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The 1St Battalion, 38th Infantry attacked at
IIoo without artillery preparation, as no enemy
activity was indicated. Long-range enemy artillery
opened fire on Hill '92 and some machinegun
bursts were encountered along the St-L{l road,
but opposition was light and the 1St Battalion
was across the road and on its objective shortly
after noon. The 2d Battalion had already consolidated
its defenses. The enemy had replaced
the battered IIT Battalion, 9th Parachute Regiment
by the Til Battalion, 8th Parachute Regiment
and had withdrawn to positions south of the
St-LO-Bayeux highway, establishing a new main
line of resistance which he immediately began to
fortify with obstacles and mines.
The 2d Division's mission was completed when
the 23d Infantry occupied its objective in the early
afternoon. The 1St Battalion met very little
opposition. The 3d Battalion sent Company K,
supported by tanks, to occupy la Croix-Rouge.
Resistance had been anticipated here, but the
enemy had withdrawn during the night, undetected
by the American outposts. The 2d Battalion,
late in the day, moved up to a position
along the highway, extending the 23d Infantry's
line from la Croix-Rouge to Berigny, and clearing
out a well-fortified enemy salient. No resistance
was met, although the battalion had to pick its
way through a heavily mined area.
By the end of 12 July the American forces held
not only the hill but the St-LC, highway as far west
as la Calvaire. Their victory had cost the 2d
Division Ii9 killed, 328 wounded, and 8 missing.
The left flank of the main drive on St-LC, had
been cleared of a formidable obstacle, and the
Americans had gained the best ground for
observation on the battlefield.
The 35th Division Enters the Fight
Commanded by Maj. Gen. Paul W. Baade, the
35th Division had landed 5-'J July, and moved
from assembly areas into its sector east of the Vire
during the night of 9/10 July. Thus the division
had one day to familiarize itself with the terrain
35th DIVISION COMMANDER, Maj. Gen . Paul W.
Baade, studying a situation map during the July oOcmitJc
north 0/ St-LO.
in preparation for the corps attack. Its line ran
generally southeast from la Meauffe toward Villiers-Fossard.
For the start, a very important part
of this zone was the stretch near the Vireo The
30th Division, across the river, was about to attack
the Pont-Hebert-Belle-Lande area 20 with its important
bridge on the St-LO-Carentan highway.
The 30th Division would have trouble on its flank
along the river, unless the 35th kept pace on the
right bank. But this would involve an advance
of nearly two miles, through a zone heavily fortified
by the Germans. (See Map 12.)
His 134th Infantry held in corps reserve, General
Baade planned the attack with two regiments
abreast. The 137th was next to the Vire, and
would hit enemy defenses known to be strong in
10 It had probed into mat seCtor on 10 Ju l}'! sec above, p. :z:;:.