Background and Context

In late 1943, the British army ordered the veteran 7th Armored, 51st (Highland), and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions to return to Great Britain to provide combat experienced troops for the invasion of northwest Europe. On D-Day, the 50th Division achieved nearly all of its objectives. By mid-June, however, the 50th held positions only a few miles beyond its final D-Day positions.

Assessment of Division Performance

The apparent failures of the veteran divisions in later operations led many senior leaders to believe that these divisions had become a liability. This thesis will evaluate the performance of the 50th Division in Normandy by first examining the period before the invasion to determine the 50th’s readiness for war, British army doctrine, and weapons.

Analysis of Combat Experience and Training

The 50th’s prior combat experiences and pre-invasion training will be analyzed to determine the effect that prior combat had on the division.

Evaluation of Combat Engagements

Finally, this thesis will evaluate the performance of the 50th Division in specific combat engagements in Normandy.