AUGUST 18
1943
RAF attacked German V-2 Center: RAF pilots launched Operation Hydra during the night on August 17-18, 1943 in a massive attack on Peenemunde Army Research Center, Germany's V-2 rocket manufacturing and test center. It was the first time a master bomber was used for the main force. Group Captain John Searby, CO of 83 Squadron, commanded the operation. 596 allied aircraft were deployed in the mission ( 324 Lancasters, 218 Halifaxes, 54 Stirlings) The air raid killed two V-2 rocket scientists and delayed V-2 rocket test launches for seven weeks. Allied casualties were 215 British aircrew members and 40 bombers lost, and hundreds of civilians were killed in a nearby concentration camp.
1944
American, Canadian and Polish Armed Divisions closed in on the German 7th Army trapping them in a 6 mile gap in the city of Chambois. The 1st Polish Armoured Division under the command of General Stanislaw Maczek fought to the east of the Canadian 4th Armoured Division, and took Hill 262, (or the Mace) successfully defeating German counter attacks. Having the Mace under their control, the Poles could overlook the Chambois-Vimoutiers road, which was the last route out of the pocket, and easily pick off Germans trying to flee. And though the Germans repeatedly returned fire they could not dislodge the Poles from their position. In the next couple of days the Germans faced a battle to the break of annihilation as the Allied troops closed in and forced them to surrender. The Germans were killed, wounded or captured by Allied forces. The Allied Victory closed the Falaise Pocket on August 21, 1944.
Churchill to Roosevelt (message no. 767) "The refusal of the Soviet to allow the U.S. aircraft to bring succor to the heroic insurgents in Warsaw added to their own complete neglect to fly in supplies when only a few score of miles away constitutes an episode of profound and far reaching gravity. If, as is almost certain, the German triumph in Warsaw is followed by a wholesale massacre no measure can be put upon the full consequences that will arise. I am willing to send a personal message to Stalin, if you think this wise and if you will yourself send a separate similar message. Better far than two separate messages would be a joint message signed by us both. I have no doubt that we could agree on the wording. The situation in Europe is being vastly changed by the glorious and gigantic victories being achieved in France by the U.S. and British forces and it may well be that our armies will gain a victory in Normandy which far exceeds in scale anything that the Russians have done on any particular occasion. I am inclined to think therefore, that they will have some respect for what we say so long as it is plain and simple. It is quite possible that Stalin would not resent it but even if he did we are nations serving high causes and must give true counsels towards world peace."
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