(4/11) Battlefield II The Battle for Caen World War II

[danvalenti]

They were called allies for a reason... The Americans could not have done it alone (neither could the Brits and Canucks). Historians look at the casualties and slant their story accordingly; American casualties ETO aprox 200k Canadians 30k and Brits and commonwealth 270k

[108Dax]

wonder why the french town names are so long? half of the letters in the names seem to be silent.

[NobleKorhedron]

€10 says the guy he mentions at the end is Michael Wittman!! :-P

[thefreeflowification]

I wonder where that Canadian professionalism comes from. Even today Canadian soldiers have a notable reputation. How do they differ from other Armies?

Also this episode doesn't feel as strong as some of the others. The stats seem confused and it sounds like the writing rambles at times.

[guitar241990]

It's nice to see an American give some credit to the Canadians. Most Americans don't know of Canada's involvement in both WW1 and WW2. Many don't even know we have a military. Albeit much smaller today than in WW2. The Americans who do know probably think we didn't do anything.

[HoustonGD]

@guitar241990. Most American's think they won the war alone! We saved everyone by ourselves.

[tjhoenecke]

@HoustonGD It seems most every country thinks it won the war by itself, is more than ready to overlook its own shortcomings, and blames its allies for not carrying their own weight.

[davidrodgersNJ]

@guitar241990 It is remarkable how much you know about what "most Americans" think. Are you a pollster?

[guitar241990]

@davidrodgersNJ

I was just saying that many Americans, maybe not all, think that it was all their doing in WW1 and WW2

[tjhoenecke]

@davidrodgersNJ Touche'! ;)

[LaughinLuigi]

I have a great respect for the Wehrmacht, they proved themselves again and again as one of the greatest armies in the history of the world.

But, the Canadians weren't called the "shock troopers of the (British) empire" for nothing. They fought at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and many others. Caen wasn't easy for the Canadians, but without they're support, the Allies might not have won WW2

[Kulmataklaus]

I do find it impressive the kind of resistance the German army was able to offer at this point of the war. When I think about the Normandy landings I used to think about last ditch efford to take back Europe before Stalin rolled over. (To put it really rough).

- But after a lot of information I no longer hold this view. It amazes me how well the German soldier fough, when in all logic he should've trembled and despaired.

[telkines]

the 12 SS Panzerdivision was a formidable War Machine , the Canadian were completely defeated in Caen.

[Bellicose27]

The flag issue was dropped until WWII when King insisted Canadian Forces be acknowledged for their part in the war rather than as a part of Britain's effort. The Canadian Army, not having a distinctive flag for themselves started to use the Red Ensign with the shield of the Coat of Arms of Canada in January 1944. The Royal Canadian Air Force followed soon after.

[EmperorTiger]

the canadian flags r wrong

at this point canada used the Union Jack Red Ensign

[HoustonGD]

That's absolutely correct. I don''t know why this mistake is made over and over again!

[duesouth69]

Simply because no one would recognize the Red Ensign as the flag of Canada. The maple leaf is much more easily to identify. Not many Canadians would recognize the Red Ensign.

[Isthisthelongestname]

Maybe because the previous canadian fla would be unrecognisable to many people. They want to keep the maps as consise as possible.

[JAGDPANTHER20]

Every documentary have some kind of mistake in it somewhere.

[Theakker3]

@EmperorTiger I think they did that so people would know that they are Canadians because this is a modern documentry.

[Lionsdale]

Ortona The Moro River Campaign, the battles to break the Hitler Line. Juno Beach By the end of D-Day, the Canadians had penetrated deeper into France than either the British or the American troops at their landing sites, overcoming stronger resistance than any of the other beachheads except Omaha Beach. Major Victory in the Battle of the Scheldt, Canadians also played a central role in the liberation of the Netherlands. In 1944. To name a few

[HoustonGD]

Its a GREAT pity that they make several comments in Battlefield II regarding the Canadians fighting ability. I have the highest regards for the Canadians!!!!

[n52nimbus]

, but one would expect the Canadians to be good, considering they were an all-volunteer army and they would have had a long time to train and prepare.

[JohnnyH1982]

@HoustonGD It's a common misconception that the Canadians and Brits were "outfought" this is a claim made by historians and never made by those who were there.

[Litterboxer529]

@HoustonGD It is really a shame that the Americans don't even acknowledge our role in the war. My grandpa fought in Normandy from Juno Beach until the end with the North Shore Regiment. Most people when I tell them say, "Canada really fought in the Second World War?" The only people that seem to even care about our role are the British, Dutch and Belgians.

[n52nimbus]

I am presently 1/4 of the way through Hubert Meyer's 1,000 page history of the 12th SS Hitlerjugend Division ( Meyer was chief of staff ).

So far, he has nothing but praise for the courage and fighting abilities of the Canadians they opposed. Over and over the Canadians repulsed attempts by the Panzer Lehr and 12th SS to retake villages and positions after D-Day. Of course, Canadian attempts to advance were also often defeated.

I know little of the Canadian army in WWII ( continued )

[RazorCell7]

@Lionsdale Actually we were fighting the 12. SS Panzer Division while the Americans were struggling against low quality 709. Static Infantry Division - point noted we had more resistance and were fighting a stronger enemy especially on the beach heads then Omaha Beach

[christof139]

@RazorCell7, Actually on D-Day the Canadians were engaged against the 716th Static Inf. Div., mostly Ost Bns., & latter in the day the 21st Pz. Div. counterattacked & the 3rd Can & 3rd. Brit. Inf Divs threw them back. At Omaha the 1st & 29th US Inf Divs were up against a German Inf Bn of the 716 & elements of the 352nd Inf Div, & elements of the 352nd also moved against the Brit 50 ID. Elements of the weak 711th Static ID opposed the Brit & can. Paras. 709 SID was at Utah, not Omaha.

[christof139]

@RazorCell7, During the Normandy campaign is was Monty's idea for the Brits & Cans. to take on the German armor while the USA - fighting through vry heavy bacage & flooded land - would cleanout the Contentin Pennisula, & take port Cherbourg, then breakout to the south to take Brittany, to the east to drive itno France & to the north link up with Monty. The invasion of S. France also occurred in August '44 & was composed of USA & French Divs. & other units.

[christof139]

Typo: 'bacage' = bocage, hedgegrows.

[evilk667]

Canadians had some of the finest infantry of the war.