Fontaine-Etoupefour (Calvados)

The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles

Liberation: July 9, 1944

Deployed units:

Drapeau anglais 4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, 129th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Division

Drapeau anglais 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, 129th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Division

Drapeau anglais 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, 130th Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Division

Drapeau nazi I/SS Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21, 10. S.S. Panzer-Division “Frundsberg”

Drapeau nazi II/SS Panzergrenadier-Regiment 22, 10. S.S. Panzer-Division “Frundsberg”

History:

At the beginning of July 1944, the British had not yet seized Caen. General Montgomery launched several operations to break the German defense line but without major successes: his opponents resisted despite the abundance of bombing and the means committed.

On July 8, 1944, a new offensive began, called Operation Charnwood, preceded by one of the most violent aerial bombardments of the Battle of Normandy. The commune of Fontaine-Etoupefour is one of the objectives of the 129th Infantry Brigade (43rd “Wessex” Infantry Division) in order to flank-keep the take of the aerodrome of Carpiquet by the Canadians. But the Germans of the 10.S. Panzer-Division “Frundsberg” offer a fierce resistance and the British struggle to break through the front line. The 4th and 5th Battalions, Wiltshire Regiments, reached Fontaine-Etoupefour and took possession of it only the following day, July 9th.

From 10 to 11 July, fighting continued for the 5th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment (129th Infantry Brigade) at the castle of Fontaine-Etoupefour, located to the south-east of the village.

 

Fontaine-Etoupefour maps:

Image : carte du secteur de Fontaine-Etoupefour- Bataille de Normandie en 1944

 

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