Normandy wasn’t all Bocage (Hedgerows) – A WWII Myths show
With Paul Woodadge
Part of our WWII Myths series of short shows
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDG3XyxGI5lAd734s1i7YIMbOf8PS5Shz&si=lZONvxOH4APbWnDZ
There is an established belief that the entire Normandy campaign was fought within the confines of the bocage – the small fields and sunken lanes as seen in some of the period photos. There’s also the idea that the Bocage was the biggest problem the Allies faced. In this show we debunk that claim.
This is a new type of show for the channel. Our guest historian will examine a popular claim made about the Second World War and either confirm or debunk it. There probably won’t be time for questions from viewers but we hope the shorter length will be popular.
WW2TV’s Hedgerows explanation
https://youtu.be/J1dKsmV3fIU?si=nQvgOO8QMq8QcxXQ
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Paul, your linked hedgerows video from 4 years ago is one of the first from your library that I dug into after stumbling onto WW2TV. It is excellent. The POV production design gave me insight into your gifts as an educator and guide.
The defense became unattainable with navy warships off the coast.
Interesting and I yield to your knowledge of the Normandy area. Sure seems like a lot of material I have read devotes considerable time to the special tactics being developed for the hedgerows, as well as the modifications to the Sherman tank to support them. Can you comment on this? Thanks Paul always interesting programs here!!
I would have said it was a skillful German defence in addition to using the natural defensive areas of Normandy to frustrate the Allies
Excellent myth busted. Those green circles are very helpful in pinpointing where the Bocage mainly was. I had no idea of this before. Like many, I thought it was more or less widespread across most of the American sector. What an eye opener.
Thanks Woody.
Given that the majority of the Bocage was in the American sector, what do you think about the training the US forces got in England. As most of them were based in the south west of England (Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall), and those counties are almost ideal Bocage training areas with narrow country lanes and high hedgerows. It seems to me that doctrine to deal with that particular environment was somewhat missed. Sorry I missed the show live, I was travelling.
It's the catch-all use of sniper that gets me
Can not wait. Should be a “cracker” of a week.
Fantastic presentation, brought back great memories of touring the Bocage with you and Magali in October. Seeing this terrain firsthand really helps to understand it, from both sides.
Great myth busting Woody! Many people's minds are blown when I told them the left flank of the beachhead had little to no bocage.
Visited Caen, Bayeaux and Arromanches about 20 years ago and saw not one bocage hedgerow but I did see plenty of open fields (probably they were a lot smaller in 44 before farming changed post war) and rolling low hills.
I knew of the bocage then but I also knew of the armour battles between the Brits/Canadians and the Germans so guessed the bocage was further west.
I live on the edge of the Black Country with Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire a couple of miles away. There in the ancient lanes and fields you can find a lot of lanes that are v similar to the bocage.
Up to 8-10 ft high hedges sometimes with hedges and trees curling over the top.
Great episode, thanks Paul!
You could also do a show on how much the terrain had changed due to the war. I am sure a lot of "bocage" disappeared during the summer of '44. Looking at the ALG B4, there is now a main road running through what was farmed fields. Did the creation of B4 cause this? Who knows…
Like usual, your shows are very enlightening. While I didn't expect to see hedgerows all over Normandy during my D-Day tour, I expected more and assumed a bunch had been consumed through modernization.
Normandy is one of the largest Departments in France so it must contain Rivers, hills and forests. Oh and we are back with the Americains and how they won the war. There is a lot of linseed Woody. This first map does not cover all of Normandy mainly Manche and Calavados. The rivers are the biggest problem.
Hope one of your next myth busting shows is busting the myth of how the americans won the war. And the Canadians, British, and the other nations were not in D Day.
I remember some of your first on site videos with Magali and Colin going over territory around British/Canadian operations. That was more like steppe than bocage. Thanks for the primer on myth busting
That hedgerow show that you referenced is one of the best pieces of Normandy content on YouTube. One of my favorites. Good show! 👍🏻
A good entry for the series. I look forward to all upcoming episodes, and I can't wait to be part of it on the 16th!
The gentle slope of Verrieres Ridge.
Enlightening… thank you. Love the word " pesky" Germans.
Having occupied the region for nearly 4 years, the Germans had a pretty good idea of where to setup defensive positions. Their experience in the east gave them a good idea of what tactics were effective and lots of time to train in this tactics. The land was the land and they took full advantage of what ever they had.
Their troops other than the static divisions, were highly motivated and well trained with experienced leadership.
The allies on the other hand, had no experience (Americans, Canadians, Poles) or experience in completely different terrain (North Africa, Italy). The knowledge of terrain was limited to maps and aerial photos, not quite the same as walking and driving around for several years.
Great little episode, certainly up to your usual standards for longer shows.
It's interesting with all that I have read and seen, I personally never thought that all of Normandy was the "bocage". In my mind I always thought that once the units moved east it rolled out into fields etc. Nice short show. 👍👍
I believe it was Eisenhower who attributed 3 factors to why the US got bogged down: 1) fighting quality of the German soldier, 2) nature of the country/terrain (which was bocage, hills, ridges, rivers, flooded marshes, etc.), 3) and the weather. And yes, V Corps N and NE of St Lo basically hunkered down for a time, so the weight of effort could shift toward taking Cherbourg. Good show, Woody. Love the myth busting stuff.
What an excellent start to the myth busting shows. I hope the other shows are as good.
It's pretty ridiculous blaming bocage for Allied problems when German defence was always about counter attack and they would have to deal with the pros and cons of the same terrain. We've all seen the footage of 12 SS HJ Panzer IV moving up to Caen. Wide open fields. The Epsom battles. Open fields again.
For the algorithm!!! Another terrific, fascinating and fun video brother. The history channel is out to shame by your content mate! Keep up the amazing work and I’ll do my small part to like and share! God speed !
looking forward to the other shows
Interesting and well presented interpretation of the Normandy campaign.
Saw history underground recommendation of your channel. Happy I did.
I can see this new format being an absolute winner Woody. Well done.
As a younger geek "bocage" was part of the jargon you had to pick up to talk to soldiers about WW2 – like auftragstaktik or ultra. You'd drop it into the conversation to show you were part of the in-group, even though you weren't quite sure what it meant. Maybe that's part of the reason myths endure.
Fantastic, looking forward to this series.
Pesky Germans!
Monty prediction of Normandy was accurate
When last in Normandy I finally wanted to see for myself what the bocage looked liked, had to search hard and found it between Cherbourg and Utah Beach. So really not all of Normandy is Bocasge, thsanks Paul for setteling this matter.
These short format videos are an excellent idea. Love them already 👌
No it was not. The area around Caen was good tank country. Which is why the UK/CE armour pushed there. Either they would tie down German Pz for the US with its immense resources to break through, or the UK/CW would break through.
Monty is somewhat underrated these days, though he was overrated during the war.
Did you ever play Avalon Hill's mehagame "The Longest Day"? Or John Tiller Games "Normandy Campaign" game (pc)?
Have a nice weekend Paul, remember to actually take time off.
Great job Woody! I am familiar with the eastern area of Normandy, and its open flat fields and crucial strategic hills after studying the Caen side of the D-Day operations. This suited the Germans as a smaller model of the Ostkrieg front defense falling back operations they'd been conducting since Feb 1943. Like Mr. Henkeman stated, the Germans adapted to the terrain very well, no matter if it was the flooded areas inland of Utah & Omaha beaches, to the Bocage. Cherbourg's heights and the 5-hills are examples of their tenacity, and ability to fight fighting withdrawals. 110% concur use of *"it was the Bocage" * is (politely as I can muster of it) a smokescreen for any Allied leadership failures so as NOT to not pin any blame where it was due back then.
FWIW my cancellable opinion is that the Bocage greatly favoured the Allies 😁The Germans had a decided advantage in long range weaponry. It was their strongest card. For example see how they chewed up Allied armour at Goodwood etc. by looking down from their ridges over those wide open fields. Also the punishment they meted out over the open Russian steppes and the North African plains. Their army was built around long range advantage.
Bocage nullified that advantage. Shermans were as good (if not better) than any German heavy tank at close range and there were masses more of them. Those big German AT guns dug-in with great optics are almost useless. Well hidden defensive artillery observers with their supporting guns are again hampered in bocage. In short Woody is spot on – the Bocage in and of itself was not a problem. IMO it was a boon.
IMO many of the historians-scholars-armchair generals who have made such claims have essentially made the logical fallacy of mistaking correlation with causation… 👍
I was surprised to learn some years ago that Juno beach, as well as parts of Sword and Gold, is just like the Prairies in Canada and the US. So wide open, as you state Paul, and perfect for defensive tank warfare. A very grim task for our soldiers to take it all.