'My God,I wish we had 9th Australian with us this morning'
Major General Freddie de Guingand, Chief of Staff,Allied Land-force Headquaters, D-Day 1944.
This comment has intrigued me for years,but I've never come across any situations where it was put forward.
I'd like to flesh it out myself,but I think I'd let it fall into some kind of Aussie-wank before long. What I'd like an opinion on is weather or not it could have made any major difference on the day.
It would have been one of the most combat hardened formations there and it's repuation could have had a negative effect on German morale(the division that had beaten Rommel twice etc)
On the other hand the nature of the fighting in Normandy often put the Allied attacking forces at a great disadvantage and other veteran formations,such as the US 1st division and the 50th (Northumbrian) still had a tough time on the day.
So what do you think? More meat for the grinder that was Normandy,or the feather that breaks the German's back?
Major General Freddie de Guingand, Chief of Staff,Allied Land-force Headquaters, D-Day 1944.
This comment has intrigued me for years,but I've never come across any situations where it was put forward.
I'd like to flesh it out myself,but I think I'd let it fall into some kind of Aussie-wank before long. What I'd like an opinion on is weather or not it could have made any major difference on the day.
It would have been one of the most combat hardened formations there and it's repuation could have had a negative effect on German morale(the division that had beaten Rommel twice etc)
On the other hand the nature of the fighting in Normandy often put the Allied attacking forces at a great disadvantage and other veteran formations,such as the US 1st division and the 50th (Northumbrian) still had a tough time on the day.
So what do you think? More meat for the grinder that was Normandy,or the feather that breaks the German's back?