The Battle of Mairy, Lorraine - Patton vs. Bäke | Tank Battles of WW2

On 8 September 1944, the highly successful Panzer commander Oberst Dr. Bäke was embroiled in heavy combat with the American 90th Infantry Division of Patton’s Third Army. Bäke’s newly established Panzer-Brigade 106 had been given the task of launching a pre-emptive attack on the Americans before Patton could launch a large-scale attack towards the German border. The Panther’s under Bäke’s command, however, would encounter the Sherman tanks of the 712th Tank Battalion. What followed was a very costly battle near the village of Mairy, in the Lorraine region in France.
Sources:
Batailles & Blindés. (2022). La Bataille de Mairy. Batailles & Blindés, 110.
Thomas, C. M., Cole, H. M., MacDonald, C. B., & Mathews, S. T. (1954). The Lorraine campaign. The Mississippi Valley historical review, 41(1), 170. doi.org/10.2307/1898201
Warfare History Network. (2022, 18 november). The “Tough ‘Ombres” of 90th ID stand tall at Mairy - Warfare History Network. warfarehistorynetwork.com/art...

Пікірлер: 55

  • @kenbaumann597
    @kenbaumann5976 ай бұрын

    Another work of excellence Ace ! ! My Dad was no longer being shot at by this point of the war. Dad was captured near Falaise and, by this point, was in a POW camp south of London. Before they were captured hiding out in a barn with 50 other men, they would periodically look outside and Dad said they never looked outside and seen less than SEVEN American and British fighters and fighter bombers strafing everything that moved. Both sides nicknamed Falaise "the bone-mill" because there was dead EVERYTHING, soldiers, civilians and animals. Dad was transferred from 1 1/2 years in Russia to France after D-day and was so glad to see an end to the horrors he had lived through. Keep up your excellent work Ace👍

  • @Kevin-mx1vi

    @Kevin-mx1vi

    4 ай бұрын

    A school friend's dad was a member of the Coldstream Guards, and because he was a despatch rider and had a motorbike he was sent into the Falaise gap soon after the shooting stopped. He must have seen the same scenes as your dad, and what he described to myself and my friend were exactly the same as your dad told you. I will have been around 14 at the time and was shocked by what he had seen, telling us he could have walked for miles by stepping on the corpses of men and animals. What is often not appreciated is that the film footage taken at the time does not show the worst of the destruction - the film crews couldn't get near it because the roads were totally blocked by wreckage.

  • @TheAceDestroyer
    @TheAceDestroyer6 ай бұрын

    Happy New Year everyone! The classic 'Tank Battles of WW2' series is back in a slightly new rendition. I hope you'll enjoy!

  • @dr.killshot4949

    @dr.killshot4949

    6 ай бұрын

    Is there any chance that the Battle of Maciejow video will come back up? It’s one of my favorites of your brilliant videos. Keep up the good work and happy New Year!

  • @kerrydennison7947

    @kerrydennison7947

    6 ай бұрын

    It is so good to see you and your channel back up and running,❤❤❤ we love your history lessons here in America. Sadly if you look at history the 4th armored division has always been downplayed by the 2nd and 3rd armored divisions. How about do a couple episodes on American tank aces. Lieutenant Colonel Clayton Abrams and Captain Jimmy Leach of the 8th and 37th tank battalion,s Captain Jimmy Leach is probably the most unassuming and lesser known of the US tank aces. And how about Sergeant pool,the real war daddy... People say the movie fury was based on Sergeant pools career with the 3rd armored division. Are firmly believe if they had had the m-26 available in Europe in June 1944 that the war would have been shortened for six to eight months. But as normal political back bite and fighting between the ordinance and armor Branch delay the release of this fine instrument of warfare.if you look at post war u s tank research and development they are all up to the current US main battle tank the Abrams are all based on the old M-26,the M-46 M-47 and the M-60 are all M-26 upgrades.

  • @paularinaga1576

    @paularinaga1576

    6 ай бұрын

    Ace, could you answer @timmievd question below? I was wondering the same thing. Why did the CO leave a gap between the 358 and 359 and put his CP in it? They were almost overrun.

  • @TheAceDestroyer

    @TheAceDestroyer

    6 ай бұрын

    I believe they also had not suspected an Armoured push to come up in such strong force. The Division had advanced towards their positions with relative ease, encircling up to battalion-level forces. The idea was to resume the advance the following day, and having a divisional command post ready near the front line would facilitate an advance as the CP could just stay where it was situated without being too distant from the Regiments it was commanding. It was a gamble which almost went horribly wrong.

  • @Chiller11

    @Chiller11

    6 ай бұрын

    I think there was a general underestimation of German resolve as the war neared German soil. After Falaise the advance across France was so rapid with virtually no organized German resistance that the Allies felt the enemy was on its last legs. Market/Garden is about to fail and the Americans are about to hit heavy resistance at Aachen and the Hurtgenwald but as of this time the 3rd Army had had things their way.

  • @terraflow__bryanburdo4547
    @terraflow__bryanburdo45476 ай бұрын

    I suspect that the weak side armor of the Panther was vulnerable in the close terrain of the western theater. Another classic video from Ace❤

  • @obsidianjane4413

    @obsidianjane4413

    6 ай бұрын

    No doubt.

  • @richardscales9560

    @richardscales9560

    6 ай бұрын

    It's in the same ballpark as other medium tanks. I don't think any medium tanks side armour is going to stop a 75mm and definitely not at these relatively short ranges. I think the reputation for weakness only comes from the fact that russian anti-tank rifles using specialist ap rounds could penetrate at close range.

  • @mchrome3366
    @mchrome33666 ай бұрын

    So many battles from this war went under the radar of public awareness. Thanks for your work in bringing them back.

  • @oliverfuchs3925
    @oliverfuchs39256 ай бұрын

    Good that you are back online. I am looking forward to the second part of the Hürtgen Forrest Battle. Your first series about the southern part of the battle ( Vossenack, Schmidt) are brilliant. Sadly the northern part (Hürtgenwald, Kleinhau, Gey and Wehevalley) were often overlooked ever by american filmmakers.

  • @Markyellowcake

    @Markyellowcake

    5 ай бұрын

    They have been waiting three years to find out what is going to happen next.

  • @thomaskositzki9424
    @thomaskositzki94246 ай бұрын

    Awesome video! I really like your detailed, well-presented and well-illustrated style! On the topic: German OKW "Hey let's attack with more or less a single Brigade into an entire Division, but we don't know that because our recon is non-existent. What could possibly go wrong???" The Germans were so convinced of their superiority that they often failed to recongnize that the US and Allies were leagues ahead of the Soviets in military expertise.

  • @Chiller11
    @Chiller116 ай бұрын

    Another concise summary this time of Patton’s 3rd Army. The map animations are so helpful in visualizing the maneuvering elements of the battle. Looking forward to upcoming episodes.

  • @thetankcommander3838
    @thetankcommander38386 ай бұрын

    ACE!!! Good to see you again, My Belgian Compadre!!! Happy New Year and keep up the magnificent work with the videos to come in the new year!!! 🎆🎊🎈 ❤❤❤❤

  • @arthurcrime
    @arthurcrime6 ай бұрын

    Whenever I see a new Ace Destroyer video in my stream, I make a coffee, and sit down and enjoy the treat. Thank you for your excellent work. And best wishes for 2024.

  • @dereksollows9783
    @dereksollows97836 ай бұрын

    It's great to have you back.

  • @i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b
    @i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b6 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the interesting war history! Bäke was a dentist before and after the war. Reminds me of the film Marathon Man, "Is It Safe"?

  • @stephenhunt2806
    @stephenhunt28066 ай бұрын

    An excellent addition to your Tank Battles of WW2 series.

  • @clementaut7287
    @clementaut72876 ай бұрын

    Great video, I didn't know about this battle. Continue this good work !!!

  • @MMSaabChannel
    @MMSaabChannel6 ай бұрын

    Thank you for another great video! 😍 Happy New Year!

  • @colinthehat
    @colinthehat6 ай бұрын

    It's brilliant to see you doing these sorts of vids again. I love the detail but most of all it's your vocal delivery that is outstanding. Love the accent, sort of voice you could listen to for hrs, there is a lot of good vids out there I can't watch because I can't stand the vocal of the narration.

  • @StartledPancake
    @StartledPancake6 ай бұрын

    Great presentation and a really detailed script. Such a shame to see all these battles in this beautiful region though!

  • @walkingwithgiants1
    @walkingwithgiants16 ай бұрын

    Your channel is excellent, your absolute quality posts are superb. Happy New Year.

  • @majorbloodnok6659
    @majorbloodnok66596 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this interesting video looking at an encounter I hadn't hear of.

  • @oldesertguy9616
    @oldesertguy96166 ай бұрын

    Excellent video, sir. So glad to have you back. Have a great 2024.

  • @damac5136
    @damac51365 ай бұрын

    Cool, thanks!

  • @davidarmstrong7549
    @davidarmstrong75496 ай бұрын

    Excellent video 😊

  • @michaelmorris2243
    @michaelmorris22436 ай бұрын

    I right, been waiting for your excellent work. Very good Great job. Thank you very much for your hard work. 🙋‍♂️🐈👍😊👌

  • @ladyponfarr5479
    @ladyponfarr54796 ай бұрын

    Have a Great New Year Ace.

  • @danielvanmol5655
    @danielvanmol56556 ай бұрын

    Honestly, you're one of the best you tube contributors on WW2! Correct story in correct context!

  • @patrickmcglynn5383
    @patrickmcglynn53836 ай бұрын

    Welcome back ace! AI just can't compare, I had forgotten about correct pronunciation.

  • @juhopuhakka2351
    @juhopuhakka23516 ай бұрын

    Semper Fi brother!Semper Fi!

  • @robertcameron2808
    @robertcameron28086 ай бұрын

    You need hundreds of artillery for the counter offensive.

  • @MrDino1953
    @MrDino19536 ай бұрын

    I think the story would be easier to follow if you found a way to visually highlight locations or units at the same time you’re talking about them.

  • @Whatisthisstupidfinghandle
    @Whatisthisstupidfinghandle6 ай бұрын

    0:19 Patton approaches near to Bastogne. The first time. 😂

  • @picklerix6162
    @picklerix61626 ай бұрын

    Patton: “I smell Monty.”

  • @lyndoncmp5751

    @lyndoncmp5751

    12 күн бұрын

    Well seeing as Monty was leading the fight everywhere, all Patton could do was smell him from behind.

  • @TimmieVD
    @TimmieVD6 ай бұрын

    Good episode again. I just wondered why they left a gap beteen 358th regiment and 359th regiment? I checked the terrain, and it's mostly farm land, flat land with some rolling hills. This just feels like an invitation to the Germans to attack in this gap, but why would they put the divisional CP right behind this gap in the frontline?

  • @MrDino1953

    @MrDino1953

    6 ай бұрын

    I am no military expert, but I was puzzled by the same questions. I can only think that the Americans had become over-confident.

  • @christianwandtke1068
    @christianwandtke10686 ай бұрын

    Very interesting. One has to realize that the Wehrmacht of 44 was no longer the Wehrmacht of 41. And again it shows that going into battle without conscientious reconnaissance is like playing the lottery. And then without artillery support. An irresponsible vabanque game.

  • @doolittlegeorge
    @doolittlegeorge6 ай бұрын

    No chance of developing into a larger attack even if a success this idea would be fleshed out in detail by the German High Command during what would become the Battle of Bastogne. It is odd though in every instance when an attack was prepared said attacks were therefore ordered on the part of Nazi 3rd Reich Germany and in their West. Preparing for such attacks was difficult enough but then to proceed with said attacks without proper artillery or air support would never have been considered a correct order by German Forces in 1940 or even 1939 so how that could possibly considered so as true late 1944 from the German pov makes no sense to me.

  • @twoheart7813
    @twoheart78136 ай бұрын

    Patton supplies were also hampered by the failed Market Garden.

  • @johndawes9337

    @johndawes9337

    6 ай бұрын

    not true

  • @twoheart7813

    @twoheart7813

    6 ай бұрын

    💩 @@johndawes9337

  • @Bullet-Tooth-Tony-

    @Bullet-Tooth-Tony-

    5 ай бұрын

    But he ran out of supplies, *2 weeks* before Market Garden even started?

  • @twoheart7813

    @twoheart7813

    5 ай бұрын

    you are wrong@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-

  • @Bullet-Tooth-Tony-

    @Bullet-Tooth-Tony-

    5 ай бұрын

    @@twoheart7813 Nope

  • @luissotochile2507
    @luissotochile25076 ай бұрын

    Mucho bla bla y nada de media .