Granville (Manche)
The cities of Normandy during the 1944 battles
- Liberation: 31 July 1944
- Deployed units:
15th Tank Battalion, Reserve Command, 6th Armored Division
2. SS Panzer-Division “Das Reich”
- History:
On July 30, 1944, Combat Command B (CCB) of the 6th Armored Division, supported by the Reserve Command in the second echelon, captured Bréhal and was forced to continue immediately towards Granville. But early in the afternoon, just as the American advance seemed irresistible, a powerful German artillery barrage blocked any advance along the road between Bréhal and Granville. Forced to use secondary routes, slowing the troops and increasing coordination difficulties, the Americans lost the impressive pace they had enjoyed until then. CCB was then forced to spend the night halfway between Bréhal and Granville.
Under cover of darkness, the Germans abandoned Granville and discreetly retreated south. However, American reconnaissance elements observed this movement and immediately reported back to their headquarters. Reserve Command was immediately put on alert: it was to sweep the coast and then capture the town. After moving, the unit passed Granville and fell into guard duty facing southeast. A platoon of the 15th Tank Battalion, reinforced by officers led by the division’s G-3 office, began reconnaissance of the village.
On the morning of July 31, 1944, the town of Granville was liberated without a fight. The CCB and Reserve Command resumed their advance towards Avranches and spent the night in the Bacilly sector.
Granville map:
