Hill 112: Battles of the Odon (Battleground Europe)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Operational Account
Review: In Hill 112 Tim Saunders focuses on the fighting around that non-descript small hill southwest of Caen in France, during the period 25 June-4 August 1944 when the British were struggling to break out of the Normandy bridgehead. The Germans were equally desperate to contain this breakout. In that six-week period, the British and Germans shed considerable blood in order to gain the prize of Hill 112. Although the hill itself was a rather modest elevation, it did offer a valuable position for forward observers who could direct artillery fire upon the exposed surrounding lower ground. Possession of Hill 112 would allow the British to cross the Odon and Orne rivers and thereby outflank the German defenses in Caen.

The first brief chapter covers the period 27-28 June 1944 when, as part of Operation EPSOM, the British 11th Armored Division crossed the Odon River and seized Hill 112 in a coup de main. Although the British succeeded in seizing the hill at modest cost, German counterattacks soon forced them to abandon the hill. The Germans re-occupied Hill 112 with the powerful 10th SS Panzer Division and dug in.

The bulk of the book, some 104 pages, covers the British attempt to seize Hill 112 and surrounding terrain in Operation JUPITER on 10-11 July 1944. The British committed the 43rd Wessex Division, a pre-war territorial unit, along with two tank brigades. British artillery support was massive, with two corps artillery groups and HMS Rodney's 16-inch guns supplementing divisional artillery, for a total of 20 artillery battalions and 416 guns supporting a single division-size attack. After a 15-minute preparation that disrupted the front-line German infantry, the British attacked at dawn and quickly rolled up the German security zone positions. Sensing success, British commanders pushed reserve units up through their own first echelon in a rush to exploit the apparent confusion and seize Hill 112. Unfortunately, British infantry leaders were quick to announce objectives secure without really conducting thorough mopping-up actions. As the author correctly points out, there is a world of difference between "seize" and "secure" in the military lexicon. The result was that the Germans quickly regrouped, with infantry and armor moving up to counterattack. Amazingly, an entire German Tiger tank battalion was in reserve only 2 kilometers behind Hill 112 and this unit quickly moved in to stop the British attack. However, the British kept pouring in more men, material and artillery fire, with neither side really controlling the crest of Hill 112. Suffering heavily as well, the Germans were forced to commit more and more of their precious armor to prevent a breakthrough. Eventually, most of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps was committed to stem the British offensive. After much heavy fighting, the British finally withdrew from their tenuous positions around the hill. Battered but victorious, the Germans still held the ground. However, the battle in Normandy was gradually shifting against the Germans and they withdrew from Hill 112 in August.


Numerous excellent photos and superb maps complement the text. A British order of battle is provided, but none for the Germans. The account is balanced and fair, with considerable detail from the German perspective. Overall, this is an excellent study of a division-level attack.