Lieutenant General Gerard Bucknall: A Controversial WWII Commander in Operation Overlord

Lieutenant General Gerard Bucknall: A Controversial WWII Commander in Operation Overlord

Lieutenant General Gerard Corfield Bucknall, CB, MC & Bar, DL (1894–1980), was a decorated British officer whose military career spanned both World Wars. Best known for commanding XXX Corps during the pivotal Normandy landings in 1944, Bucknall’s leadership remains a subject of historical debate. Was he a victim of institutional inertia or an officer unable to adapt to mechanized warfare?

This in-depth video examines Bucknall's life—from his valor in the trenches of the First World War to his controversial removal from command during Operation Overlord. We explore the broader military, tactical, and political contexts that shaped his trajectory and legacy. Was Bucknall a scapegoat, or simply a man out of time?

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