Domfront (Orne)
The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles
German prisoners guarded by American soldiers of the 41st Infantry Regiment (2nd Armored Division) along Rue des Fossés Plissons in Domfront.
Photo: US National Archives
- Liberation: 14 August 1944
- Deployed units:
82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division
41st Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division
67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division
120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division
708. Infanterie-Division
- History:
As part of preparations for Operation Overlord, bombings of transportation networks and communications hubs increased from May 1944. The town of Domfront was not spared: on the evening of June 2, 24 bombers targeted the railway station and damaged numerous buildings, killing nine civilians. Several raids were carried out in the following days, culminating in a massive attack on June 14, resulting in the deaths of twenty-seven residents. The death toll could have been much higher, but the frequency of the bombings prompted the residents of Domfront to evacuate the town and abandon their homes. In total, thirty-seven civilians were killed during the liberation of the commune.
The ambitious initial Overlord plan called for the Domfront sector to fall under Allied control only twelve days after the start of the landings, i.e., no later than June 18. But this did not take into account the relentless actions of the Germans, supported by terrain favorable to defense. Furthermore, the Allies did not arrive for nearly two months. Indeed, it took the American breakthrough of Operation Cobra and the failure of the German counterattack of Operation Lüttich to shake up the Axis defensive lines, creating a trap that the Allies wanted to close in the Falaise sector.
To carry out this southern flanking movement and encircle as many enemy troops as possible in this cauldron, Lieutenant General Bradley prepared a plan for the 1st Army, to be implemented beginning on August 8th, which was to successively capture Domfront and then Flers. The Germans, realizing at the same time the trap that was forming, initially considered setting up a defensive line near Domfront with forces belonging mainly to the 708th Infantry Division, but the front collapsed too quickly to implement a truly firm defense aimed at gaining precious time.
On August 13, the U.S. 19th Corps approached its first objective: the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was deployed to identify and secure positions west and southwest of the town of Domfront, which had been reached that evening. American artillery observers, seeking to maintain pressure on the German forces, called for several harassing attacks, which targeted the town and its suburbs. The reconnaissance regiment was followed by men of the 30th Infantry Division, who were preparing to capture Domfront.
Several residents, encouraged by the German rout, decided to meet the American forces and guide them to hasten the capture of the town, the departure of the Germans… and the end of the bombardments. Armed with this information, the Americans of the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment (supported by the 67th Armored Regiment) and the 120th Infantry Regiment began reconnaissance of the western and northern approaches to Domfront at first light on August 14. Guided by a Domfront resident, they headed towards the positions held by the Germans and quickly obtained their surrender: infantrymen of the Grenadier-Regiment 728, installed on the heights of hill 210 (Sainte-Anne mound) to the west of the town, surrendered while the sappers of the Pioneer-Battalion 708, after a quick stand, surrendered in turn. At 4 p.m., Domfront was fully reconnoitered by the Americans. The 30th Infantry Division secured the Varenne valley at the end of the day and prepared to resume its advance towards Flers.
Map of Domfront :
