Order of battle for Operation Epsom facts for kids

Operation Epsom was a major battle during World War II in Normandy, France. It took place from June 26 to June 30, 1944. This article explains which military groups, called an "order of battle", fought in this important clash between British and German forces. Knowing the order of battle helps us understand how armies were organized and what equipment they used.

Operation Epsom: Who Fought?

Operation Epsom was a key part of the larger Battle for Caen. The British wanted to capture the city of Caen, which was important for controlling the area. The German army fought hard to stop them. This section lists the main military groups and their leaders on both sides.

The British Army's Plan

The British forces were led by Second Army under Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey. The main fighting force for Operation Epsom was the VIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Richard O'Connor.

British Corps and Divisions

The VIII Corps had several important groups attached to it for this battle:

• Corps Troops: These were special units that helped the main fighting forces. They included anti-tank guns (to stop enemy tanks) and anti-aircraft guns (to shoot down enemy planes).
• 8th Army Group Royal Artillery: This was a large artillery group with powerful guns. They had 16 large 5.5-inch guns, 16 huge 7.2-inch howitzers, and 24 heavy anti-aircraft guns. These were used to shell enemy positions from a distance.

Main British Divisions

The British army used several strong divisions in Operation Epsom. A division is a very large military unit, usually with many thousands of soldiers and different types of equipment.

• 11th Armoured Division: Led by Major-General George Roberts. This division was packed with tanks like the Cromwell and M5 Stuart. It also had special units for reconnaissance (scouting ahead), anti-tank defense, and engineers (who built bridges and cleared obstacles).
  • 4th Armoured Brigade: This brigade, led by Brigadier J.C. Currie, was attached to the 11th Armoured Division. It had many Sherman II, Sherman Vc "Firefly", and M5 Stuart tanks. They also had Sexton self-propelled 25-pounder guns for quick artillery support.
  • 29th Armoured Brigade: Led by Brigadier C.B.C. Harvey, this brigade also had Sherman tanks (Sherman V, Sherman Vc) and M5 Stuarts. They were supported by 13th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery with Sexton guns.
  • 159th Infantry Brigade: Commanded by Brigadier J.G. Sandie, this infantry (foot soldier) brigade had several battalions. They used 25-Pounder field guns and special Churchill AVRE tanks with scissors bridges for crossing gaps.

• 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division: Led by Major-General G.H. MacMillan. This division was known for its Scottish regiments.
  • Divisional Troops: Included reconnaissance units with Humber Light Reconnaissance Cars and Humber armoured cars. They also had machine gun battalions with Vickers machine guns and 4.2-inch mortars.
  • 44th (Lowland) Infantry Brigade: Commanded by Brigadier H.D.K. Money. This brigade had several Scottish infantry battalions and was supported by Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tanks and 25-Pounder field guns.
  • 46th (Highland) Infantry Brigade: Led by Brigadier C.M. Barber. This brigade also had Scottish infantry units, supported by Cromwell tanks and Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tanks.
  • 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade: Commanded by Brigadier J.R. Mackintosh-Walker. This brigade had more Scottish infantry battalions, machine guns, and 25-Pounder field guns.

• 31st Independent Tank Brigade: Led by Brigadier G.S. Knight, this brigade was attached for Operation Epsom. It mainly used Churchill tanks. They also had special Sherman Crab flail tanks, which were designed to clear mines.

• 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division: Led by Major-General Ivor Thomas.
  • Divisional Troops: Included reconnaissance units and machine gun battalions with Vickers machine guns and 4.2-inch mortars.
  • 129th Infantry Brigade: Commanded by Brigadier G.H.L. Luce. This brigade had several infantry battalions and 25-Pounder field guns.
  • 130th Infantry Brigade: Led by Brigadier N.D. Leslie. This brigade also had infantry battalions and 25-Pounder field guns.
  • 214th Infantry Brigade: Commanded by Brigadier H. Essame. This brigade also consisted of infantry battalions and 25-Pounder field guns.

• 32nd (Guards) Infantry Brigade: Led by Brigadier G.F. Johnson. This was one of the first major units from the Guards Armoured Division to arrive in Normandy. It joined Operation Epsom on June 28. It included famous units like the Welsh Guards, Irish Guards, and Coldstream Guards.

Germany's Defenses

The German forces were part of the Seventh Army and Panzer Group West. These were led by General Friedrich Dollmann and later by General der Panzertruppe Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg.

German Corps and Divisions

The main German fighting force was the I SS Panzer Corps, led by SS-Obergruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. "Panzer" means "armour" in German, so these were armoured units with tanks.

• Corps Troops: Included the Heavy SS Panzer Battalion 101 with powerful tanks, and various artillery battalions.

Main German Divisions

The German army used several strong Panzer (armoured) divisions to defend against the British attack.

• 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend: Led by SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer. This division was known for being made up of young soldiers. It had its own Panzer (tank) regiment, Panzergrenadier (motorized infantry) regiments, artillery, reconnaissance, anti-tank, and anti-aircraft units.
• 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler: Led by SS-Obersturmbannführer Albert Frey. Only parts of this division, called a "battlegroup Frey", were involved.
• 21st Panzer Division: Led by Generalmajor Edgar Feuchtinger. Only one battlegroup from this division fought in Epsom.
• Panzer-Lehr-Division: Led by Generalleutnant Fritz Bayerlein. Elements (parts) of this elite Panzer division were also present.
• 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich: Led by SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger. A battlegroup from this division, called "Battlegroup Weidinger", was involved.

Other German Forces

• II SS Panzer Corps: Led by SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser and later SS-Obergruppenführer Willi Bittrich. This corps included two more strong Panzer divisions:
  • 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen: Led by SS-Standartenführer Thomas Müller. This was a full Panzer division with tanks, infantry, artillery, and support units.
  • 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg: Led by SS-Oberführer Heinz Harmel. Another full Panzer division with tanks, infantry, artillery, and support units.
• III Anti-Aircraft Corps: Led by General der Flakartillerie Wolfgang Pickert. This corps had anti-aircraft guns, including powerful 88mm guns, which could also be used against tanks.
• XLVII Panzer Corps: Only elements (parts) of the 2nd Panzer Division from this corps were involved, mainly a tank battalion.

See also

• List of orders of battle