22. Normandy '44: Discussing Operation CHARNWOOD with Ben Mayne

On this episode, Mark welcomes battlefield guide and Liberation Route Europe UK Team Managing Director Ben Mayne to the syndicate to discuss Operation CHARNWOOD. They discuss the plans and the actions of the Canadian 3rd, British 3rd and 59th Divisions', supported by significant airforce, naval and artillery assets in and around Caen between 7-10th July 1944. Caen was a D-Day objective in the Normandy campaign and for five weeks, the divisions prepared and fought in numerous operations before beginning the liberation of Caen itself in this operation. An urban operation, on a scale not done so before by the British and Commonwealth forces in North-west Europe, there were a number of lessons and tactical operating procedures to be adapted and implemented to get over issues such as 15 feet high rubble barriers on the streets of Caen as the result of bombing operations. Caen itself would not be fully liberated until 19th/20th July 1944 during Operation ATLANTIC by the Canadians. An excellent deep dive into a often overlooked operation of the Normandy campaign, Ben does a great job to shed light on this fascinating moment and its considerations in the campaign while making an assessment on its overall value towards Allied success in Normandy in 1944.

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Hosted by Mark Martin.

With Ben Mayne.

Edited and produced by Mark Martin.

Music: Throughout History available via Podcastle.

Audio: Mixed using Podcastle.

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