Came across this essay about certain myths that are perpetuated about the battle of Kursk. What caught my eye about this is his assertion that Prokhorovka was not the "greatest Tank Battle in History" but that the accolade goes to the German-French Battle at Gembloux on May 15-16 1940! Whatever your opinion its certainly an interesting viewpoint: The Battle of Kursk
I read that awhile back. I didn't look up the orbats for Gembloux. Myth #2: The battle at Prokhorovka was the largest tank battle in history. ....So, contrary to the popular claims of "thousands" of tanks fighting it out in front of Prokhorovka, we have about 517, of which 455 were actually "tanks"..... .... Given these numbers, it is not likely that the battle at Prokhorovka was the "largest tank battle in history". In fact, it is smaller than a battle that took place between the French and the Germans in 1940. In front of Gembloux on May 14-15, two full-strength Panzer divisions (each with about 300 tanks) squared off with two full-strength French Light Mechanized Divisions (each with about 260 tanks).
Interesting stuff. I have never been over to the Gembloux Gap; wonder if there are any memorials there?
As per Monterfiore's Book "Dunkirk" there was some pretty heavy fighting at Gembloux but I had no idea it was so big
Have you noticed that Gerard started a thread about his beloved OstFront and we've already turned it into a 1940 Battle Of France thread.
Well done guys The other thing that this illustrates is thee need for revision, yes I know some hate the word, but it is needed. It reminds me of a lecture by Terry Copp while I was at uni. He stated that while we may think that a lot has been written on the Second World War the reality is that we have only scratched the surface. Also he noted that what was written is in need of dire re-visting as much of it was written before the release of documents. This piece is a good example of that need. Ross
Have you noticed that Gerard started a thread about his beloved OstFront and we've already turned it into a 1940 Battle Of France thread. Foiled again!!! Lads its all good. But lets see if I can hijack a France 1940 thread and make it a "Great Patriotic War" thread!!!
Interesting stuff. I have never been over to the Gembloux Gap; wonder if there are any memorials there? It looks as if I shall have to turn this back to a Gembloux thread. Having been to Heverlee today to photograph the cemetery there, I meandered down the Dyle to see where 1 RWF dug in near Waver and then headed back through Gembloux. I skidded to a halt by this rather serious piece of French memorial architecture at Jandrain. In the village itself, there is a small museum in one room of the local school with a post-war (isn't it ?) tank turret outside. I also passed a sign to another museum closer to Gembloux but saw it to late. I've rather got the bug for this confrontation now but there is a lot to read up on. If anyone else intends to have a scout around there, give me a shout as I'm only about an hour away.
Rich, The turret is from a French Panhard Armoured car. Cheers Tom, I am 100% clueless on post-war French armour.
Very interesting information on Gembloux-Hannut here. THE BATTLE OF GEMBLOUX (14th - 15th May 1940) The allied Dyle-Breda plan is to stop the German offensive in Belgium and the Netherlands with the French 1st and 7th armies and the BEF, using the Ardennes and the Sedan area as a hinge on their right flank. The 3 French DLMs (Division Légère Mécanique = Light Mechanized Division) have to delay the German troops of Armee Gruppe B (including 3.PzD, 4.PzD in Belgium and 9.PzD in the Netherlands). Their task is to establish contact with the Belgian and Dutch armies and to cover the allied infantry deployment. ....
