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Battle of Normandy -- The Falaise Gap
by Elonka at 1:06 pm EDT, Jul 16, 2005 |
The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading American, British, and Canadian forces. Sixty years later, the Normandy invasion, codenamed Operation Overlord, remains the largest sea borne invasion in history, involving almost three million troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy in occupied France.
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The bulk of German resistance in the region was finally eliminated on August 21, with the successful closure of the Falaise Gap by Canadian and Polish troops. The liberation of Paris by the French 2nd Armoured Division commenced a few days later.
In French, that battle is referred to as "La Poche de Falaise". I just recently learned that one of my great-uncles, Karol Werner, a Polish officer, was wounded in that battle. My uncle died in the 1970s, but I recently tracked down his widow, who is still living in France, and has been delighted to share information about his life. She knows a fair bit of English, I know a fair bit of French, and so we write to each other in our respective native languages, and between that, and Google Language Tools, we've been doing okay! |
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RE: Battle of Normandy -- The Falaise Gap
by ludy at 9:38 pm EST, Mar 4, 2007 |
Elonka wrote: The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading American, British, and Canadian forces. Sixty years later, the Normandy invasion, codenamed Operation Overlord, remains the largest sea borne invasion in history, involving almost three million troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy in occupied France.
. . .
The bulk of German resistance in the region was finally eliminated on August 21, with the successful closure of the Falaise Gap by Canadian and Polish troops. The liberation of Paris by the French 2nd Armoured Division commenced a few days later.
In French, that battle is referred to as "La Poche de Falaise". I just recently learned that one of my great-uncles, Karol Werner, a Polish officer, was wounded in that battle. My uncle died in the 1970s, but I recently tracked down his widow, who is still living in France, and has been delighted to share information about his life. She knows a fair bit of English, I know a fair bit of French, and so we write to each other in our respective native languages, and between that, and Google Language Tools, we've been doing okay!
It's been two years since this posting, but I would like to know more about the great-uncle, Karol Werner's life. He may be my grandfather. And, I have stories of the family, too. |
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RE: Battle of Normandy -- The Falaise Gap
by Elonka at 12:29 am EST, Mar 5, 2007 |
ludy wrote:
It's been two years since this posting, but I would like to know more about the great-uncle, Karol Werner's life. He may be my grandfather. And, I have stories of the family, too.
To my knowledge, Karol Werner did not have any children. However, his widow is still living, and I can put you in touch with her. Please contact me at elonka@aol.com Elonka :) |
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