Pont-Hébert (Manche)
De steden van Normandië tijdens de gevechten in 1944
- Bevrijding: 14 juli 1944
- Verloste eenheden:
3rd Armored Division
119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division
35th Infantry Division
743rd Tank Battalion
Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 902, Panzer Lehr Division
2. SS Panzer-Division « Das Reich »
3. Fallschirmjäger-Division
17. SS Panzer-Division « Götz von Berlichingen »
352. Infanterie-Division
- Geschiedenis:
On July 10, 1944, the 119th Infantry Regiment (30th Infantry Division), commanded by Colonel Alfred V. Ednie, advanced south along Departmental Road 974 under German artillery fire, and its 1st Battalion reached the northern outskirts of the village of Pont-Hébert. Shortly before midnight, the sounds of enemy armored vehicles moving were detected south of Pont-Hébert; this was the Panzer Lehr Division, which launched a violent offensive to the northeast and northwest with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of its Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 902, reinforced by an anti-tank battalion in the early hours of July 11.
The Germans managed to break through the American defenses but were stopped by artillery and tanks of the 743rd Tank Battalion. At daybreak, the 119th Infantry Regiment reorganized and resumed its advance towards Pont-Hébert. The Americans were opposed by elements of the 352nd Infantry Division, the reconnaissance unit of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division and the 17th SS Panzer Division “Götz von Berlichingen” and they continued their advance towards the village, the last barrier before being able to access the town of Saint-Lô. The Germans were installed on the defensive and had taken advantage of excellent positions; they unleashed multiple artillery fire which slowed the American advance. On July 12, reconnaissance elements of the 3rd Fallschirmjäger Division reinforced the defensive position. Between July 12 and 13, the 30th Infantry Division suffered 961 casualties (killed, wounded, missing, or captured), including 400 from the 119th Infantry Regiment alone.
It was not until July 14 that the Americans of the 30th Infantry Division on the west bank of the Vire and the 35th Infantry Division along the east bank captured Pont-Hébert and pushed the Germans south.
Kaarten van Pont-Hébert :
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