Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine
Encyclopedia
The Attack on Panzer Group West's headquarters at La Caine
in Normandy
was a successful airstrike
by the RAF's
Second Tactical Air Force
. The raid took place on 10 June 1944 and knocked out German control of its armour
. The attack resulted in the wounding of the Panzer group commander, the breakdown of German communications and the withdrawal of the HQ to Paris.
, the headquarters of Panzer Group West was established in the Chateau at La Caine. On 9 June 1944, three days after the Normandy landings, the headquarters' location was revealed to British Intelligence by decyphering of German signals traffic
. On 10 June 1944, aircraft of the Second Tactical Air Force bombed the village. The raid was carried out by 40 rocket-armed
Typhoons
which attacked in three waves from low altitude and by 61 Mitchells
which dropped 500 lb
bombs from 12,000 ft.
Generalmajor
Sigismund-Helmut von Dawans
the most senior officer to be killed in the raid. The group's commander, General
Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg
was wounded. Although the Chateau was not badly damaged, the nearby orchard in which the HQ's vehicles were parked was thoroughly bombed and communications equipment was destroyed.
. The attack destroyed the only western German Army organization capable of handling a large number of mobile divisions.
La Caine
La Caine is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France.-World War II:Following the Allied Normandy Landings, the headquarters of Panzer Group West was established in the Chateau at La Caine. The headquarters' new location was revealed to the British...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
was a successful airstrike
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
by the RAF's
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Second Tactical Air Force
RAF Second Tactical Air Force
The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War...
. The raid took place on 10 June 1944 and knocked out German control of its armour
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
. The attack resulted in the wounding of the Panzer group commander, the breakdown of German communications and the withdrawal of the HQ to Paris.
Attack
During the Battle of NormandyOperation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, the headquarters of Panzer Group West was established in the Chateau at La Caine. On 9 June 1944, three days after the Normandy landings, the headquarters' location was revealed to British Intelligence by decyphering of German signals traffic
Ultra
Ultra was the designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by "breaking" high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. "Ultra" eventually became the standard...
. On 10 June 1944, aircraft of the Second Tactical Air Force bombed the village. The raid was carried out by 40 rocket-armed
RP-3
The RP-3 , was a British rocket used in the Second World War. Though primarily an air-to-ground weapon, it saw limited use in other roles. Its 60 lb warhead gave rise to the alternative name of the "60 lb rocket"; the 25 lb solid-shot armour piercing variant was referred to as the "25 lb rocket"...
Typhoons
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
which attacked in three waves from low altitude and by 61 Mitchells
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
which dropped 500 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
bombs from 12,000 ft.
Casualties and damage
Eighteen members of the HQ staff were known to have died in the raid, including the chief of staffChief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
Generalmajor
General (Germany)
General is presently the highest rank of the German Army and Luftwaffe . It is the equivalent to the rank of Admiral in the German Navy .-Early history:...
Sigismund-Helmut von Dawans
Sigismund-Helmut von Dawans
Generalmajor Sigismund-Helmut Konrad Alfred Felix Georg Ritter und Edler von Dawans was a general in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a recipient of the German Cross in Gold on 26 August 1942....
the most senior officer to be killed in the raid. The group's commander, General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg
Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg
Leo Dietrich Franz Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg was a German cavalry officer in World War I and a general during World War II. He was particularly noted for his expertise in armoured warfare and his command of Panzer Group West during the Invasion of Normandy.- Biography :Geyr was born in...
was wounded. Although the Chateau was not badly damaged, the nearby orchard in which the HQ's vehicles were parked was thoroughly bombed and communications equipment was destroyed.
Effects
The HQ was rendered non-operational and withdrawn to Paris. German command of the sector was temporarily given to the I SS Panzer CorpsI SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
. The attack destroyed the only western German Army organization capable of handling a large number of mobile divisions.