Jeanne, Frederick Fontenay - Rauray. The Bear and Fox, Ready for the Fray. Le 49th Division et la 8th Brigade face à la Panzer-Lehr et la Hitlerjugend, 13.6. - 1.7.1944

"Fontenay - Rauray. The Bear and Fox, Ready for the Fray" is the ultimate study of the British 8th Armoured Brigade and 49th Infantry Division. The book focusses on engagements at Audrieu, Fontenay-le-Pesnel and Rauray between 13 June and 1 July 1944. After more than 12 years of researching war diaries, documents and multiple personal accounts, the author has been able to retrace an accurate day-to-day chronology of the battle, sometimes by the hour, particularly those of Operations "Dauntless" and "Martlet". The British breach, accomplished on 25 June in Fontenay-le-Pesnel, at the link between the Panzer-Lehr-Division and 12. SS-Panzerdivision "Hitlerjugend", guaranteed the right-flank, ensuring a decisive breakthrough for Operation "Epsom". For several days, the Germans unsuccessfully attempted to prevent this section of the front from collapsing by launching new units on Rauray and Cheux (2. Panzerdivision, s.SS.Pz.Abt.101, Kampfgruppe "Weidinger", 9. SS-Panzerdivision "Hohenstaufen"). With supporting evidence, it has taken the authors expertise to restore the historical truth which was until quite recently incorrect, i.e. the alleged absence of "Tiger" heavy tanks of the s.SS-Pz.Abt.101 in Fontenay-le-Pesnel. The book includes more than 1000 accurately captioned photographs (portraits, wartime maps and battlefield relics), most being previously unpublished.

The British breakthrough at the junction between the Panzer Lehr Division and the 12th SS Panzer Division at Fontenay-le-Pesnel on 25 June secured the Allied right flank and enabled the decisive breakthrough through the German front as part of Operation Epsom. For several days, the Germans tried unsuccessfully to prevent the collapse of this section of the front by sending new units against Rauray and Cheux, including the 2nd Panzer Division, the s.SS.Pz.Abt.101, Kampfgruppe "Weidinger" and the 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen".