Lithaire (Manche)
The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles
- Liberation: July 7, 1944
- Deployed units:
358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division
712th Tank Battalion
Grenadier-Regiment 943, 353. Infanterie-Division
- History:
At around midday on 6 July 1944, while in reserve in the village of Saint-Jores, the 358th Infantry Regiment (IR) was ordered to take Lithaire. The 3rd Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob W. Bealke, was designated to lead the assault against an enemy force estimated at around thirty Germans, the strength of one section. The infantrymen were supported by armoured vehicles belonging to the 712th Tank Battalion.
At 5.25pm, Company I of the 358th IR began reconnaissance and, after a rapid advance, immediately engaged the defenders of Lithaire. The Germans of the 353. Infanterie-Division was much stronger than expected and momentarily blocked the American offensive east of the village. Company K was then engaged on Company I’s right flank to reduce the enemy’s defences. The fighting lasted all night and part of the day on 7 July. The Americans came under heavy artillery fire: German observers took advantage of the heights of Mont Castre to provide particularly accurate fire support. The 359th Infantry Regiment was simultaneously engaged to reduce the enemy positions on this movement of ground.
At 1.45 pm, the 3rd Battalion was temporarily placed under the orders of the 359th IR in order to coordinate the continuation of the fighting in and around Lithaire and avoid any fratricidal fire with the surrounding American units. At 6 p.m., German resistance ceased in the village and the Americans finally took control, taking 75 German prisoners. Contrary to initial intelligence reports, the Germans had the equivalent of a company in this sector.
The capture of the commune of Lithaire enabled the Americans to guarantee a communication route for the 359th Infantry Regiment, in order to supply and reinforce it during the fighting on Mont Castre.
Lithaire maps:
