Hill 112 The Key to Defeating Hitler in Normandy

Hill 112 The Key to Defeating Hitler in Normandy written by Tim Saunders

and published by Pen & Sword Books - £25 - Hardback - Pages 328

‘He who holds Hill 112 holds Normandy’ seemed an unlikely maxim when the hill

is viewed from a distance, but on reaching its plateau, the vistas unfold in every

direction across a huge swath of Normandy. For the Germans, it was their vital

defensive ground, but for the British, it was an essential stepping stone en route

to the River Orne and access to the open country south to Falaise.

The Hitlerjugend SS Panzer Division lost Hill 112 to 4th Armoured Brigade when the Scots captured the Tourmauville Bridge intact, but the essence of Hill 112’s tactical problem soon became clear. It was impossible for armour to survive on its broad plateau, while the infantry could only hold the skeletal orchards and woods at the cost of crushing casualties. With II SS Panzer Corps preparing to attack the British, the toe hold was given up and 11th Armoured Division was left holding a bridgehead across the River Odon.

Ten days later, 43rd Wessex Division was ordered to resume the advance to the Orne with Hill 112 its first objective. As the west countrymen and tanks rose to advance, they met withering fire from the stronghold that Hill 112 had become. The scene was set for one of the grimmest battles of the campaign.

For six weeks from the end of June into August, when the Allied advances finally gained momentum, Hill 112 was far too important to let the opposition hold and exploit it. Consequently, it was regularly shelled and mortared, and shrouded with smoke and dust, while soldiers of both sides clung to their respective rims of the plateau.

By the end, Hill 112 had developed a reputation as evil as that of any spot on the First World War’s Western Front.

The battle for Hill 112 is an important one as it was of strategic advantage to both sides. What we have in this book is an excellent story of a battle, on a few important levels such as the everyday man on the frontline to the tactical planning level of the higher ranking officers. In some parts of the story, the fighting and combat does get a bit grim or harsh, but this is why Hill 112 was so important in that it took people to commit the ultimate sacrifice for the cause. I must admit that this book did have me hooked throughout and had me reading it in just a couple of sittings. This is down to a gripping story, but also a well-written book by an author/historian who clearly has some experience in these circumstances. The book is supported by some great historical sources, photographs, maps, tactics and charts. This was a really good read and one I would certainly recommend to others.