Tank Hack Ensured Farmland Didn't Thwart the Invasion of Europe

szczys writes: Ingenuity reigns supreme when trying to overcome obstacles standing in your way. So was the case during the Allied invasion of Europe during WWII. Land features in the Normandy bocage region were especially difficult for tanks to navigate. The obstacles were earthen dikes topped with mature trees originally put in place to contain livestock. The solution was to reuse materials from the Axis' own anti-tank measures to build a tank attachment to cut through the obstacles. The Allies were able to take the Axis by surprise as it was assumed the armored divisions wouldn't be able to break through this area.

Comments

News for history nerds...

[WilliamGeorge]

Stuff that mattered 70 years ago, and is mildly interesting today :)

Re: News for history nerds...

[Foobar of Borg]

You really think today's generation of limp wristed skinny panced vape smokers could hack it in such a critical battle?

Um, who is getting shot at in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere? Dumbass.

Re:So, I actually don't understand this.

[Maxo-Texas]

Picture the hedge covered with heavy growth 15 to 30 feet high. Difficult to penetrate on foot- easy to hide in and defend.
Picture a german bazookaman behind the hedge ready to blow a hole in your soft underbelly.
Picture the teeth cutting 12" deep into the hedge before the tank starts to lift upwards.
Picture the heavy growth toppling onto the defenses, the top of the hedge being shaved off to become a wide dirt road.
Much harder to defend against the infantry following the tank through the new gap.