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The Normandy Campaign Trivia Quiz

The Normandy Campaign is overlooked in the liberation of Europe. It is as important as Overlord itself. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
335,490

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
654

Last 3 plays: Guest 206 (7/10), Guest 88 (5/10), Guest 24 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the one obstacle that was overlooked in the planning for the Normandy land campaign and that the Allies failed to properly prepare for? Hint

fortified villages

numerous orchards

armoured warfare

hedgerows

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Question 2 of 10

2. During the Normandy Campaign, what was a 'rhino tank'? Hint

tanks that could wade deep fords and streams

tanks with an extra armament

tanks with extra armour

tanks with tusk

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Question 3 of 10

3. During the Normandy campaign, what did the Germans call the Allied fighter bombers? Hint

Jabos

Gabos

Kabos

Nabos

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Question 4 of 10

4. During the Normandy Campaign, which German panzer division was completely armoured and motorized? Hint

Panzer Lehr Division

21st Panzer Division

12th SS Panzer Division

17th SS Panzer Grenadiers

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Question 5 of 10

5. Haupsturmfuhrer Michael Wittman and Panzer battalion 101 stopped a British attempt to capture Villers-Bocage on 13 June 1944. What kind of tank was he using? Hint

the Panther

the Tiger

the Puma

the Elephant

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Question 6 of 10

6. During the Normandy Campaign, which tank was nicknamed the 'Ronson Lighter'? Hint

the Grant

the Sherman

the Cromwell

the Matilda

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Question 7 of 10

7. Operation Goodwood yielded only marginal results. What was the one decisive factor it did produce? Hint

it forced the Germans to move vital forces from another sector

it forced the Germans to consider offensive action

it forced the Germans to reinforce St Lo

it forced the Germans to abandon Caen

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Question 8 of 10

8. The 12th SS Panzer Division was an elite formation in the Waffen SS. From what organization were the majority of its recruits? Hint

the work camps

the Hitler Youth

the Hamburg University

the SA

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which major port was the first to fall during the Normandy Campaign? Hint

Brest

Cherbourg

Dieppe

Antwerp

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Falaise pocket saw the encirclement of the German Seventh and Fifth Panzer Armies. Which ill advised German operation caused this disaster? Hint

Operation Luttich

Operation Friedrich

Operation Gryphon

Operation Atlantic

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 01 2024 : Guest 206: 7/10
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 88: 5/10
Oct 13 2024 : Guest 24: 9/10
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 64: 3/10
Oct 05 2024 : mulder52: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the one obstacle that was overlooked in the planning for the Normandy land campaign and that the Allies failed to properly prepare for?

Answer: hedgerows

The bocage area of Normandy contains hundreds of hedgerows which made a natural defensive barrier for a defender with automatic weapons and high velocity artillery. Why these formidable obstacles were never seriously considered by the Allies at the planning stage has never been adequately explained.

2. During the Normandy Campaign, what was a 'rhino tank'?

Answer: tanks with tusk

A rhinoceros tank or 'rhino' was a tank fitted with a tusk. The addition of the tusk allowed the tank to break through a hedgerow.

3. During the Normandy campaign, what did the Germans call the Allied fighter bombers?

Answer: Jabos

Allied ground attack fighter bombers were called Jabos. 'Jabo' is short for 'Jagdbomber'. The US used the P-47 and the RAF used Typhoons and Tempests fitted with rockets. These aircraft forced the Germans to move their armour at night only.

4. During the Normandy Campaign, which German panzer division was completely armoured and motorized?

Answer: Panzer Lehr Division

The elite Panzer Lehr Division was completely armoured and motorized. Every grenadier rode in an armoured half track or an armoured vehicle. Superbly trained, this armoured formation was a formidable formation to be reckoned with.

5. Haupsturmfuhrer Michael Wittman and Panzer battalion 101 stopped a British attempt to capture Villers-Bocage on 13 June 1944. What kind of tank was he using?

Answer: the Tiger

Tank ace Wittman was using the formidable Tiger tank. Within 15 minutes, they destroyed 15 British tanks, 14 trucks and 2 anti-tank guns, the majority of the damage being inflicted by Wittman's Tiger.

6. During the Normandy Campaign, which tank was nicknamed the 'Ronson Lighter'?

Answer: the Sherman

The M-4 US Sherman was nicknamed the Ronson Lighter by British and Canadian tankers because of its tendency to 'light up' first time and every time when a high velocity shell penetrated its armour. Experts suspect the cause was the gasoline engine used by the Sherman; diesel fuel which was used by German armour did not ignite as easily.

7. Operation Goodwood yielded only marginal results. What was the one decisive factor it did produce?

Answer: it forced the Germans to move vital forces from another sector

Although Operation Goodwood did not achieve a decisive breakthrough and yielded only marginal gains, it forced the Germans to transfer vital forces from the St Lo sector. Without the failure of Goodwood, Operation Cobra (the US effort around St Lo) would have not succeeded.

8. The 12th SS Panzer Division was an elite formation in the Waffen SS. From what organization were the majority of its recruits?

Answer: the Hitler Youth

The 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend) recruited the majority of its men from the Hitler Youth. The average age of the enlisted man was nineteen. Their fanaticism and brutality were the cause of several atrocities in the Normandy Campaign.

9. Which major port was the first to fall during the Normandy Campaign?

Answer: Cherbourg

Cherbourg was the first major deep water port to fall to the Allies during the Normandy Campaign. The city was captured by the US VII Corps on 27 June 1944.

10. The Falaise pocket saw the encirclement of the German Seventh and Fifth Panzer Armies. Which ill advised German operation caused this disaster?

Answer: Operation Luttich

Operation Luttich was launched 7 August 1944 in order to eliminate gains made by the US First Army during Operation Cobra. However,the Allies held at Mortain and Hitler refused to allow a retreat. The results were the better parts of two German armies encircled in a pocket around Falaise. This was the turning point for the Normandy Campaign.

Source: Author beterave

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