Battle of Mortain
Then/Now
by
Stephane Letessier
Le Neufbourg, Normandie
France
No. 1
The result of a bombing of Mortain in front of the station Mortain/Le Neufbourg on the
12th of august 1944, at the foreground a Sdkfz 251, it is registered
SS and belong (assign) to the 2 SS Panzerdivision “Das Reich”. At the foreground
a dead German soldier.
NOW
No. 2
US soldiers look at the result of a bombing of Mortain,
background, the station of Mortain/Le Neufbourg on the 12th August
1944, foreground a truck Opel Blitz, a Schwimmwagen, a Kubelwagen and a Jeep,
and farther a Sdkfz 251 registered SS. German vehicles belong to the 2 SS
Panzerdivision “Das Reich” and the jeep to the 30th Inf. Div. US.
NOW
No. 3
On the 3rd of August 1944, US soldiers from the
1st US Inf. Div. Patrol on the road (D5) west of the main crossroads
(D5-D55) in the village of Juvigny Le Tertre, coming from Avranches. The M4
Sherman is a wreck destroyed by the 2 SS Panzerdivision “Das Reich” . These men
must belong to the 18th Infantry Regt, the 26th I. R. is
southward the village. The 3/18th I.R. comes into Juvigny Le Tertre
on the 2nd of August after harsh fighting. The village is hold by the
116. Pz Div. And part of the 2nd SS Pz Div, according to report of
the 18th Inf. Regt. which is supported by the CCA of the 3rd
Armored Div. US.
NOW
No. 4
At the west entry of Juvigny Le Tertre by the
D5 (coming from Avranches), a road bordered with houses, a jeep, a destroy M4
Sherman on the left, is part of Task Force 2 of Combat Command B of the 3rd
Armored Division US, on the other side of the road, a Sturmgeshutz (Stug 3) of
the 1 SS Panzer Division “Liebstandarte SS Adolf Hitler”
NOW
No. 5
A group of US soldiers met around a piano and sing, rue Montéglise at Barenton.
The 2
GI’s on the right bear the badge of the 2nd Armored Division. The
division comes into Barenton on the 10August 1944.
NOW
No. 6
US vehicles have been completely destroyed on of
Grande Rue at Mortain. A M3 Half Track turned out and a burnt jeep watched
by a GI.
NOW
No. 7
US vehicles have been completely destroyed on of Grande Rue at Mortain. A M3
Half Track turned out and a burnt jeep watched by a GI.
NOW