Battle of Caen in World War II

Battle of Caen in World War II The Battle of Caen was fought from June 6, to July 20, 1944, during World War II (1939-1945). Situated on the Orne River approximately nine miles from the Normandy coast, the city of Caen was a key road and rail hub in the region. The city was identified by the Allies as an early goal for troops coming ashore during the D-Day invasion. Rather than quickly falling, the struggle for Caen became a bloody, grinding affair that lasted for seven weeks due to intense German resistance. While a costly struggle, the fighting around Caen pinned down German troops which facilitated Operation Cobra in late July. This saw the Allies breakout of the beachhead and move to encircle German forces in Normandy. Background Located in Normandy, Caen was identified early on by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Allied planners as a main objective for the D-Day invasion. This was largely due to the citys key position along the Orne River and Caen Canal as well as its role as a major road hub within the region. As a result, the capture of Caen would greatly inhibit the ability of German forces to respond quickly to Allied operations once ashore. Planners also felt that the relatively open terrain around the city would provide an easier line of advance inland as opposed to the more difficult bocage (hedgerow) country to the west. Given the favorable terrain, the Allies also intended to establish several airfields around the city. The capture of Caen was assigned to Major General Tom Rennies British 3rd Infantry Division which would be assisted by Major General Richard N. Gales British 6th Airborne Division and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. In the final plans for Operation Overlord, Allied leaders intended for Kellers men to take Caen shortly after coming ashore on D-Day. This would require an advance of approximately 7.5 miles from beach. D-Day Landing during the night of June 6, the airborne forces captured key bridges and artillery positions to the east of Caen along the Orne River and at Merville. These efforts effectively blocked the enemys ability to mount a counterattack against the beaches from the east. Storming ashore on Sword Beach around 7:30 AM, the 3rd Infantry Division initially encountered stiff resistance. Following the arrival of supporting armor, Rennies men were able to secure the exits from the beach and commenced pushing inland around 9:30 AM. Their advance was soon stopped by a determined defense mounted by 21st Panzer Division. Blocking the road to Caen, the Germans were able to halt Allied forces and the city remained in their hands as night fell. As a result, the Allied ground commander, General Bernard Montgomery, elected to meet with the commanders of the US First Army and British Second Army, Lieutenant Generals Omar Bradley and Miles Dempsey, to develop a new plan for taking the city. Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey (right) with the 21st Army Group commander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery (center), and U.S. First Army commander, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley (left), 10 June 1944. Public Domain Fast Facts: Battle of Caen Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)Dates: June 6, to July 20, 1944Armies Commanders:AlliesGeneral Bernard MontgomeryLieutenant General Miles Dempsey14 divisions, 8 armored/tank brigadesAxisField Marshal Erwin RommelField Marshal Gà ¼nther von Kluge15 divisions, 3 heavy tank battalions Operation Perch Originally conceived as a plan for breaking out of the beachhead to the southeast of Caen, Operation Perch was quickly altered by Montgomery into a pincer attack for taking the city. This called for I Corps 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and the 4th Armoured Brigade to cross the Orne River in the east and attack towards Cagny. In the west, XXX Corps would cross the Odon River, then swing east towards Evrecy. This offensive moved forward on June 9 as elements of XXX Corps began battling for Tilly-sur-Seulles which was held by the Panzer Lehr Division and elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Due to delays, I Corps did not begin their advance until June 12. Meeting heavy resistance from the 21st Panzer Division, these efforts were halted the next day. As I Corps rolled forward, the situation in the west changed when German forces, having been under heavy attack from the US 1st Infantry Division on XXX Corps right began falling back. Seeing an opportunity, Dempsey directed the 7th Armoured Division to exploit the gap and advance to Villers-Bocage before turning east to assault the left flank of the Panzer Lehr Division. Reaching the village on July 13, British forces were checked in heavy fighting. Feeling that the division was becoming overextended, Dempsey pulled it back with the goal of reinforcing it and renewing the offensive. This failed to occur when a severe storm hit the area and damaged supply operations on the beaches (Map). Operation Epsom In an effort to regain the initiative, Dempsey commenced Operation Epsom on June 26. Using Lieutenant General Sir Richard OConnors newly-arrived VIII Corps, the plan called for a thrust over the Odon River to capture high ground south of Caen near Bretteville-sur-Laize. A secondary operation, dubbed Martlet, was launched on June 25 to secure heights along VIII Corps right flank. Assisted by supporting operations at other points along the line, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division, aided by armor from the 31st Tank Brigade, spearheaded the Epsom attack the next day. An ammunition lorry of 11th Armoured Division explodes after being hit by mortar fire during Operation Epsom, June 1944. Public Domain Making good progress, it crossed the river, pushed through the German lines and began expanding its position. Joined by the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, the 15th became engaged in heavy fighting and repulsed several major German counterattacks. The severity of the German efforts led to Dempsey pulling his some of his troops back across the Odon by June 30. Though a tactical failure for the Allies, Epsom altered the balance of forces in the region in their favor. While Dempsey and Montgomery were able to maintain a force of reserves, their opponent, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, was compelled to utilize his entire force to hold the front lines. Following Epsom, the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division mounted Operation Windsor on July 4. This called for an attack on Carpiquet and its adjacent airfield which were located west of Caen. The Canadian effort was further supported by a variety of specialist armor, 21 artillery regiments, naval gunfire support from HMS Rodney, as well as two squadrons of Hawker Typhoons. Moving forward, the Canadians, aided by the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, succeeded in capturing the village but were unable to secure the airfield. The next day, they turned back German efforts to reclaim Carpiquet. Operation Charnwood Increasingly frustrated with the situation around Caen, Montgomery directed that a major offensive be mounted to frontally assault the city. Though Caens strategic significance had lessened, he particularly desired to secure Verrià ¨res and Bourguà ©bus ridges to the south. Dubbed Operation Charnwood, the key objectives of the assault were to clear the city south to the Orne and secure bridges over the river. To accomplish the latter, an armored column was assembled with orders to rush through Caen to capture the crossings. The attack moved forward on July 8 and was heavily supported by bombers and naval gunfire. Led by I Corps, three infantry divisions (3rd, 59th, and 3rd Canadian), supported by armor, pushed forward. To the west, the Canadians renewed their efforts against Carpiquet airfield. Grinding ahead, British forces reached the outskirts of Caen that evening. Concerned about the situation, the Germans began withdrawing their heavy equipment across the Orne and prepared to defend the river crossings in the city. The next morning, British and Canadian patrols began penetrating the city proper while other forces finally occupied Carpiquet airfield after the 12th SS Panzer Division withdrew. As the day progressed British and Canadian troops united and drove the Germans from the northern part of Caen. Occupying the riverbank, Allied troops halted as they lacked the strength to contest the river crossings. In addition, it was deemed inadvisable to continue as the Germans held the ground flanking the southern part of the city. As Charnwood concluded, OConnor launched Operation Jupiter on July 10. Striking south, he sought to capture the key heights of Hill 112. Though this objective was not gained after two days of fighting, his men secured several villages in the area and prevented the 9th SS Panzer Division from being withdrawn as a reserve force. Operation Goodwood As Operation Jupiter was moving forward, Montgomery again met with Bradley and Dempsey to assess the overall situation. At this gathering, Bradley proposed the plan for Operation Cobra which called for a major breakout from the American sector on July 18. Montgomery approved this plan and Dempsey was tasked with mounting an operation to pin German forces in place around Caen and possibly achieve a breakout in the east. A A Canadian soldier moves through Caen, 1944. Public Domain Dubbed Operation Goodwood, this called for a major offensive by British forces east of the city. Goodwood was to be supported by the Canadian-led Operation Atlantic which was designed to capture the southern part of Caen. With planning completed, Montgomery hoped to begin Goodwood on July 18 and Cobra two days later. Spearheaded by OConnors VIII Corps, Goodwood commenced following heavy Allied air attacks. Slowed somewhat by natural obstacles and German minefields, OConnor was tasked with capturing Bourguà ©bus Ridge as well as the area between Bretteville-sur-Laize and Vimont. Driving forward, British forces, heavily supported by armor, were able to advance seven miles but failed to take the ridge. The fighting saw frequent clashes between British Churchill and Sherman tanks and their German Panther and Tiger counterparts. Advancing to the east, Canadian forces succeeded in liberating the remainder of Caen, however subsequent assaults against Verrià ¨res Ridge were repulsed. Aftermath Though originally a D-Day objective, it took Allied forces around seven weeks to finally liberate the city. Due to the ferocity of the fighting, much of Caen was destroyed and had to be rebuilt after the war. Though Operation Goodwood failed to achieve a breakout, it did hold German forces in place for Operation Cobra. Delayed until July 25, Cobra saw American forces knock a gap in the German lines and reach open country to the south. Pivoting east, they moved to encircle German forces in Normandy as Dempsey mounted a new advance with the goal of trapping the enemy around Falaise. Beginning on August 14, Allied forces sought to close the Falaise Pocket and destroy the German Army in France. Though nearly 100,000 Germans escaped the pocket before it was closed on August 22, around 50,000 were captured and 10,000 killed. Having won the Battle of Normandy, Allied forces advanced freely to the Seine River reaching it on August 25.

Khan Surname Origin and Meaning

Khan Surname Origin and Meaning Meaning Origin The ancient surname Khan is a contracted form of Khagan, from the Turkish khan meaning chief or ruler. It was originally a hereditary title born by early Mongol leaders, such as the legendary Genghis Khan, but is now widely used as a surname throughout the Muslim world. Khan is an especially common surname in South Asian Muslim families, and is also one of the most common surnames in Pakistan. Surname Origin: Muslim Alternate Surname Spellings: KHANH, KAN, KAUN, CAEN, CAAN, CEANN, XAN (Chinese), HAN (Turkish) Genealogy Resources Common Surname Search Tips Tips and tricks for researching your KHAN ancestors online. KHAN Family Genealogy ForumFree message board is focused on descendants of Khan ancestors around the world. FamilySearch - KHAN GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Khan surname.

Democratic Republic of Congo & M23 Research Paper

Democratic Republic of Congo & M23 - Research Paper Example Africa somehow always has some bad stories for the international world. The continent has been extensively influenced by corruption and mass killings. African growth and development experienced significant decline ever since 1950s when decolonization actually began (Meredith, 2006). Recent violence attacks, improper use of national resources and massive violation of rules and laws done by the M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo are examples of misery and corruption in Africa. However, the query is that how the country has reached to such a devastating state while on the other hand is it now able to maintain peace after the defeat of M23. In order to understand this situation it is important to first discuss the formation of rebellion organization M23. Congolese government signed a peace agreement with the rebels in country on 23rd March 2009 when initially they were recognized as the members of (CNDP) the National Congress for the defense of the People (Q&A: Who are DR Congos M23 rebels?, 2013). But later on they were named as M23 on the basis of the violation of peace agreement. Research indicates that these rebels are actually associated with an ethnic group called Tutsi which has its very close affiliations in the neighboring country Rwanda. Members of M23 started their activities in April 2012. These particularly involved huge crimes against humanity and the Congolese law, for instance, rape, summary executions and child recruitment. On the other side rebels justified their acts on the basis of the fact that they were not satisfied with their pays and the miserable conditions they were supposed to face in Congolese army. But the government officials argue that the real rebellion arose when Ntaganda was arrested and later he w as handed over to ICC (Q&A: Who are DR Congos M23 rebels?, 2013). Here, it is important to notice that M23 is only a ragtag army whereas the distance

Top management do not really have control over strategic direction to Essay

Top management do not really have control over strategic direction to the extent that the design lens suggests. Critically discuss - Essay Example As Michael Porter (1972) opines that core of general management is strategy which he elaborates as: "-------developing and communicating the company's unique position, making trade offs, and forging fit among activities". Strategic position is based on customers' needs, customers' accessibility or the variety of a company's products and services. The definitions of strategy, varied in nature, depth and coverage, offer us a glimpse of the complexity involved in understanding this daunting, yet interesting and challenging concept. For many companies and most of the time, a single strategy is not only inadequate but also inappropriate. The need is for multiple strategies at different levels. Segregated units, known as profit centers for strategic business units (SBU). A complementary concept to the SBU, valid for the external environment of a company, is a strategic business area (SBA). There are various levels such as organizational and strategic levels. Corporate level strategy is ove rreaching plan of action covering the various function performed by different SBU'S. Apart from these levels, occasionally companies plan at some other levels and often set strategies at a level higher than the corporate level. These are called societal strategies. Corporate and Business level strategies derive their rationale from the societal strategy. Societal strategies are manifest in the form of vision and mission statement, while functional and operational strategies take the shape of functional and operational implementation, respectively. Role of top management: Now to implement strategies at various levels various level managers have to do the conscious decision-making. Decision-making is the most important function of any manager. Strategic decision making is the prominent task of the top management. The difference lies in the levels at which they operate. While decision-making pertains to all managerial functions, strategic decision making largely relates to the responsibilities of the Top management. Strategic tasks are by their very nature complex and varied. Decision-making in performing strategic tasks is, therefore, an extremely difficult, complicated and at times, intriguing and enigmatic process. In the process of strategic management the basic thrust of strategic decision-making is to make a choice regarding the courses of action to adopt. The fundamental strategic decision relates to the choice of a mission. With regard to objective setting, the top management is faced with alternatives regarding the diffe rent yardstick to measure performance. Finally, at the level of choosing a strategy, the top management chooses from among a number of strategic alternatives in order to adopt one specific course of action, which would make the company achieve its objectives and realize its mission. Apart from the fundamental decisional choice, as pointed above, there are numerous occasions when the top management has to make important strategic decisions. Environmental threats and opportunities are abundant; that the top management focuses its attention only a few of those. Likewise, there are many company strengths and weaknesses; the top management considers only a limited member at any given time. With regard to resource

The Jamaican Hero Essay -- Biography, Bob Marley

He is an iconic figure and an inspiration to millions of people around the world. His name is Bob Marley. Marley had a profound impact on the world’s culture that still has a lasting impression today. His music inspired people everywhere to maintain a sense of calmness, and enticed the Jamaican people to keep peace during the country’s tough political and economic times. Marley also inspired many of the future reggae musicians, and his legacy still stands to this day. His songs become well-known for its messages of universal love and Biblical prophecies, and inspired people across the world to spread the message of peace and harmony. Bob Marley was a charismatic leader, who used the power of music and his religion to influence and change his country and eventually the world. He had a lasting impact on the world that still exists today. No doubt, â€Å"One of the most important and charismatic champions of human freedoms in the 1970s, Marley emerged from humble beginnings and an early life of austere poverty in Jamaica to bring reggae music to international popularity† (King 4). Marley suffered from a very tough childhood, as the country he was born and raised in was in political and economic torment at the time, and suffered from the harsh rule of Great Britain. Marley’s mixed ancestry embodied his homelands tormented colonial past. Until 1962, the country of Jamaica had been ruled by Great Britain, whose original founders had driven the Spanish from the island in 1655 (Dolan 19-20). Marley grew up in these harsh conditions, but he managed to get through them. â€Å"Marley possessed qualities that seemed to help him through the harsh conditions. Very small, and generally soft-spoken, he managed to exude an aura that deterred people from m... ...to unite a nation in tough, impoverished times, in an attempt to unite the unstable nation of Jamaica, and later, future countries that endured the same economic, political, and social difficulties. Marley helped a troubled nation bind together during tough political times, simply with the power of music and his religion of Rastafarianism. He brought the issues to light, where other countries and people could observe the troubles of this little island country called Jamaica. Marley was raised in a very unforgiving country, and in a way, raised himself. With little money and family help, with friends, and with the message of love and peace, Marley rose above all these troubles to eventually become a legend that cannot be duplicated. Bob Marley is the definition of charismatic, and his impact on the world during and after his life will not ever be reproduced again.

In Partial Fulfillment in Principles of Management Essay

Summary: Mr. Oscar Pascua has a construction business; he hired his niece Ofelia to help him manage the construction firm. He assigned Ofelia to do the administrative work. Ofelia enjoyed her work doing various tasks she ordered to perform, positive interactions with employees kept Ofelia busy and contented with her work. Milagros, Mr. Pascua’s sister has an entertainment business. She noticed and saw Ofelia’s work and got interested of borrowing Ofelia for a while. Obviously, Milagros wanted the administrative aspects of her business straightened out. Ofelia was only too glad to join her aunt Milagros. She taught that she could give herself a break from the construction firm. When Ofelia began to work with her aunt, she found out that there are many things she should attend to. For instance, employee records are not complete, and company policies and procedures are not well documented. It is difficult to determine employees’ performance. Ofelia distributed the required forms to the employees and the talents who are undergoing training, she noticed that they are not eager to accomplish them. One day a janitor approached her and asked if she would dispose the contents of the wastebaskets even if the forms she distributed are in them. Ofelia tried to contain her anger. After a while she regained and asked her self, â€Å"What kind of people are the? I wish I’m back at my former job†. Questions: 1. Do you think the situation is hopeless for Ofelia? 2. What will be your advice to her? Statement of the Problem: Ofelia thought that in the entertainment business is a less difficult than her former job; she didn’t make a brief research in the entertainment business. She accepted it without any hesitations, unluckily her present job was worse than she can ever thought. Answer: 1. The situation of Ofelia is a bit hopeless but she can still manage it. 2. I will advise Ofelia to go back to her former job at the construction firm because she’s more productive in working with his uncle. She could just tell her aunt to hire a new administrator, a more experienced administrator in entertainment business. Conclusion: We therefore conclude that Ofelia must know how to cooperate with different level people especially in entertainment business; she must have more patience and a different level of interaction to those people or employees. If she doesn’t want the job she can resign and go back to her former job at Mr. Pascua, Ofelia is hardworking person and she’s confident and she enjoys her work, but when you’re not into the kind of a thing job you must not accept it if you do not have a proper training and seminars. Before you get a job you must know first how it will be, what kind, and who are the people or employees you’re going to work with. Sometimes it is better to know the situation first before entering.

The Mediation Of Divorce Cases - 2120 Words

Mediation in divorce cases The court system is an unpleasant means of dispute resolution when it comes to divorce cases given the fact that children and property are usually involved. The stressful nature of the court is often traumatising for the parties involved. So, why bother go to court about who keeps the children or who gets the properties when this could easily be resolved with private mediation. This essay therefore focuses on the ways in which disputes in the family such as divorce cases can be resolved through the means of mediation, which is a type of alternative dispute resolution - resolving disputes without going to the court. The first section of this essay would give a brief overview of divorce.The second section would give detailed information of how mediation is used in divorce cases; focusing on its advantages and some disadvantages in terms of cost, communication, time and privacy. To conclude the essay, a brief summary of the topic would be given. 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