|
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon, was a Second World War British offensive that took place between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen, an important Allied objective in the early stages of the invasion of north-west Europe. Preceded by attacks to secure lines of advance, Operation Epsom began early on 26 June with units of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division advancing behind a rolling artillery barrage. Air cover was sporadic for much of the operation, because poor weather in the United Kingdom forced the last-minute cancellation of bomber support. Accompanied by the tanks of the 31st Tank Brigade, the 15th Scottish Division made steady progress and by the end of the first day had overrun much of the German outpost line, although some difficulties remained in securing the flanks. In mutually costly fighting over the following two days, a foothold was secured across the River Odon and efforts were made to expand this, by capturing strategic points around the salient and moving up the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. In response to powerful German counterattacks, by 30 June some of the British forces across the river were withdrawn, bringing the operation to a close. Interpretations of the intention and conduct of Operation Epsom differ widely but there is general agreement concerning its effect on the balance of forces in Normandy. The Germans had managed to contain the offensive, by committing all their strength, including two panzer divisions newly arrived in Normandy, which had been intended for an offensive against British and American positions around Bayeux. Many casualties were suffered by both sides but unlike General Bernard Montgomery, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was unable to withdraw units into reserve after the battle, as they were needed to hold the front line. The British retained the initiative and launched further operations over the following two weeks, capturing Caen in mid-July. ==Background== The Normandy town of Caen was a D-Day objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division that landed on Sword Beach on 6 June 1944.〔Williams, p. 24〕 The capture of Caen, while "ambitious", was described by the Official Historian L. F. Ellis as the most important D-Day objective assigned to Lieutenant-General Crocker and I Corps. Operation Overlord called for Second Army to secure the city and then form a front line from Caumont-l'Éventé to the south-east of Caen, to acquire airfields and protect the left flank of the United States First Army while it moved on Cherbourg.〔Ellis, p. 78〕 Possession of Caen and its surroundings would give Second Army a suitable staging area for a push south to capture Falaise, which could be used as the pivot for a swing left to advance on Argentan and then towards the Touques River.〔Ellis, p. 81〕 Hampered by congestion in the beachhead, which delayed the deployment of its armoured support and forced to divert effort to attacking strongly held German positions along the route to the town, the 3rd Division was unable to assault Caen in force on D-Day and was stopped short of its outskirts, by the 21st Panzer Division.〔Wilmot, pp. 284–286〕 Immediate follow-up attacks were unsuccessful as German resistance solidified. Abandoning the direct approach, Operation Perch—a pincer attack by I and XXX Corps—was launched on 7 June with the intention of encircling Caen from the east and west.〔Ellis, p. 247〕〔Forty, p. 36〕 I Corps, striking south out of the Orne bridgehead, was halted by the 21st Panzer Division and the attack by XXX Corps was stopped west of Caen in front of Tilly-sur-Seulles by the Panzer-Lehr-Division.〔〔Ellis, p. 250〕 To force Panzer Lehr to withdraw or surrender and to keep operations fluid, part the 7th Armoured Division pushed through a gap in the German front line and captured Villers-Bocage.〔Ellis, p. 254〕〔Taylor, p. 10〕 The Battle of Villers-Bocage led to the vanguard of the 7th Armoured Division withdrawing from the town but by 17 June Panzer Lehr had also been forced back and XXX Corps had taken Tilly-sur-Seulles.〔Taylor, p. 76〕〔Forty, p. 97〕 Another attack by the 7th Armoured Division and other offensive operations were abandoned when a severe storm descended upon the English Channel on 19 June.〔Ellis, p. 255〕 The storm lasted for three days and delayed the Allied build-up.〔 Most of the convoys of landing craft and ships already at sea were driven back to ports in Britain; towed barges and other loads (including of floating roadways for the Mulberry harbours) were lost and 800 craft were left stranded on the Normandy beaches until the spring tides in July.〔Wilmot, p. 322〕 Planning began for a second offensive, codenamed Operation Dreadnought, to be launched out of the Orne bridgehead by VIII Corps, outflanking Caen from the east.〔Williams, p. 113〕 Dreadnought was cancelled following objections from the VIII Corps commander Sir Richard O'Connor and an attack towards Évrecy was considered. This was also cancelled, either by Montgomery or Miles Dempsey, commanding officer of the Second Army. Dempsey, in a post-war interview with Chester Wilmot, said that he told Montgomery that he was going to cancel the proposed operation on 18 June.〔Hart, pp. 131–132〕 The weather from 19–22 June grounded Allied aircraft and the Germans took advantage of the respite from air attacks, to improve their defences, strengthening infantry positions with minefields and posting 88 mm guns in hedgerows and woods, covering the approaches to Caen.〔Williams, p. 114〕〔Williams, p. 118〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Operation Epsom」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|