"We should feel purposeful by the end of this PD session."
Today's Itinerary and Activities
This morning we bid adieu to the Moulin Morin. After packing our kit into the vans, we began our drive back to Paris. Before returning to France's capital, however, we made a few stops to discover and discuss possible responses to the Powerful Question How do you close off a military campaign?.
Our first stop was Trun, where we picked up lunch supplies and examined the town's cenotaph. Framed by the flags of France and Canada, the cenotaph lists the names of the townspeople who fell during the First World War and the Second World War.
Following our visit to Trun, we drove to the Trun-Chambois Gap Memorial, which is located in St Lambert-sur-Dives and commemorates the closing of the Falaise Gap between 18 and 22 August 1944. After a brief discussion about the Canadians' role in closing the Falaise Gap, we walked to a nearby monument that commemorates the Canadian Victoria Cross winner Major David Vivian Currie of the South Alberta Regiment.
Our second last stop before heading to Paris was the Mémorial de Montormel (Memorial of Montormel), which is located where the final phase of the closing of the Falaise Gap took place. Before we began our drive back to Paris, we stopped at Montormel where syndicates presented the designs that they had selected for Canada's national Second World War Memorial.
After lunch, we drove to the Mercure Convention hotel where we all met two weeks earlier. Upon our arrival in Paris, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Some participants rested at the hotel while others went into downtown Paris for the evening.
Our first stop was Trun, where we picked up lunch supplies and examined the town's cenotaph. Framed by the flags of France and Canada, the cenotaph lists the names of the townspeople who fell during the First World War and the Second World War.
Following our visit to Trun, we drove to the Trun-Chambois Gap Memorial, which is located in St Lambert-sur-Dives and commemorates the closing of the Falaise Gap between 18 and 22 August 1944. After a brief discussion about the Canadians' role in closing the Falaise Gap, we walked to a nearby monument that commemorates the Canadian Victoria Cross winner Major David Vivian Currie of the South Alberta Regiment.
Our second last stop before heading to Paris was the Mémorial de Montormel (Memorial of Montormel), which is located where the final phase of the closing of the Falaise Gap took place. Before we began our drive back to Paris, we stopped at Montormel where syndicates presented the designs that they had selected for Canada's national Second World War Memorial.
After lunch, we drove to the Mercure Convention hotel where we all met two weeks earlier. Upon our arrival in Paris, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Some participants rested at the hotel while others went into downtown Paris for the evening.
Ending a Military Campaign
When we arrived at the Trun-Chambois Gap Memorial, Lee explained that the closing of the Falaise Gap in August 1944 is even more contested than the Normandy Campaign. He also shared the two narratives that dominate the debate:
After his brief explanation, Lee posed the Powerful Question How do you end a military campaign?. After giving us a few minutes to consider possible responses, he proceeded to explain that there are many factors that result in the ending of military campaigns, including a significant loss of life and the achievement of short- and/or long-term goals. He also shared that there are many steps that armies must take to end campaigns.
Before giving the floor over to Cindy, Lee asked a few more Powerful Questions:
Before leaving the Trun-Chambois Gap Memorial, Cindy reminded us that the end of a campaign is also the beginning of the civilians' reconstruction process. She also mentioned that even today, French civilians have difficulty forgiving those who occupied their towns.
- Narrative 1: The Germans succeeded in slipping through the Falaise Gap due to a poorly planned encirclement of the Germans on the part of the Allies.
- Narrative 2: The closing of the Falaise Gap was the culmination of a 90-day plan which ended in 78 days.
After his brief explanation, Lee posed the Powerful Question How do you end a military campaign?. After giving us a few minutes to consider possible responses, he proceeded to explain that there are many factors that result in the ending of military campaigns, including a significant loss of life and the achievement of short- and/or long-term goals. He also shared that there are many steps that armies must take to end campaigns.
Before giving the floor over to Cindy, Lee asked a few more Powerful Questions:
- Was D-Day the beginning of the Normandy Campaign, or was planning for D-Day actually the beginning of the campaign?
- Can a campaign actually be ended?
- Did the Battle of Normandy end or did it just move and relocate?
- What was the industrial capacity for Germany to re-equip their armies?
Before leaving the Trun-Chambois Gap Memorial, Cindy reminded us that the end of a campaign is also the beginning of the civilians' reconstruction process. She also mentioned that even today, French civilians have difficulty forgiving those who occupied their towns.
Reflections on the End of the Normandy Campaign
Simon and Zakk were invited to reflect on the question What does it take to end a campaign and how does a campaign help win a war?:
- Simon: "We usually associate ‘’winning’’ a campaign with territory won and military objectives met. Historians will then describe the campaign by adding descriptors such as ‘’bloody’’, ‘’successful’’, ‘’decisive’’ or ‘’pyrrhic’’. If enough campaigns / stages of the war are being won by one side over the other (more territory gained – more objectives met) the war will be over and won. This does not take into account personal experiences of battles being fought during a campaign: for instance, the Normandy campaign was ‘’successful’’ in terms of military objectives met, but how about all those who fought and lost their lives and are now buried in cemeteries in Normandy? Would their family think the campaign was ‘’successful’’? Even though Canada ‘’won the war’’, would there be an overwhelming sentiment of joy and happiness for everyone?"
- Zakk: "The Falaise Gap is a story of the reality of warfare in the time in which it was fought. For some, it would appear as if the episode was a evident example of the unwillingness of Allied nations to better communicate and thus squander the opportunity to effectively encircle the German Seventh Army in and around Falaise. And though lessons were certainly learned during the last days of the Normandy campaign, this narrative wholly discounts the historical context. With the enemy having sustained nearly twice the number of casualties (some figures suggest that number is higher), even in a position of substantial defense, Operation Overlord had been a stunning—though not flawless—victory from beginning to end. Furthermore, actions at Falaise demonstrate the nature of grand military strategy at that time: the killing or incapacitation of enemy soldiers. By early August, Allied forces had attained a flanking position over the Germans, holding significant high-ground over which righteous artillery fire missions could be laid upon the Germans occupying the Laize river valley below. In the words of some, the Falaise Gap became tantamount to a “turkey shoot.” As a result, by the end of the Normandy campaign at Falaise, German Seventh Army was effectively annihilated, meaning an ultimate victory over Germany was all but inevitable."
Mémorial de Montormel
The Polish Mémorial de Montormel commemorates the Americans, British, Canadians, French, and Polish who fought alongside one another to close the Falaise Gap in August 1944. The site, which overlooks the Vallée de la Dives (Valley of the Devine Ones), includes a stone memorial wall, army vehicles, information panels, and a museum dedicated to explaining the Allies' effort to close the Falaise Gap.
Teaching Students About the Battle of Normandy
Throughout the week, Blake, Cindy, and Lee asked us to consider the following question: Is it important to teach students about Canada’s experiences on D-Day or Canada's experiences throughout the Normandy Campaign?.
Riley and Simon shared their responses to this question:
Riley and Simon shared their responses to this question:
- Riley: "Honestly, I think the general takeaway I had in regards to teaching only D-Day is that we are ALWAYS teaching students a editorialized view of history. It seems like the events taught usually fulfill a narrative and have clear connection to other events, while what really happened was never as clear-cut or simple. I don't know if we should teach students more about the Normandy Campaign because of the time crunch most teachers already feel, but instead encourage students to discover different parts of history and come to better, more informed conclusions that way."
- Simon: "it depends on the program of studies, time available, expertise (of the teacher), and available resources. In Alberta, we do not study the World Wars per se. Students will answer questions based on Key Issues / Related Issues. Specific outcomes identify explicit components of values and attitudes, knowledge and understanding, and skills and processes that are contained within each general outcome within each grade/course. In Grade 11 and Grade 12, students will touch upon the World Wars, but through questions on Nationalism (grade 11) or Ideologies (grade 12). Teachers will then use case studies / examples in direct relation with the outcomes of the programs of studies. It all depends on how the teacher is knowledgeable on the topic. Because D-Day has such an immense narrative, it is easier for them to research this specific case study without spending too much time. They will often refer to the textbook and not go outside. Although the Abbaye d’Ardenne, the bombing of Caen, and the Battle of Verrières Ridge are all important parts of Canada’s experiences in the Normandy Campaign, there is not a whole lot of information available to the teacher (novice or experienced)."
Presentations of Canada's Second World War Memorial
The five syndicates presented very different designs for their Second World War National Memorials. Each syndicate included diverse monuments, symbols, information plaques, and flora in their memorial sites. As well, each syndicate located their memorial site in a different location. One of the designs is featured immediately below:
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