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Battling the German Panzers - The Canadian 7th Brigade in Normandy

WW2TV

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WW2TV Live show no. 4
This is a live show from the actual battlefields discussed live 76 years on. Two camera teams will be sending footage in and I have two fabulous guest historians.

From Canada via Zoom Mike Bechthold, who has written and lectured extensively on the Canadians in WWII https://mikebechthold.com/

From Normandy and live with our camera team is local author Frederick Jeanne. Frederick is a fantastic historian and his book on the 7th Brigade's actions is packed with maps, photos and information. Find out more (French only) at http://www.hold-the-oak-line.fr/. He new book is on the British 49th Infantry Division and 8th Armoured Brigade is available here https://maranes-editions.com/index.ph... (French only).

We reference Marc Milner's book Stopping the Panzers in the show
UK Paperback https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/978070...
UK Hardback https://uk.bookshop.org/a/5843/978070...
USA Paperback https://bookshop.org/a/21029/97807006...

Camera teams:
Magali Desquesne https://www.dday4you.com/
Duncan Hollands

Other Panzer Shows you may enjoy:
6 Panzer Division at Verkhne Kumsky - Operation Winter Storm 6 Panzer Division at Verkhne Kumsky - Oper...
Panzers - German Armoured Units in Normandy on D-Day Panzers - German Armoured Units in Normand...
Battling the German Panzers - The Canadian 7th Brigade Battling the German Panzers - The Canadian...
Panzer Counter-attack at Son Bridge Panzer Counter-attack at Son Bridge
Panzer Killers - 3rd Armor in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) Battling the German Panzers - The Canadian...

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20 Comments

@usg-647 5 years ago

This is absolutely incredible. Huge thanks to all involved. Interspersing the live shots & commentary, with the historical photos. And excerpts from the war diaries.
I found this after reading Marc Milner’s masterful, “Stopping the Panzers”
Eye opening on the Canadian role - and use of combined arms. And small unit infantry taking out Panthers - with anything on hand.
And the stunning incompetence of German failure to use basic doctrine (in contrast to the popular portrayals), consumed with hubris and inhuman war crimes.
Grateful to all of the Canadian heroes of these pivotal days in history
(from an American)
P.S. Love the Royal Winnipeg Rifles shirt!

@PaulFernyhough 4 years ago

Came to this late - for a British/ Canadian living in Winnipeg this is a wonderful overview of the brilliant performance and bravery of these Canadian troops - I have read much about this topic but hearing such details from superb experts is eye opening

@robmisener2786 6 years ago

Great job Paul! Thank you so much for providing this to Canadians at home.

@anselmdanker9519 5 years ago

Just caught up with this great presentation, thank you for highlighting Canada's magnificent contribution to defeating the German Army in Normandy.

@angatt9740 6 months ago

Great show. I know it was 5 yers ago, but I enjoy the "live on location" episodes. I will be heading to Normandy this summer, and many of these places are making it to my list of places to visit.

@thomasmadden8412 5 years ago

Fabulous Show!! Mike has been on WW2TV a few times and is always a wealth of knowledge. I am enjoying catching up on shows from last year before I found this incredible channel.

@stevej8005 3 years ago

After watching your recent Vercors walkabouts I thought I would revisit some of your earlier shows and this one and the Bloody Buron D+1 show reminded how well you and your team (and guest speakers like Mike of course) do these battlefield visits and getting better with every show, Thanks Woody & Team !!!

@cheesenoodles8316 4 years ago

I really like the accents, appreciate anybody that has learned any additional language. Great show...the Canucks deserve thier reputation of brave and tuff. Great details ....maps ... photos...Duncan & Meg.

@KG-1 5 years ago

Have to watch this again, listened to it as usual at work. What's striking is the description of 12th SS's experience here, because they repeat the same pattern 6 months later in the opening phase of the Bulge in the battle of Krinkelt-Rocherath: Artillery decimates and separates their infantry from their armor and then the armor without enough infantry tries to take the town which leads to losing a lot of Panthers (in the Bulge they had more Panthers than MkIVs even) to bazookas, M10 TD's, 57mm ATGs, and short barrel 75mm Shermans. Important to remember the high rate of fire the 75mm Shermans could do. Its interesting to hear the evaluation of the 12th SS as not being as elite as people think. Think they have been way too gloried and admired in later years by way too many authors - and definitely in the wargaming community, especially in mine - Advanced Squad Leader. Some their battle behavior I can't help comparing to the Japanese.

@terryzanger7152 2 years ago

Nice job, thanks so much for my education

@georgewnewman3201 4 years ago

Woody, just working through some of your older stuff. Appreciate your work as it often brings in stuff I didn't have in going through school here in the USA. And it is all, as theHistoryGuy (shameless plug for another youtube channel, please forgive me) says, "History that deserves to be remembered!" :_Churchill:

@terryzanger7152 2 years ago

A very special thankyou to Fred for his efforts to honour the Canadians who fought in his home town. Thank you. I will look for your book

@jonboulton 2 years ago

I think you are slightly wrong at 1.43.05, it’s not the cream wall in the middle of the screen down the street but the same building you show before with the garage doors and the tank outside.