then - sleep to gather strength for the morning. For the morning will come. Brightly will it shine on the brave and true, kindly on all who suffer for the cause, glorious upon the tombs of heroes. Thus will shine the dawn.

20-08-2007, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kyt Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,105	Hindsight is a wonderful thing. However there are two things that should be pointed out: 1) the perceived threat from the guns on the Hoc was severe enough that a major operation was planned and carried out 2) the Maisy battery was obviously not as important because it did not inflict any major damage to the landings. __________________ _______________________________________ Squadron Leader Pujji - Audio Interviews (half way down the page)

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