The story
The 2nd Infantry Division attacked to seize the ridge and town of Saint-Jean-des- Baisants.
Tanks equipped with hedge cutters and supported by time-fuzed artillery tore holes in one hedgerow after another, opening breaches through which tanks and infantry poured behind curtains of artillery fire.
Progress was difficult initially, but a coordinated attack in the late afternoon gained 1700 yards by nightfall.
The 2nd Infantry Division forced its way into Saint-Jean-des-Baisants on 28 July.
German resistance was crumbling, although the terrain itself in the division’s sector continued to be an impediment to rapid advance.
Small irregular hills, winding roads and a patchwork of hedge-rowed fields forced a battle at every turn even if the enemy defense was losing cohesion.
By 31 July the 2nd Infantry Division had advanced yet another eight miles south of Saint-Jean-des-Baisants, forcing back the enemy lines even as armored columns raced through more open terrain into their rear areas.
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.