The Western Dunkirk corridor, 1940 : Ledringhem, Wormhout, Bambecque and West-Cappel
Murland, Jerry2022
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The story of 144 Brigade's defence of Wormhoudt and Bambecque must rank in importance alongside the defence of Cassel and Hazebrouck by 145 Brigade. Brigadier Norman's composite brigade was the final piece in the jigsaw of defence on the western flank of the Dunkerque Corridor; it held the line south of Bergues, containing the attacking German units at great cost, until the perimeter at Dunkerque had been established. The defence of Wormhoudt has long been associated with the massacre of British servicemen after they had surrendered. The events in the barn at La Plaine au Bois will always be considered one of the most appalling acts of the Second World War, carried out by elements of the Liebstandarte Regiment; almost second nature to these fanatical followers of Adolf Hitler. They found no easy victory at Wormhoudt, in an encounter that saw their regimental commander, Gruppenführer Otto 'Sepp' Dietrich, taking shelter in a ditch away from the fury of the Cheshire machine gunners. Overshadowed by the events in the barn are the murders of civilians and British soldiers that took place as the Germans overwhelmed the fragile defence of the Warwicks. Their Medical Officer, marching into captivity, went past the bodies of men of A Company who he was sure had been murdered. An officer of the Worcesters wrote in his diary that all the wounded of his Company were shot by a commander of the Liebstandarte. There is little other evidence to support the deaths of these men but there is little doubt that many British soldiers met a violent end after they had surrendered in the fields and on the pavements of Wormhoudt and Bambecque.
Main title:
Author:
Murland, Jerry, author
Imprint:
Barnsley, South Yorkshire : Pen & Sword Military, 2022.©2022
Collation:
xxii, 112 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm.
Series title:
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (page 109) and index.
ISBN:
9781526743183 (pbk)9781526743183
Dewey class:
940.5421428940.542
LC class:
D756.5.D8
Language:
English
Added title:
Subject:
BRN:
542714
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Library | Adult Non Fiction - History | 940.542 MUR | Available |