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of VIII Corps' front, relieving the 82d Airborne. The 90th Division met determined enemy counterattacks in the Mont-Castre Forest sector, but fought its way through that difficult ground during the next four days. On the corps' right, the 79th Division became involved in the severest type of hedgerow battles; on 9 July its gain for the day HEDGEROW BATTLEFIELD in the XIX Corps s
yond the Mont-Castre hills, one of the toughest sectors on First Army's front; its casualties for a week of fighting were almost 5,000 men. All attacking divisions had sustained heavy losses in this period, averaging several hundred casualties per division each day. VII Corps' efforts met equally determined enemy resistance; on 9 July the 4th Division ground out 400 yards and the 83d, 700 yards. But here again, on IO J ul y the enemy opposition began to show signs of wear. On that day the 4th Division repelled an enemy counterattack; then struck a well-timed blow that broke the German front and drove large columns from their dug-in positions onto open ground where American artillery could hit them. For losses of only four men, the 8th Infantry's battalion that pushed home this attack captured 50 Germans and counted 480 bodies. Some gains were also made beyond Sainteny, and VII Corps' main effort was about to feel the advantages resulting from the entrance of the 9th Division into the battle, east of the Taute. But the week of heavy fighting left VIII and VII Corps still far short of their original objectives. Except for the higher command, with its knowledge of the enemy's problems and weakness, American soldiers were in little position to feel anything save disappointment over the results of bitter struggle for a few miles of ground. But aspects of the battle other than the gain or loss of a little terrain were very clear to the German command, which was not happy over the situation on the left wing of Seventh Army. During this five-day period from 7 to II July, SevC1lth Army's War Diary reflects the u1lremitting, ever-increasing strain produced in LXXXIV Corps by the contmued pressure of American attack. All German efforts at counterattack failed to restore the situation and only used up their slim reserves. When Panzer Lehr DiVISion came in, that unit was hard hit on II July and thrown immediately on the defensive. Day after day, SevC1lth Army congrattdates its units on defensive successes, but these consisted ordinarily in preventing breakthroughs or in stopping pene· trations. In the western sector, from the Prairies Mare· cageuses to the coast, the period began with the attempt of a battle group of the 2d SS Panzer, aided by the 15th Parachute Regiment (of the 5th Parachute Division), to restore the M LR in the Mont-Castre area. At first, hopeful reports came in from this cou1lterattack, but by 8 July Arm)! had to recognize that the results were not decisive. Furthermore, American progress in the St-Jeallde-Daye sector made it necessary to plan at once for pulling the 2d SS Panzer's combat group out of the west wing and using it to reinforce along the Vireo But this move would weaken the west wing so greatly that, lacking reserves behind it, Army felt a withdrawal on the coastal end of the front would be necessary in order to obtaiu shorter lines. Rommel discussed this withdrawal plan all the 7th with Army, but (after orders came down from Hitler) decided that 110 terraiu would be yielded 'mless under pressure. If withdrawal were forced, Rommel approved taking up a line covering Lessoy. So, the left wing of LXXXIV Corps tried to stOlid its ground during the next three days, only to be steadily pushed back and heavily punished. La Haye-du-Puits was lost on 8 July. By 10 July the Germans were at the southern edge of the Mont-Castre hills, and were also being forced back west of the Lessay-la Haye-du-Puits highway. Strellgth of the Ullits resisting in the sector opposite U. S. VIlI Corps was listed all 10 July as follows: 77th Division 1,840 meJI 353d Division (with remnants of 9ISt Division) 1,250 meJI 243d Divisioll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700 men On II July, alarmed by American success directly east of that sector (ill the U. S. Vll Corps zone), Army finally got approval from Rommel and Hitler for a withdrawal of the west wing. The line proposed was about two miles north 0/ the Ay River, protectitlg Lessay, but certain U. S. forces had already reached this new line at some
Page 2 and 3:
ST-LO (7 July -19 July 1944) Americ
Page 5: WAR DEPARTMENT Historical Division
Page 10 and 11: THE JULY OFFENSIVE ST-LO, capital o
Page 12: eluded the Viro River and aimed at
Page 15: Near! y 15 miles wide at the start,
Page 18 and 19: XIX CORPS ATTACKS WEST OF THE VIRE
Page 20 and 21: units and to close quickly with the
Page 22 and 23: ASSAULT CROSSING SITE on the Vire R
Page 26: ing into Normandy in mid-June, the
Page 34: 12th Paracl!t/te Regime1lt. Germall
Page 37 and 38: off, the 1St Battalion following at
Page 39: 3 0
Page 45: while the 3d Battalion was hit by a
Page 51 and 52: of the 3d Battalion were ambushed a
Page 53: 1(1 Oeser! MAPNO.8 @JORCn •
Page 66: FIXING DHIOLITIONS to blow a gap th
Page 70 and 71: corners, and spray the lateral hedg
Page 72: attack with two battalions in colum
Page 76: The 2d Platoon of Company A attempt
Page 80 and 81: Army to give it the 14/h Parachute
Page 85: Atter hard fighting, the 2d Battali
Page 89 and 90: On 13 July the claim was made that
Page 91 and 92: 35TH DIVISION, 12-14 JULY "'" MAP N
Page 93: pressed, they could retire easily t
Page 97: from the high ground across both st
Page 100 and 101: geant. In the 120th, the strength o
Page 102: supply problem. But the main ports
Page 107:
mingled, and artillery fire was har
Page 110:
to enemy movement or maneuver, Gene
Page 115:
the battalion that night and return
Page 118 and 119:
penetration. General Gerhardt did n
Page 120:
manding the 3d Battalion, was given
Page 123 and 124:
the regiment was finally ordered to
Page 126 and 127:
further was launched. The attack wa
Page 128 and 129:
have the honor to announce to the C
Page 130:
The I13th Cavalry Group, in corps r
Page 133 and 134:
clinging to the idea of mailltamtll
Page 135 and 136:
CONCLUSION A GENERAL OFFICER WRITES
Page 137 and 138:
of them could be withdrawn from the
Page 140 and 141:
., Hay.-du.PuifS L8$$01 I X FIRST X
Page 142:
-1 ....... --- Gr(lll/".$ (11'1' 38
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