Falaise. Blood soaked Falaise

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by sapper, Jan 25, 2007.

  1. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I do not know if I posted this before? It is my memory of the carnage of Falaise. I can still recall the stench of death Will never forget it.

    Falaise. Blood soaked Falaise.
    Carnage! Bloody carnage.
    For here is war at it's most evil, this is where all the press reports and tales of courage in war, are stripped naked of any kind of veneer of patriotism, or humanity. For this was the real horror of war, and at its bloodiest. Destruction, utter and complete destruction, it is very hard to describe the scene in words.

    The roads blocked with dead horses still harnessed to the carts they were pulling, in grotesque positions where they, in their panic, had charged about on broken legs pulling their wagons, swollen with feet stuck up in the air.

    German soldiers dead, sometimes one on top of the other, further on, groups of German dead lying in twisted and grotesque positions. Tanks that finished tilted in crazy angles against the side of buildings, mobile guns and armoured troop carriers destroyed. Artillery twisted and abandoned. The whole paraphernalia of war turned into a massive mangled mess and covered with Normandy dust. Some soldiers burned as their vehicles caught fire.

    Religious statues destroyed, one very poignant sight was that of a life size statue of Christ with his hands spread wide in supplication. But, with both hands blow off. This went on for miles as we chased the fleeing Enemy towards the hell that awaited them at the neck of the Falaise gap.

    The Germans used any method to try and escape, in some areas it was not possible to cross the road for German dead.
    The mighty Tiger tanks blown to smithereens and scattered in every direction. Wall to wall death, smashed houses and buildings with the roads between with so many dead it was difficult to walk, men half out of tanks and cars, burned alive before they could get out, blackened figures fixed in the position of trying to get out their vehicles, some even had their hand on the car door handles and fixed in that position as the flames overtook them.

    The stench of death hung over everything like a sickening pall, the sun had already begun to cause early decay. An inferno beyond comprehension! Covering everything was a thick layer of grey dust, almost as though the scene had been sprayed with grey emulsion.

    I remember very clearly, a young dead German sat on the road with his back to a grassy bank, just as though he was taking a rest and a short sleep, feet spread, hands in lap, head on chest covered in this thick grey dust, he looked as though he, and his uniform were fashioned from grey clay.

    But, his sleep would last for all eternity. All this, as a complete German army had been caught in the terrible trap of the Falaise pocket. As the noose closed round the top of the bag, the way out narrowed.

    The German army desperate to escape streamed through the neck of the bag, only to be fired on by our guns over "open sights" Sometimes at point blank range. Meanwhile the rocket firing Typhoons had a turkey shoot, the Enemy was subjected to continuous air attack with no help or protection, and caught in the open, the carnage was complete. For me personally, there was no satisfaction, "There but for the grace of God go I" Carnage on this scale was something we had not expected. I do not wish to see anything like that again.
    Sapper




    I just wonder what the younger generation think of my posting about Falaise?
    Could you deal with it?
    Have you changed your minds about Monty as an utterly ruthless general?
    Do you thing you could live with the constant stench of death around?
    Do you have views on death on this scale?
    Could you walk over the dead bodies?
    How do you feel about these slaughtered horses and young men?
    Would you like to have been there. All that death and the stench?
    Anyone really want to experience it?
    Would you remember it clearly 62 years on?
    Sapper
     
    Glenn68 likes this.
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Brian,
    Brillaint description.
    The grey dust is something I've not read before.
    The smell is something only you Veterans can comment on.
    A Great War Veteran I knew used to mention the smell alot.
    Would I want to experience it?
    Not really, but if I had to go I would.
     
  3. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

    From an earlier post..
    The Falaise Gap

    After Normandy and Caen, the 6th LAA Battery was off again at the beginning of August 1944, covering The Falaise Gap.

    Montgomery had repeated the strategy of the protracted operation. The British 2nd Army fought their way out of Caen and attacked the German defences to the north of Falaise. Again the Germans committed their reserves to the defence of Falaise. This allowed the American Army to break out from the west and capture Brittany. Montgomery then tasked them to close in on the south east of the Falaise Pocket in order to trap the German army.

    This manoeuvre was not completed in time due to the unexplained intervention of Eisenhower. He was responsible for ordering Bradley to halt just before completion of the manoeuvre.

    By the time this order was reversed over 40,000 German troops were allowed to escape and retreat towards Germany.

    I have since found the theory that Bradley had suffered horrific losses on the beach head at Normandy in June.
    He delayed the American advance until they were more consolidated and capable of to protecting themselves. When this was achieved, the Gap was closed and the slaughter started.

    I have listened to other veterans describing this charnel house experience, they compared it to the sights and smells of Belsen.
     
  4. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Excllent post Brian!!! Having worked in the Casualty Dept of a Hospital I have seen things that are not very nice so whilst I'm sure that I wouldnt be happy with being there I think that eventually I would harden myself to the task.

    As to whether my opinion of Monty has changed absolutely not.
     
  5. Gnomey

    Gnomey World Travelling Doctor

    Excellent post Brian. Really brings home the horror of the war and in particular the battles around Falaise.
     
  6. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    So what was wrong with Monty? The troops thought he was the best and he proved it.
    Sapper
     
  7. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

    Hindsight is great if you want to be a critic. Monty had some faults but overall, the troops loved him.

    Attached is a letter from Monty in response to a letter from Major Gage of 6LAA Battery. Major Gage asked for an audience with Monty and he obliged.

    During the Battle of Alamein three Bofors from the Battery had provided Monty and his HQ with close protection.

    This correspondence and eventual meeting expresses the affection the gunners had for Monty, 22 years after the war ended.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. Kyt

    Kyt Very Senior Member

    Another term for hindsight is 'historical perspective' - an historical critique isn't necessarily critical.

    Being loved by one's troops may make for a great leader but doesn't always make one a great general.
     
  9. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Monty was the victim of a great deal of mud slinging from those comfortably siiting in their warm armchairs back in the Uk. many USA Authors have indulged in Monty bashing. For no other reason than to make extra money from the publications. Truth has very little to do when books are published,
    I challenge anyone to show Monty's wrong doings or failures.

    He was a truly great tactitian and a ruthless war maker.
    Any one that sells Monty down is either ill informed, or plain daft.
    Seriously! All that mud slinging from the states has been repeated time and time again, each author quoting previous publications, without ever looking to see what they were prining had any basis of truth.
    Sapper
     
  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Great stuff on Falaise sapper.
    Thanks for that.

    I've never had any problem with Monty, I don't think I'd want to know him on the personal side, more than a little hard to get along with I fear and his demeanour surely contributed to the mud-slinging over the years. This doesn't stop me seeing him as an excellent Leader & planner from start to finish. What was achieved with a nation that had been stretched to the absolute limit of it's finances, manpower and tether truly does not deserve the bashing it often seems to get.
    Cheers,
    Adam.
     
  11. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Thank you for that Brian. I wouldn't want to be there, but war is never nice and you eventually harden to it. You have my greatest admiration for coming out of it.
     
  12. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    He was the most ruthless of all. Shape up or out. Yet the men knew that he would not waste mens lives ona useless foray.
    Sapper
     
  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Monty made the 3rd Div one of the best when in command in 1940.
    Yes he was a prickly customer and upset people, Alanbrooke used to sort him out quite often.
    An enlightened chap too, remember he was censured for the issue of condoms in 3rd Div in 39/40. Good house keeping, keep the troops happy but clean and healthy.
     
  14. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    So Monty was an utter swine. That's what was needed and he looked after his boys. The best type of commander.
     
  15. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    The media never liked him that much. and we all know what happens in that case. To his men he was great... to any officer that did not meet his exacting standards ? OUT. What was known as "Bowler Hatted" We saw him several times, being I served in his old div, he would always come and award medals in the field. And was known to drop by to talk to our Divi commander.
    Sapper
     
  16. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    I dont believe that Monty was a bad General, indeed he was very aware that Britain could not waste lives. I do believe that he was overrated and that he was egotistical. Again I'm not dissing his record in the field. It didnt matter whether or not you were ship shape or not, if Monty couldnt get on with you, and with some he couldnt, you were got rid of. His antics after the "Battle of the Bulge" by announcing that he was virtually the saviour even though he had very little input showed how pompous he could be.

    I would agree that he was absolutely meticulous in his preparations before a battle were excellent but I wouldnt describe him as a great general, a good one though.
     
  17. drgslyr

    drgslyr Senior Member

    The bashing of wartime leaders is a phenomenon common to any person who gets a lot of historical attention. The more famous and admired they become, the more detractors they tend to attract.

    The negative critisizms of these leaders has little to do with their competence. Most of them were good leaders with more strengths than weaknesses. The problem with men like Monty and Rommel is that their leadership qualities are sometimes so blown out of proportion to their actual combat record that it fosters a resentment in others who feel the level of admiration they receive by some is unwarranted, which is undoubtedly true to some extent.

    It seems to me that circumstance plays a bigger role in the notoriety of the most famous of the wartime leaders than any quality that is far superior to many others who never achieved fame simply because they never found themselves in a position that would cause them to stand out.

    Oh, and sapper, great stuff! For me there is nothing better than first hand accounts. The younger generation would respond to those circumstances the same as the older generation. Not many people would want to go through that type of experience (I wouldn't want to meet the person who does), but when someone has no choice in the matter they can put up with more than they themselves think possible. It was true then, and it would be true today.
     
  18. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Great description of the gap sapper. Like others have said, I wouldn't like to be in the war, I'd probably end up getting shot or blown up maybe. But that wouldn't stop me going if we were called up like in ww2. However, in this day I wouldn't imagine that ever happening.

    Marcus
     
  19. MyOldDad

    MyOldDad Senior Member

    Brian,
    Thank you once again for sharing your haunting memories with us. You have painted a very vivid picture of the hell that Falaise surely was.
    Tom.
     
  20. blacksnake

    blacksnake As old as I feel.

    Brian... Only half an hour ago I reached the chapter in the book I'm reading (Courage in the Skies, the History of Aerial Combat) concerning the Falaise Pocket. It's written from the view point of the Commanders and their objectives (Army & Air-force) and that of the Spitfire and Typhoon pilots. I have to say, after just reading your very poignant account of the same event that the difference in perspectives is astounding. Without wishing to take anything away from our courageous young Airmen, I can't help but feel that they where at least afforded the luxury of 'detachment' from the carnage caused on the ground.

    As ever, thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
     
    Glenn68 likes this.

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