Operation Goodwood order of battle

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Opposing commanders
Lt.-Gen. Miles Dempsey
Gnl der PzTr Heinrich Eberbach

Operation Goodwood was an offensive operation by the British Army against the German Wehrmacht, which took place between 18 and 20 July 1944 as part of the larger battle for Caen in Normandy, France during the Second World War.

While Goodwood failed in its primary aim, it forced the Germans to keep powerful formations opposite the British and Canadians on the eastern flank of the Normandy beachhead and Operation Cobra, the First US Army attack which began on 25 July, caused the weaker German defences opposite to collapse.[1]

British Order of Battle[edit]

Sherman Firefly awaiting orders to move forward Operation Goodwood July 1944

Second Army
Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey

Army troops
4th Army Group Royal Artillery
8th Army Group Royal Artillery
79th Armoured Division (elements)
Major-General Percy Hobart
5th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers (Churchill AVRE)
22nd Dragoons (Sherman Crab mine flails)
141st Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps (Churchill Crocodile flamethrower tanks)
1st Lothians and Border Horse (Sherman Crabs)

German Order of Battle[edit]

Panzer Group West
General der Panzertruppe Heinrich Eberbach

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Trew, Simon; Badsey, Stephen (2004). Battle for Caen. Battle Zone Normandy. Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-7509-3010-1.