Visited the Falaise pocket

Mats,

I know for sure that there is also something left for you! When we find these relics after 64 years there must be more!
Imagine what there was on those fields in 1944 .
I even found a few bullets on the path 30 meters from the ford.

But what about the panzer granate: is it dangerous and should I throw it away just like the first one or ........

I would like to hear your ideas guys.

 

Grueber,

First of all - I love your thread!

Secondly - I do not know what you should do with the granate. Isn't there any museum that might be interested? If not give it to the army, police or something.

Best regards / Mats

 

Geez.............I miss out on all the fun!!

 

Thanks Mats,

Together we will make this thread a bit longer.
Glad you like it. You are offcourse allways welcome to help me with my "reputation"

Edward

 

Yes, it's dangerous ! It is a hollow-charge round ( I think ) and it would give you more than a headache if it went 'off'.....

Personally, I would quietly dispose of it into a pond or river.....

( BTW, I purchased a very good de-activated one off German e-bay for about £10 a couple of years ago - much safer.... )

 

Edward, I would be very careful with the tank grenade as the piece you have is the explosive part and even after 60+ years is almost certainly still lethal !
I'm quite sure it would do a lot of damage if it were to go off, after all, it was designed for attacking armoured vehicles!

Dispose of it safely!!!

 

Grueber,

I didn't know that we could "vote for reputation" You know there are a lot of people who tell me all the time "RTFM" (read the fucking manual). Out of some reason I never do so!

Now I know more, and of course my "Falaise friends" has all got som points!

Mats

 

Ok guys, it is clear to me what to do with the Panzer-grenate. It is not coming in my collection...... I myself want to stay complete

Back to the crossroad at Necy.
When you turn around at the old and original roadsign



You would have seen this abandoned STUGIII in 1944. I count a few "empty"boots......



In 2008 it looks more peacefull.
In the distance you can see the railway. The tunnel goes under the railway.



To get a better look at the surrounding there is an nice aerial photo from a reconnaissance aircraft. You can see the german vehicles coming from every side. You can also see the tunnel, and in the left corner below you see the crossroad.



If you want to visit the crossroad, in most books they call it Necy but it is actually neighbourhood of Necy. It is a crossing on the D29E between Pierrefitte and La gare. This will help you minimize your searchtime!

 

This is excellent 'then&now' material, Gruber ! Many thanks for posting it here....

 

I would be so interested to see the photos on the thread, but all I see is "This photo or video has been moved or deleted" Photobucket. If someone can help, please let me know how I could also view - especially since my Dad was one of those who fought there. Thanks!

 

Michelle,

Explain a bit better. In THIS tread all the photo's are visible. And on photobucket they are also present. Indeed sometimes photobucket can remove photo's they don't like. But then I just upload them again........

Regards,

Edward

 

Grueber!

It's the same for me. No pic's. Just like mentioned here before.

Mats

 

Mats and Michelle,
Thanks for warning me, after refreshing my browser I also noticed that the first photo's were missing. You were both right!
Please take a look again, it should be restored now.
Please enjoy the photo's!

Edward

 

Sorry Grueber. It's the same!

Mats

 

Mats, Now I think you have to refresh your browser. Or logoff and logon again.

Please try it, I checked and it looks ok to me.

 

Now it works! Thanks for your help!

Mats

 

Thanks! I did the refresh and can now see the photos Grueber. Amazing to see the then and now.

 

Very nice pics! That air recon shot is awesome!

 

And further to Argentan.....

The americans entered Argentan through the southern entrance, using the N158,
nowadays the RN158 from Sees/Alencon.
In this picture they enter the village with on the right side l'ecole Maternelle, the old school.



The name of the school is still, as in 1944, on the same sign in the right upper corner of the photo.



When the battle for the village is over almost the majority of the city was destroyed at the end of August.
Here the Rue Saint Germain seen with l'eglise de Saint Germain on the right.



Basicly nothing changed.



One of the most famous photo's off WWII, also one of my favorites,
printed in almost every book regarding the Falaise gap and the battles for Normany.
This picture was taken by the photographer Jakerewicz and shows us american soldiers from
the 80th infantry division taking a brake next to a destroyed panther tank.



The Rue Saint Germain in 2008. The last shop in the builing closed its doors years ago, just like
the "office de placement allemand" (to recruit workers for labour in Germany) wich closed in august 1944........



A closer look at the Panther and the street with the eglise Saint Germain at the end.



The cafe Le Brazza is still open and the customers asked themselves what is that guy doing there?
Why is he photographing our pub? Sorry it is not your pub that interests us......





At the end off the battles the church "l'eglise Saint Germain" looked like this:



After 50 years of resaurations.......



But it still bears its scarrs on the outside.



Enjoy your own trip!