Falaise Gap: Friendly fire (not from the air)

[Crewman]

Well, next example. The example in my opinion very sad in common American-Polish military history of the Normandy Campaign period.

Date of action: August 19th, 1944
Time of action: late afternoon
Place of action: Chambois
Units involved: Polish 10th Mounted Rifles Regiment and 10th Dragoons Regiment (both from the 1st Armoured Division) contra US 2nd Battalion, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division.

For a long time I am researching this problem but nobody wants to tell about this incident too much, neither the Americans nor the Poles. I am working with the Falaise Gap veterans but after 60 years their combat emotions still are too high to describe this incident objectively.

Most likely, according to several Polish descriptions, the Poles did not recognized the Americans correctly and strafed them in field before they entered Chambois. The Americans approached Chambois to close the Falaise Gap between British 21st Army Group and the US 12th Army Group. According to the Polish veterans strafed US troops showed then white flags like the troops that want to capitulate. The Americans deny this information. The US comment below:

Originally written by Capt. Laughlin E. Waters

Some material published concerning the action at Chambois states that G Co. approached Chambois in column formation and a white flag. It adds that Polish troops had already taken Chambois. The statements are attributed to one Lt. Karcz of the 10th Polish Dragoons. The statements are untrue in every particular and do great disservice to the memory as well as the conduct of the men in G Co. and other members of the 2nd Bn. who fought valiantly, a number of whom were injured or lost their lives in this action.


Source:
John Colby
War From The Ground Up
Nortex Press, Austin 1991
ISBN 0-89015-844-4
page 233-234

Capt. Laughlin E. Waters was a CO of the G Company mentioned.

Imagine that up to this time the Polish and US veterans from Chambois do not like themselves too much between them. To make matters worse the veterans of both Armed Forces accuse between them of various things.

If somebody knows the US and/or Polish veterans (living in Canada for example) who fought together in Chambois -- you may invite them to this thread of the MLU Forum to tell us more about this incident.


Best regards

C.