Picturesque aerial view of Normandy Bocage ( French for Hedgerow ) countryside. Well demarcated farmlands created after centuries of plowing and leveling fields for cultivation. At its boundaries with trees and bushes overgrowth are drainage ditches and pathways for farmer walkways or carriage vehicles. It was this overgrowth area which provided defacto earthen positions for German ground defense.

Bocage | FFV

From WW2 Allied bomber perspective, this was monotonous terrain with undifferentiated land markers, especially when one was flying high altitude to avoid enemy Flak gun emplacements, coupled with close proximity of only a few hundred yards between US and German positions. At photo below region is large bomb crater, using nearby road as comparison, bomb was probably a 500-lb and above warhead.

The 1944 bocage war: its specificities | DDO

Moon crater peppered landscape of US carpet bombing of western St. Lo sector in commencement to Operation Cobra offensive. There was 2 major friendly fire incidents on 24 & 25 July 1944 when US bombers dropped part of their load onto American frontline troops, which killed 241 men, wounded 620 men. Among the dead was Major Gen. Lesley McNair ( the highest ranking US officer killed by friendly fire in WW2 ).

US Normandy Friendly-Fire | These back-to-back incidents have been routinely attributed to " bad weather ", but fact of matter was inability of air / ground commanders to perceive consequences of bombing so close to frontlines. For example, 25 July 1944 incident where 1,500 B-17 heavy, 300 B-25 medium bombers, and 550 fighter bombers dropped circa 4,000 tons of bombs between towns of Montreuil and Hebecrevon, northwest of St. Lo. US ground troops designated German targets by firing red smoke artillery shells, but at moment of bomber overflight, gust of wind blew some of the red smoke into American lines, thus US bombers dropped precisely on spots of red smoke, which included both German and American forces.... that was the " bad weather " phenomenon encountered.

Friendly fire | Wiki

US First Friendly-Fire | However, America's first friendly-fire incident occurred on 7 Dec 1941 immediately after Imperial Japan attack on Pearl Harbor. USS Enterprise aircraft carrier was out at sea delivering aircraft to Wake Island, on her return she dispatched 6 F4F Wildcats of VF-6 fighter squadron to fly into Ford Island Naval Air Station for landing. Arriving at night circa 9:10pm, ground Flak crews already rattled by daytime Japan air assault fired at any aerial targets, despite multiple repeated broadcasts that American planes are coming in for landing. In quick succession ENS Herbert Menges ( F4F code 6-F-15 ) plane was shot to pieces and was first USN pilot killed in WW2.

Herbert H. Menges | GBF

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Ford Island | Wiki

Next, Lt. Frederick Francis Hebel ( F4F code 6-F-1 ) crashed landed at Wheeler Field with severe skull fracture... he died of his wounds. Lastly, Lt. Eric Allen ( F4F code 6-F-12 ) bailed out over Pearl Harbor and was subsequently machine-gunned by ground flak crew, he too died of his wounds.

Fighting Squadron Six - 7 December 1941 Friendly Fire | CV6O

Pearl Harbor Casualties - Deaths by Location, Fort and Ship | PHO

USS Enterprise, CV-6, Aircraft Carrier Friendly-Fire | GTC

Pacific War, WW2 Friendly Fire | WW2P

Brits & Friendly-Fire | British had their friendly fire incident when RAF heavy bombers dumped its load onto Canadian/Polish troops during Operation Tractable commencement ( offensive to capture Falaise town and pincer German forces into resultant pocket battle ), inflicting 490 casualties on 14 August 1944.

What is the greatest example of friendly fire incidents? | CAY

27 August 1944 Royal Navy minesweepers HMS Britomart and HMS Hussar were hit by rockets from RAF Typhoon fighters of #263 and #266 squadrons operating from Normandy airfields, and subsequently sunk. HMS Salamander had her stern blown off, but remained afloat. HMS Jason was strafed by machine fire with resultant dead and wounded. Remaining HMS Lord Ashfield and HMS Colsay got off with light damage.

SINKING OF HMS BRITOMART AND HMS HUSSAR BY FRIENDLY FIRE | HCC

Culprit was either miscommunication or lack of proper paperwork.... namely, Flag Officer of British Assault Area on Normandy failed to notify RAF air beach patrols that extended minesweeping operations would be taking place. Hence, RAF assumed all ships in region were enemy and fired upon them accordingly.

Granted, a quick visual check would have revealed ships were flying British Naval Jack flags, but since British were experts at deception via their commando tactics ( ex. St Nazaire Raid, 28 March 1942 ) ... Brits may have assumed Germans were trying same trick of flying British flags to get assault vessels close to Allied convoy assembled at Normandy beachhead.

St Nazaire Raid | Wiki

German Friendly-Fire | No one had monopoly on friendly-fire, for example in 24 June 1941 during German invasion of Soviet Union, German assaulted Brest-Litovsk Fortress at recently demarcated German-Soviet border. As German Pioneer company ( US term is Combat Engineers ) prepared to cross Bug river circling fortress walls, German creeping artillery barrage miscalculated and slammed into its own pioneers killing circa 25 men.

Brest Fortress | Wiki

Lt. Ray Holmquist, Assistant S-1 of US 2nd Battalion - 120th Infantry Regiment - 30th Infantry Division, inspects recently captured German bocage defense line in St. Lo sector, Normandy - 13 July 1944. Communication among ground units was difficult at best given dense foliage overgrowth. His engineers are stringing telephone wire among frontline unit HQs.

Interview with Lt. Ray Holmquist | OH30

Jack Dee Rose M-120th/30th Infantry Division | EUCMH

Note bocage earthen walls is a farm lane whereby workers can travel among different fields. Tire depressions indicates recent passage of a US Jeep, German Kubelwagen, or man/horse-pulled ammunition trailer. With surrounding overgrowth, this position would be almost impossible to identify from mere aerial observations.

Willys Jeep | Wiki

Volkswagen Kübelwagen | Wiki

Italeri 1/35 German Sd.Anhanger 51 (ammo trailer) | MMC

Modern photo of Normandy bocage landscape with same imposing dense foliage, deep drainage ditch / farm roads, and arched earthen works pushed up from centuries of land cultivation. These arched earthen works were especially dangerous to Allied tank assaults.

German Antitank Units and Tactics | LSC

Hell in the Hedgerows ... | SLO

US tanks encountering this earthen mount, would transverse over its top, thus exposed thin armor underbelly ( its thinnest part ) to German anti-tank guns. One hit would penetrate crew compartment and detonate tank's ammunition and fuel storage.

WW2 German Antitank Tactics (video) | VPD

Looking like some Alice in Wonderland - Down the Rabbit Hole sequence.... bocage overgrowth have created vortex appearance to farm lane / drainage ditch passage way. These bocage were no merely foliage earthen mounds, but laced with large boulders and rocks, piled up their by farmers leveling out field for cultivation. In WW2, concealment from air observation virtually guaranteed.

Innovation Lessons from the Battle of Normandy | SVK

BTW, there have been various Alice in Wonderland cinema releases for past 80 years, from wholesome family-fun animation, to somewhat dark sinister theme movies.

Down the Rabbit Hole - Alice in Wonderland (1933) | Youtube

Down the Rabbit Hole - Alice in Wonderland (1949) | Youtube

Down the Rabbit Hole ( 1951 Disney animation ) | Youtube

Down the Rabbit Hole - Alice in Wonderland (1985) | Youtube

Down the Rabbit Hole - Alice in Wonderland (1999) | Youtube

Alice in Wonderland 2010 - Alice fall down the Rabbit Hole | Youtube

Culin Hedgerow Cutters, solution devised by US 1st Army in Normandy for rapid bocage countryside breakthrough during July 1944 Cobra offensive. Tank would travel at high speed to pierce into bocage root system via these saw-tooth prongs, then using its speed momentum would lift-up both root system & bush overgrowth, making immediate clearing for follow-up infantry, and most importantly keep tank leveled during this bocage piercing so that its thickest armor portion faced possible enemy anti-tank guns. BTW, in photo extra sand bags on front glacis for protection against light enemy caliber fire and lessen damage from incoming tank rounds.

Cobra - the American breakthrough | MMO

Story #1 | Device was called by myriad of American and British names, including Culin Hedgerow Cutters, Culin Hedgerow Breaching Device, Culin Rhino Device, or just Prongs ( via British slang ). Before Culin Cutter design, US forces in Normandy created variety of hedgerow removal solutions, including " Salad Fork " made from timbers, " Green Tank Bumpers " made from railroad tracks ( St. Lo city was a railroad junction ), with testing carried out by US 747th Tank Battalion attached to 29th Infantry Division. It has been asserted by some that Sgt. Curtis Culin of 102nd Cavalry Recon Squadron - 2nd Armored Division, either saw demonstration of these implements or heard second-hand info of these developments, which prompted him to devise his own solutions based on 747th Tank Battalion initial experiments.

Normandy legends: the Culin hedgerow cutter | MLC

747th Tank Battalion order of battle | VKC

Story #2 | Another story was that Culin was discussing challenge of bocage removal with another US serviceman named " Roberts " from Tennessee Appalachia mountain regions... or colloquially a Tennessee hillbilly. Roberts mutter aloud of mounting saw-tooth blades in front tanks to mow down the bocage. Culin elected to take this idea to prototype stage.

THE CULIN HEDGEROW CUTTER | RAC

Story #3 | Last story, a common one heard in post WW2 history, was that Culin being native of New Jersey often worked on farm estates in land clearance. Hence, he recalled using farm tractors with fork-lifting blades affront to pincer - lift - removal large bushes.

Curtis G. Culin | Wiki

Cutters - Yanks - Monty | Final note.... Culin Hedgerow Cutter was not merely a great military device that led to Cobra offensive success, but also big piece of American military pride after some public tongue-lashing criticism against American forces by British Gen. Montgomery, who felt incessant German armor counter-offensives in his eastern Normandy sector was due to inept ( if not cowardly ) American infantrymen performance in western Normandy. Montgomery came to US. Gen. Bradley HQ, berated him and staff for lack-luster leadership, and tainted British-American military cooperation for remainder of WW2.

But most Americans do not realize that US 1st Army under Gen. Bradley, was actually subordinate to UK 21st Army Group, by which British Gen. Montgomery was commander. In other words, Americans throughout Normandy campaign June - August 1944 reported to British officer as superior field commander ( Eisenhower was a desk/logistical commander... for he never commanded any combat unit in battle throughout his entire military career ). Hence, Montgomery was within his military right & rank to berate his subordinate American forces.

UK 21st Army Group | Wiki

Nevertheless, WW2 American senior commanders privately vented their dissatisfaction of serving under a " foreign " commander given this great European crusade. Hence, on 1 August 1944 when Allied forces broke out of Normandy bocage region, all American combat divisions were transferred out of UK 21st Army Group and into newly formed US 12th Army Group for WW2 remainder.

US 1st Army Group | Wiki

Initial raw materials for Hedgerow Cutter production came from German Normandy beach defenses designed to pierce underbelly of infantry-laden landing crafts during high-tide assaults and snagged wading tanks off loaded from LCT ( landing craft tank ). Photo shows men from US 16th Infantry Regiment huddle behind " Czech Hedgehog " from sweeping German artillery and machine gun fire during D-Day low-tide landings.

Czech hedgehog | Wiki

Making Czech Hedgehogs ( model ) | RFUK

Landing craft tank | Wiki

Other names for German defense apparatus are Angle Iron, Rommel's Asparagus ( after Gen. Rommel who oversaw Normandy defense preparation ), Tetrahedrons ( official US Army designation referring to its geometric shape ), Planche de Cheval ( Horse's Plank via French slang ).

These Czech Hedgehog littered Normandy beachheads after Allied conquest, hence was used as raw material to created Hedgerow Cutters for both US and British/Commonwealth armored forces. US forces called implement " Cutters ", but British preferred term " Prongs " ( as in fork blades ) which sounds somewhat amusing in American English since prongs sound like seafood cuisine.

US 705th Ordnance soldiers use scrap metal from beach obstacles to construct hedgerow cutters | CPC

1944 WW2 Combat footage | CPC

UweM 1.35th model of M5A1 Stuart light recon tank with Hedgerow Cutters, US 9th Army, XIX Corps, 2nd Armored Division, 66th Armored Regiment, Company B, 12th Vehicle, Magdeburg - Germany, April 1945. Given recon tanks forward deployment to seek enemy troop concentrations and flank weak spots, the Cutters were retained on these tanks for duration of WW2. Allied medium tanks like Sherman, Comet, Churchill mostly had apparatus removed after Normandy campaign in August 1944.

UweM M5A1 model with Hedgerow Cutters | UweM

US M5A1 driven into heavy hedgerow with a Culin hedgerow cutter attached | CPC

Medaris the Logistic-mann | Although history vested hedgerow cutter creation to Sgt. Culin, personage with real vision and responsibility for getting equipment and raw materials to forward US maintenance units in Normandy was Col. John Bruce Medaris on Gen. Bradley's staff. He previously served on Bradley II Corps senior staff during 1943 Tunisia & Sicily operations, thus had combat experience in large division organization and logistics.

US Major General John Bruce Medaris | ACN

In fact, his foresight for Normandy invasion was to place extra raw material / equipment ( ex. iron rods, oxygen tanks for welding tools, transports ) with forward maintenance units, since once US forces penetrated deeper into France, logistical supply from Normandy beachhead to frontlines may be critical ( by which this was exactly what happen by Sept. 1944 compelling a full stop to Allied advance since US 14th Army Group and UK 21st Army Group were both competing for the same supplies ). Thus when need arose to create Hedgerow Cutters, US units were prepared, in addition Medaris requisition virtually entire iron rod material and oxygen tanks throughout English isles military depots.

Arming for the Grand Campaign | HAM

During postwar years, Medaris led multiple military missile development programs. In 1955, he commanded US Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama ( ex. JUPITER IRBM missile system, REDSTONE ballistic missile ). In 1958, he was elevated to US Army Ordnance Missile Command, which was an umbrella command of Army Ballistic Missile Agency + Army Rocket and Guided Missile Agency + White Sands Missile Range + Jet Propulsion Laboratory + Redstone Arsenal ( this oversaw weapons development in rocketry, guided and ballistic missile, space fields ). Other military and scientific projects under his leadership were EXPLORER satellites, PIONEER lunar probes, SATURN I booster program, and Project MERCURY.

Summary of the US Missile Program | TBC

Medaris retired from US Army in Jan 1960, ordained as Episcopal priest in North Carolina in 1970, inducted into US Army Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame in 1972. Civilian awards included honors from National Space Club and Smithsonian Institution. He passed away in 1990 and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

US infantrymen escorting German POWs to rear areas during opening stages of Cobra offensive, 25 July 1944. In foreground is wreckage of US M-3 infantry half-track, destroyed during bocage breakout battles. Halftrack vehicles were primarily a WW2 transport platform due to its relative ease/cost of construction in comparison to fully tracked transports.

M-3 Halftracks & Variants | ODC

By post WW2 years, majority of global armies elected to produce fully tracked infantry transports for cross-country mobility. Nevertheless, M-3 halftracks would still see frontline service well into 1980s ( for example, Israel Defense Forces used M-3 during 1973 Yom Kippur War, by 1980s during Israel invasion of Lebanon, she gave her very well dated M-3s to Christian ally Southern Lebanon Army ).

AEF Israeli Armor models | AEF

South Lebanon Army | Wiki

Capitol des Ruines | French title " Capitol of the Ruins" in reference to utter destruction of St. Lo town ( circa 95% ) during American offensive. US forces captured St. Lo some 2 weeks before Cobra offensive on 12 July 1944. City itself was defended by Luftwaffe 3.Fallschirm Jäger Division - Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 9 ( a self-propelled gun unit ). Division led by German General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl, a veteran of many notable German WW2 campaigns including Narvik - Norway 1940, Operation Merkur ( Mercury ) on Crete Island 1941, Demyansk Pocket in Russia 1942, etc.

General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl | Camp198

3.Fallschrim-Jäger-Division | FGC

General der Fallschirmtruppe Eugen Meindl | GMH

Tanks - German self-propelled guns / German SP guns | PMC

St. Lo itself can trace its lineage to medieval European era, town was original a Gual fortified settlement during Imperial Roman era. As settlement expanded, town emerged from its ramparts. By 8th century, town name Saint-Lô ( or St. Lo ) was bestowed which originated from Saint Laud : Bishop of Coutances circa mid-500s, but had his residence in Saint-Lô. This town swung from economic prosperity to near erasure from history in past 1000 years from 9th-century Viking invasion, 14th-century Hundred Year's War, 16th-century Wars of Religion, and WW2.

Saint-Lô town | Wiki

Medieval European History | MLN

US airborne paratrooper peering out bocage line for quick recon. American military doctrine were still sorting out priorities of "specialized" combat formations versus regular line infantry. In heavy combat engagements up to Spring 1944 Italian campaign ( especially amphibious landings at Anzio ), the doctrine was to use these specialized formations ( ex. airborne, mountain, ranger ) as line infantry when combat attrition precluded quick replacements from US state-side.

This deployment was hotly contested by "specialized" combat formations commanders, for these men had special training in stealth assaults, equipment usage, and behind-enemy-lines tactics not privy to regular infantrymen. Hence, using them as line infantrymen would be total waste of harnessed military resources. This doctrinal clash came to ahead during Feb 1944 battle for road junction Cisterna - Anzio beachhead - Italian campaign, whereby the US 1st & 3rd Ranger Battalions suffered heavy casualties assaulting German positions. Out of 767 men in the 2 battalions, circa 400 became POW, rest were KIA... except for 6 survivors which made it back to US lines.

Battle of Cisterna | Wiki

1st Ranger Battalion (United States) | Wiki

William Orlando Darby | Wiki

Given lagtime in transit of US infantry divisions from England's ports, onto troop ships, disembark onto Normandy beachheads, then transit into proper frontline positions.... US Airborne Division paratroopers remained in frontline combat from 6 June to 13 July 1944 ( right during onset of US frontal assaults onto St. Lo city ). Throughout Normandy campaign, US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions suffered 1,1003 KIA, 2,657 wounded, and 4,490 MIA.

German bocage defense lines JPG | PBC

Artifact from Hill 122 - Vicinity St Lo - Normandy, France | CHC

"Somewhere in St. Lo in July, 1944" ( modern Lego art ) | FKR

Ami Hiwi | photo caption falsely states US Airborne paratroopers impressed German POWs to carry mobile radio equipment during Normandy Bocage battles circa June 1944. Ofcourse, this totally inaccurate from casual observation to precise historical analysis. Ami is German slang for Amerikanisch ( American ). Hiwi is abbreviated German term for Hilfswilliger ( volunteer ), more accurately described as auxiliary military personnel. Hiwi (volunteer) | Wiki

American airborne landings in Normandy | Wiki

It is true, the 2 personnel in photo center are wearing German WW2 infantry uniforms, but chances are they are either Czechs or Poles impressed into German Army service during chronic manpower shortage suffered by Germany throughout the war. When these troops were captured by American forces, they immediately threw support behind Allied cause to liberate their homeland from German occupation.

Germany conquered Czechoslovakia in March 1938 after much vaunted Sudetenland Crisis, which resulted in the Munich Agreement between UK - France - Italy - Germany in carving up former Czechoslovakia. Subsequently by mid-1938, Germany annexed the Sudetenland ( Czechoslovakia western border region ) whereby large ethnic-German population resided. Eastern portion called Slovakia joined German alliance, leaving western Czech region to be ruled as Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia ( by default a colonial subject within confines of central Europe ). Sudetenland | Wiki

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia | Wiki

Conquest of Poland by German / Soviet forces in Sept 1939 resulted in partition of nation into respective national boundaries. Germany annexed Poland western regions, leaving central area titled as " General Government " ruled as quasi-colonial possession. Poles were considered conquered subjects, hence impressed at-will into German armaments factories or frontline Hiwis. In addition, due to German Chancellor Adolf Hitler personal racial stance against the Poles, he forbid Polish Fascist collaboration party to join the Reich or Polish volunteers into German military service ( any volunteer would serve as German national, not Polish citizen ).

German occupation of Poland and Czech regions ( Bohemia and Moravia ) were authoritarian and harsh at best, such reprisals for May 1942 assassination of Deputy Reich-Protector Reinhard Heydrich of Bohemia and Moravia. However, reprisals by Polish and Czech nationals by 1945 were equally harsh and barbaric.... such wiping out of entire German families during May 1945 Prague Uprising, or more explicit movie reels shown June 2010 by German new broadcaster Der Spiegel, showing mass executions of unarmed German civilians in Czechoslovakia, and then having these dead bodies crushed and smeared onto roadway by heavy truck dumpster.Reinhard Heydrich | Wiki

June 1942 Lidice Massacre | Wiki

July 1945 Ústí massacre | Wiki

Czechs Massacre Germans in Czechoslovakia | SGD

FYI, when one digs deep enough, interesting historical nuggets arise.. namely, Reinhard Heydrich was appointed President of INTERPOL ( the European international law enforcement agency founded in 1923 ) in August 1940.

Interpol | Wiki

Normandy, July 1944 | Photo purports to be US Airborne Bazooka team attacking German Panther tank, penetrating the turret and blowing off left track section. In actuality, this is staged photo-op attacking a derelict Panther, probably for state-side US newspaper ( ex. US Army's Stars and Stripes ). This is indicated by method of assault.

US bazooka team attacked Panther head-on, which had tank's thickest armor, usually man-portable anti-tank weapons are directed at tank's sides, rear, or even underbelly if possible. Secondly, bazooka man is only circa 20 feet away from Panther, which is pure suicide for tank's 75mm main gun would blast these men into pieces, if any survived the tank's bow & co-axial machine gunner would eliminate the rest. During initial weeks of Normandy combat, US paratroopers did capture of road junction town Carentan while awaiting link-up reinforcements from the beachhead. But with memories of US Rangers debacle in Anzio-Italian front earlier in 1944, US Airborne forces remained as defacto frontline infantry until regular reinforcements arrived.

Battle of Carentan | Wiki

Using US "Specialized" forces as line infantry debate originated with US 1st Ranger battalion disaster at Cisterna - Italy, Feb 1944. US Colonel William O. Darby was 6615th Ranger Force commander, which consisted of 1st - 3rd - 4th Ranger Battalion, along with 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Due to shortage of American line infantry, the Rangers were ordered in as replacement for frontal assault on Cisterna. To make a long story short... Rangers were ambushed by mechanized German forces, which after a 2 day battle forced some 99% of battalion to be killed - wounded - missing in battle ( only 6 out of some 600 hundred men survived the ambush ). Although Darby vigorous opposed such line deployment of his Rangers, he was over-ruled and the rest is history.

1st Ranger Battalion (United States) | Wiki

William Orlando Darby | Wiki

After 1944 Cisterna disaster, the 6615th Ranger Force was disbanded, most of surviving Rangers were transferred to First Special Service Force ( WW2 joint American-Canadian commando unit until Dec 1944 ), also called Devil's Brigade. Col. Darby was given command of 179th Infantry Regiment at Anzio beachhead where his unit repulsed various German armor assaults. His military awards included 3 Purple Hearts, 2 Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Russian Order of Kutuzov and French Croix de Guerre. In essence, Darby endured 3 major battles in 6 months, encompassing Venafro ( part of German Gustav Line defenses ), Cisterna, then Anzio beach defense.

Darby's Rangers in Action | DRT

Darby was killed in action 30 April 1945 during combat on Trento - northern Italy when German artillery shell burst among his command officers, 2 days later all German forces in Italy surrendered on 2 May 1945. Darby then posthumously promoted to brigadier general, and buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith - Sebastian County - Arkansas.

Darby's Rangers | RFO

Sherman Rhino | Culin hedgerow blades ( or Prongs as Brits called them ) fitted to M4 Sherman tank, hence were called Rhinoceroses Sherman, or simply Rhino. Key blades feature was that it allowed vehicle to plow directly through bocage overgrowth and root system without having tank to ride over earthen hump, thus exposing tank's most thinnest underbelly armor to German anti-tank gunners.

Rhino tank | Wiki

British took American hedgerow blade ideas and fitted devices to UK Sherman V Firefly and Comet tanks. Allegedly, very few prongs were fitted to UK Churchill infantry tank for they were not needed as such. In all, British called these specialized armor vehicles " Hobart's Funnies ", in references to UK General Major Percy Hobart - 79th Armoured Division, whose unit built series of specialized vehicles to handle Normandy beach obstacles, such as Duplex Drive Sherman, Flail Tank ( Sherman Crab ), Crocodile ( Churchill flame thrower tank ), Churchill ARVE bridge layer. But Hobart's unit did not invent the Culin Hedgerow Cutter, they merely replicated a similar design from American templates. During Normandy invasion planning, Hobart did offer his specialized armor vehicles to American Normandy landings at Omaha and Utah beaches, but was declined by US command.

HOBART'S FUNNIES | SBD

Culin Nein, Enten Ja | ( German for Culin No, Duck Yes ) Although resemble Sherman with Culin Hedgerow Cutter, it is actually a Sherman Duplex Drive ( Sherman DD ) designed to be launched from tank landing crafts offshore, then wade across open surf onto beachhead. In this manner, landing crafts would not have to approach beach front, run gauntlet of enemy fire, then offload these heavy vehicles.

DD tank | Wiki

Sherman DD had floatation canvas surrounding with erecting struts along vehicle, a wave deflector bow welded to front full resembling a duck bill shape. For US forces at Normandy, especially Omaha Beach, almost all were lost mainly to falling into large water laden shell craters, floundered offshore and sunk, hit by enemy anti-tank guns given its slow lumbering speed, etc. Photo above shows one of the few US Sherman DD survivors reaching inland bocage countryside.

Fighting in Bocage Country, Normandy (UK) | BBC

A beautiful French Lass sits with resignation as her head is being shaved as public sign of collaborating with German occupation forces. So called Maquis in background pulling out his snugged pistol to indicate his "head honcho" status. Her simple crime could have been having romantic liaison with a German trooper, mothering a child with German trooper, selling goods to or working in administrative offices for the Germans, etc.

The French Resistance | SPB

In fact, famed Swedish rock group ABBA member Frida Lyngstad was actually Norwegian, being born to a Norwegian gal Synni Lyngstad and German occupation soldier Alfred Haase in 1945. Fearing reprisals from Norwegian Resistance Fighters against families with so-called " War children ", her immediate family moved to Sweden where she was brought up.

Frida Lyngstad | Wiki

War children | Wiki

BTW term "Honcho" derived from Japanese word "Hancho" ( Squad Leader ), was adopted into American vernacular in 1950s during Korean War as large number of US forces assembled in Japan as transit point into Korean combat theater. Other Japanese terms used as military slang include "Sukosh" from "Sukoshi" ( a little ) and Harry-Kerry from "Hara-Kiri" ( belly splitting... as in Samurai clan member committing ritual suicide ).

Head Honcho | ETY

More French ladies lined up in public for their heads to be shaved as symbol of being German collaborators, one in forefront already had her humiliation effect. Ladies also forced to take off their cloths down to their under garments as additional humiliation. French gal in center stares into open space with facial remark " Let's get the Frack-on with this.... ".

Revenge of the Maquis | WW2C

Although Maquis members in photo gleam with satisfaction, their conduct at best is still controversial in modern day France, for few French citizens willing to engage in long debates over it. Rationale was that upon closer examination, one quickly realize not all people executed, tortured, imprisoned, or publicly humiliation were alleged German collaborators. Some were clan feuds with one family accusing the other to gain retribution for past transgressions unrelated to the war, some were opportunists in trying to destroy another rivals business or seize their property as war reparation, while still others simply belonged to the wrong political faction and used the power vacuum and chaos of war for extra-judicial killings.

Maquis (World War II) | Wiki

French Lass in photo got more harsher Maquis punishment with German Hakenkreuz inscribed onto her shaved forefront, yet she still held some dignity as other snicker against her. One under reported event during American arrival at Paris Uprising was throngs of French ladies so jubilant for liberation, that they fell in utter romantic snuggle, embrasures and kisses to all incoming American troops. Funny fact is that a good number of these French ladies were professional prostitutes from local brothels. They were serving German troops only the day before, now they are eager to resume their business by serving American troops.

1944 French Women "Collaborationists" Get Haircut! | YouTube

Hakenkreuz | DFC

In WW2, there was no single Maquis organization, rather conglomeration of Maquis factions, each with its own agenda - political affiliation - religious tenure. Western Allies did formally organized them into Forces Frangaises de Plnterieur (FFI) after 6 June 1944 Normandy landings, but political distrust among Maquis factions continued.

Allegedly, major reason why Free French Forces armored forces explicitly disobeyed US Gen. Eisenhower's order not to engage in Aug 1944 Paris Uprising was that rebellion was initiated by French Communist Maquis insurgents. Thus, the Free French feared their French Communists would overthrow German occupation forces, formally establish a French Communist Republic, and forever stain honor of Free French Forces for not coming to aid of her illustrious Paris capitol.

1944 The Liberation of Paris in Color! | YouTube

French Lass protests her innocence as Maquis extra-judicial punishment is carried out in a French village. According to French culture, it was not considered chivalrous for men to openly execute women. Thus, secondary punishment was public humiliation through head shaving. As stated beforehand, we do not know precisely the tenor of her alleged crime, only general accusation of German collaboration, be it trading goods with the enemy, working for German administration, or indifference to German occupation.

1/35th Kit Review : Masterbox Marquis French Resistance | MMC

Real unlucky ones accused of German collaboration were summarily executed, photo shows French firing squad executing presumably pro-German Vichy French members. Given immediate power vacuum in August 1944 between collapse of Vichy Regime and provisional Free French Government, various extra-judicial killings occurred for simple reason the victors could execute the punishment and answer to one for its actions.

Related Model : F4F Wildcat and Vichy France | UweM

However, in postwar years, modern France is reluctant to drag up accusation / trial of former Vichy French collaborators and subsequent Maquis killings. Embarrassment is too great to drag these old histories up once more, such as reasons why France is only WW2 Allied nation to formally surrender to Germany, which by international law required all French nationals to submit to surrender treaty, thus legally making Allied Free French Forces a renegade formation. But history is written by the victors, so no one will miss this historical tidbit.

Les anglonautes ( French Vichy Regime photos ) | AGN

LeClerc Extra-Judicial Killings | Most famous Free French Forces extra-judicial killings occurred at end of WW2. Photo above shows French Gen. LeClerc unit capture and summarily execution of French citizens in German combat formation on 9 May 1945. Another reason why modern France do not want WW2 events to be revisited. Photo caption reads.....

One day after the capitulation on May 8, 1945, thirteen (13) French volunteers of the Waffen-SS were shot without legal proceedings near Bad Reichenhall/Germany according to orders of General Leclerc, Commander of the French 2nd Armoured Division.

What was the reason to give a firing squad orders to shoot? These French volunteers wearing the uniforms of the German Forces, who had only been employed in their units on the eastern front, had gone without weapons into US-American captivity on the day of capitulation, they were handed over by the US Army to the following up "Leclerc Division". The General took an interest in these French prisoners of war and asked:
'Why are you wearing these German uniforms?' One prisoner replied: 'General, why are you wearing an American uniform?'

That was the reason the order was given to shoot these thirteen French volunteers. The dead remained unburied for three days, the French chaplain who was present did not try to establish their identities or see to it that they had a dignified funeral. The executed soldiers were buried under the supervision of the US Army. Only the names of five soldiers could be established: Paul Briffaut, Robert Doffat, Serge Krotoff, Jean Robert and Raymond Payras, the other eight victims were included on a memorial tablet as 'Unknown Soldiers'.

This incident is of course pretty unknown in the western world and is usually discounted as revisionist lies. May these brave French rest in peace.

General Leclerc & French Waffen-SS Members | WW2C

German War Memorials | TRR

The 13th Frenchman | However, decades after WW2, rumors surfaced that only 12 were killed extra-judicially at Bad Reichenhall - Germany on 9 May 1945, the 13th Frenchman was spared by LeClerc since he was son of a fellow French Gaullist general. Which begs the question, why was the father fighting for Western Allies while his son fought for the Germans ? Caption for this event reads :

Bad Reichenhall - In the first days May 1945, 12 French Waffen SS surrendered without trying to fight to the US American army. They were from the regiment "Hersche", tired or injured, they were not anymore able to fight however. With other German prisoners, they were held in a barracks at Bad Reichenhall (former barracks of mountain troops). On May 6 1945, the 2nd French armoured Division of Leclerc occupies the city. The French SS tried to escape by fear of reprisals. They finally are captured in a small forest, encircled by two French companies. General Leclerc will question them. Asked about their German uniforms, they replied: “And you, you have an American uniform!” Judging their attitude insolent, the General decides to execute them.

The execution will take place, on May 9 1945 near Karlstein, in a place called Kugbach or Kugelbach. Being told that they would have to be executed in the back, they refuse. It is a rather terrified and in disagreement with the order Lieutenant that must command the execution. The Waffen SS French fell by groups of four, one after the other, shouting "Vive la France”. The bodies were left on the spot in accordance with the orders. They finally will be buried, three days after, by American military officers, with names mentioned on the crosses.

December 6 1948, an investigation is opened after the request of the family of a shot one. June 2 1949, the bodies of the SS will be transferred in the community cemetery of Sankt Zeno, at Bad Reichenhall. The common grave is located in the "Gruppe 11, reihe 3, nr 81 and 82".

Few stories circulate about a 13th Waffen SS, who was the son of a French General, friend of Leclerc, and who have been spared the execution and sent back to his father. But this is not confirmed.

33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne (französische Nr. 1) | AHC

13th French SS man at Bad Reichenall massacre | FGN

Civilian Retributions | LeClerc was also as notorious against local civilian population as the Germans. When his forces encountered German snipers in Strasbourg during Dec 1944 operations in eastern France. He enacted almost the same German collective punishment plan of executing 5 German hostages ( soldier and civilian alike ) for every French soldier killed. US/UK Supreme Allied Command was aghast at such conduct, and issued immediate order for its cessation.

GEN. LECLERC'S THREAT 'A CLOSED INCIDENT' | NYT

SS-Charlemagne in Berlin | Thus, it is with supreme irony that one of the Waffen-SS divisions that fought fanatically in Berlin street battles April 1945 was French volunteer unit 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division der Charlemagne ( Charlemagne was founder of Frankish Kingdom during European Middle Ages era which evolved into modern France today ). Caption for their last battles :

They ( French Waffen-SS troopers ) were engaged immediately upon their arrival. They fought brief and bloody counter-attacks at the Hasenheide,and Tempelhof airfield, (defense sub-sector C) supported, as fuel and ammuntion allowed, by the remaining Sturmgeschütze and Tiger II's of s.SS-Pz. Abt.503 (assimilated into SS-Pz.Rgt.11 Hermann von Salza; withdrawing back across the Landwehr canal, and fighting through the district of Kreuzberg into the city center.

Here at the U-Bahn station of STADTMITTE, just yards from Hitler's FHQ Reichskanzlei bunker, Dr. Krukenberg set up a last divisional command post for the Nordland Division inside a ruined trolley car lit by candles. For the determined Frenchmen, whose skill at destroying Red Army tanks in the ruined boulevards of the city-center reportedly went unmatched, rearguard fighting continued unabated along the Leipzigerstrasse, in and around the Luftfahrtsministerium, and into the Potsdamerplatz platz, until the general order of surrender announced by General Weidling on May 2nd, 1945, when some 30 surviving Frenchmen reportedly went into Soviet captivity near the Potsdamer station.

One of the last winner of coveted WW2 Germany Knight Cross military decoration for exemplary combat action was SS-Charlemagne trooper named SS-Unterscharführer Eugene Vaulot on 29 Apr 1945( he was among 438 Waffen-SS soldiers so awarded throughout the war ). Award was bestowed to him in underground Berlin U-Bahn station ( presumably the Potsdamer train / U-Bahn station ) during final days of WW2. Vaulot was killed by Soviet sniper in Berlin on 2 May 1945.

33.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne | FGC

33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) | Wiki

French SS in Defense of Berlin, May 1945 | ACG

List of Knight's Cross recipients 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) | Wiki

Eugène Vaulot | Wiki

Two other SS-Charlemagne French volunteers were awarded on same day before Vaulot, they were SS-Hauptsturmführer Henri Joseph Fenet and SS-Oberscharführer Francis Appolot. Fenet was severe wounded during Berlin street battles on 2 May 1945, captured by Soviet forces, handed over French authorities in 1947, whereupon he was convicted of collaboration, sentenced to 20 years hard labor, released in 1959, and ran an auto business until his death in Paris on 14 Sept 2002.

Henri Joseph Fenet | Wiki

List of SS Knights Cross Recipients | AFC