Condé-sur-Vire (Manche)
The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles
- Liberation: 29 July 1944
- Deployed units:
134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division
3. Fallschirmjäger-Division
- History:
A few days after the start of D-Day, the village of Condé-sur-Vire was targeted by a violent Allied air raid that destroyed almost 70% of the village on 18 June 1944.
Taking full advantage of the breakthrough achieved by Operation Cobra to the south of Saint-Lô from 25 July, the Americans simultaneously had to move south-east to prevent the formation of a salient between their lines and those of Anglo-Canadian units to the east. The 30th Infantry Division was initially to move towards Condé-sur-Vire, thus aligning the front with the Caumont-l’Eventé sector, which had been under the responsibility of the British 30th Corps since mid-July.
On 28 July, the Germans still held the commune of Condé-sur-Vire, defended by scattered elements of the 7th Army, mainly belonging to the 3rd Fallschirmjäger-Division. While the 30th Infantry Division was redirected south of Condé towards Mesnil-Raoult, the 35th Infantry Division took over the fighting north of the Vire. In the evening, the 134th Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel Butler B. Miltonberger was no longer in action. Miltonberger was only one kilometre from Condé-sur-Vire.
Omdat ze deze sector niet langer konden behouden, trokken de Duitsers zich liever terug naar het zuidoosten van de rivier de Hamel, in de richting van Torigny-sur-Vire. De volgende dag, 29 juli, namen Amerikaanse infanteristen onder bevel van kolonel Miltonberger Condé-sur-Vire in, staken vervolgens het natte stuk van de Hamel over en kwamen ‘s avonds tot stilstand bij Le Bust, dat door de nieuwe Duitse verdedigingslinie werd geblokkeerd.
Op 31 juli zette generaal-majoor Paul W. Baade, bevelhebber van de 35ste Infanteriedivisie, zijn divisiecommandopost op aan de rand van Condé-sur-Vire.
Map of Condé-sur-Vire :
