The story
Having outflanked what remained of a continuous German line, the 1st Infantry Division pushed on to seize high ground in the vicinity of Mortain, securing the flank of General George S.Patton’s newly activated Third Army as it broke out into Brittany and also swung eastwards towards Le Mans.
The 1st Infantry Division turned its positions around Mortain over to the 30th Infantry Division on 6 August, and pushed on to Ambrieres-le- Grand and Mayenne as Patton’s penetration deepened.
On 7 August the Germans attempted a desperate counterattack through Mortain with an armored reserve they had accumulated for that purpose.
They hoped to reach the sea at Avranches, cutting off Patton’s Third Army.
The weight of the attack hit the 30th Infantry Division, but portions of it were repulsed by the 1st Infantry Division, which thereafter held the southern shoulder until reinforcements arrived.
The Mortain offensive, handled locally, turned into a disaster for the Germans while Patton’s offensive continued unchecked.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.