| 214th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division |
Contents |
The Brigade along with the 129th Infantry Brigade and 130th Infantry Brigade formed the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. In World War II it was organised as an infantry division and fought in Normandy, where it faced off against the German 9th SS Panzer Division at Hill 112 , in July.
It, along with the rest of the Division, were the first British units to cross the Seine river, with an assault crossing at the French town of Vernon opposed by the German 49th Infantry Division (see 'Assault Crossing, The River Seine 1944' by Ken Ford). This enabled the armour of XXX Corps under Gen. Brian Horrocks to thrust across northern France into Belgium.
They later played a major role in Operation Market Garden , as the support to Guards Armoured Division.
They went on to play a small part in the Battle of the Bulge, where it was placed on the Meuse as a reserve, and a large part in the invasion of Germany and the Crossing of the Rhine (Operation Veritable).
By the end of hostilities they had reached the Cuxhaven peninsula of northern Germany.
Hill 112 - Battles of the Odon 1944 Tim Saunders Battleground Europe Pen & Sword/Leo Cooper ISBN 0-85052-737-6