The successful completion of this book is due to the help and support of a great number of people. I would like to start with Professor Terry Copp and Dr Roger Sarty. They not only helped me through the research process but provided critical evaluation of my ideas. Professor Copp pushed me beyond my comfort zone in the writing of this manuscript. He forced me to grow as a historian in two key areas: the quality of my analysis and in the critical thinking necessary to make sense of the presented facts. I will be forever indebted and thankful that I was given the opportunity to study and learn from these two distinguished Canadian historians.
The research for this book would never have been achieved had it not been for the outstanding support I received from Cathy Murphy the Chief Librarian at the Canadian Forces College Information Resource Centre and members of her staff. Cathy is simply one of the most remarkable individuals I have every met! Her knowledge and resourcefulness continues to impress me each day. I have yet to meet anyone else who has a greater breadth of knowledge or understanding of military history.
I am indebted to Dr Reginald Roy and Dr Robert Fraser for allowing me access to their collection of correspondence and extensive interviews. Dr Roy was supportive and willing to provide copies of the extensive correspondence he had with many of the key veterans of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in researching and writing his book 1944: The Canadians in Normandy. Some of these letters held valuable clues and information in unlocking why certain events happened the way they did. Unfortunately, Dr Roy passed in January 2013. The extensive interview collection that Dr Fraser has in the Argyll Museum in Hamilton was instrumental in bringing to light the character of many of the key individuals involved in this study.
I would also like to thank Mike Bechthold for providing advice and access to maps, photographs and diagrams from the resources of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. I am indebted to Evert Stieber for providing the photographs of our 2004 battlefield tour.
I would also like to thank my dear friend Dr Richard Gabriel. Rick Gabriel has given me great encouragement along the way. His persistent comment, ‘You do good work,’ has reassured me on many occasions and gotten me through the rough spots on the road to completing this work.
My parents Graziettta and Rocco Caravaggio and my in-laws Donna and Bill Dorris have always been loving and extremely supportive of my work. They have always been on hand to offer encouragement and strong moral support. Unfortunately, we lost my mother, Bill and Donna before I could finish this book. Their passing has left a deep hole in all of our hearts and has been deeply felt by all those lucky enough to have known them.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not thank the late Major General George Kitching himself. It was he who planted the seeds for this book during the Heidelberg officers’ battlefield tour in April 1990. I was impressed with him and was amazed that he was able to talk about his experiences with his then foe Hubert Meyer with a frankness that transcended their bitter rivalry of 1944. Thanks sir for starting me on a journey.
The greatest thanks and love go to my lovely wife Karen and my wonderful daughter Rachel who have unselfishly given me the time and space needed to complete this work. To them I am eternally thankful.