​​This themed walk takes you through the Normandy bocage (hedgerows) and fields, following the advance and bitter fighting that took place in this area. The walk then moves into the suburbs of the town before entering the built-up urban area.&nbsp;​The bocage has become synonymous with the Battle of Normandy. dating back centuries, these hedgerows had originally been placed to divide the fields by landowners. Over time, they have grown in places to be over 30ft high and over 6ft in depth. They would be used effectively by the Germans who tried to halt the American advance. In turn, the American soldiers had to adapt tactics in how to advance through this terrain.&nbsp;​The walk gives you the opportunity to walk through areas of dense bocage and gain an insight into these conditions. Large areas of countryside around Saint-Lo remain the same to this day.&nbsp;​The town had been heavily bombarded since 6 June 1944, D-Day. Civilian casualties were sustained and are honoured on memorials within the town. The bombardments on the town would continue until the liberation on 19 July 1944. By this time, almost all of it had been reduced to rubble and was uninhabitable. &nbsp;​This walk can be supplemented by a visit to the Musée du Bocage Normand, which will further add context to the intense fighting and battles that took place around and in the town of St Lo.​

France

La Route de la Libération de l’Europe est un itinéraire culturel certifié par le Conseil de l'Europe reliant les pays, régions, lieux de mémoire et histoires marquant la libération de l’Europe de l’occupation du régime nazi. La route a été conçue par la Fondation LRE comme un moyen de réfléchir à l’histoire de la guerre et à ses conséquences à longs termes grâce à une approche multinationale et multi perspective. Avec des centaines de sites et histoires dans neuf pays européens, la route relie les principales régions traversées par les forces Alliées en 1943-1945.La Fondation LRE et sa branche nationale LRE France présentent ici la Route de la Libération en France, la partie française de l’itinéraire qui vise à créer des sentiers de la mémoire dans toutes les régions françaises touchées par la Seconde Guerre mondiale et la Libération. Vous pouvez ainsi découvrir et visiter des musées, des monuments et des sites historiques, et en apprendre plus sur les histoires et les itinéraires thématiques de la LRE en France.

​The famous image of the church in the centre of St Lo with extensive damage that had been caused by bombardments in June and July 1944 during the bitter fighting to liberate the town.​ 

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he aerial photograph shows the devastation that was caused to the town during the fighting in June-July 1944.

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 ​The bocage formed a large influence on the battles towards the town of St Lo. An American M-29 ‘Weasel’ seen here progresses down the country lanes towards the town.​

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Hedgerow hell in Saint-Lô

​​The town had been targeted by the allies as part of the pre bombardment before the landings on the Normandy beaches. On 6 June 1944 the town was bombed due to its strategic location of main roads and a bridge over the river Vire.&nbsp;​The intention of this from the allied perspective was to cut of routes of advance. This would prevent the German forces manoeuvring towards the landings beaches and drop zones of soldiers coming into Normandy. This in essence was managing the battlefield to deny the enemy quick routes to counter the landings.&nbsp;​The consequences of the pre bombardment were that civilians would get caught up in the raids as they targeted multiple locations across France in the build-up to D-Day. Sainte-Lo would not escape that and the rolls of honour within the memorial in this square remember the names of those civilians who were killed by the allied bombings. This is a heavy reminder of the price for freedom that was paid for by the French civilians. Some of the civilians are interned with the cemetery close to the church of Sainte-Croix.&nbsp;​The first bombing raid by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) was schedule for 09:00 on 6 June, however it was aborted due to cloud cover. At 19:55 that evening they returned and a 15-minute raid took place by 30 USAAF bombers.&nbsp;​The bombing on 6 June would not be the last sadly. The Royal Air Force (RAF) returned on 7 June at 00:50 with 104 bombers. They dropped 2,100 high explosive bombs onto the town. &nbsp;​90% of the town was left in ruins from these two raids. Between 300-400 civilians had been killed.&nbsp;​Following the landings and the American advance inland from the area of Omaha Beach. Over several weeks the American forces pushed south and towards the town. The German forces had created a new defensive line and would hold the Americans for several weeks. The advance became slow, and the terrain was a harsh environment to tackle. The fighting in and around the town was not finished and further damage would be caused.&nbsp;​The town was finally liberated on 18 July, reconstruction would then begin.​&nbsp;

Saint-Lô, the capital of ruins

​​Major Howie had seen previous combat in Africa and Europe before he landed in Normandy with the US 29th Infantry Division. The 116th Infantry Regiment had broken out from the Omaha beach area and slowly progressed south throughout June and July towards Saint-Lo.&nbsp;​As the Division approached the town of Saint-Lo, they were positioned to the northeast corner of the outskirts. On their right flank was the US 35th Infantry Division and to the left was the US 2nd Infantry Division. It was slow progress for the Division as the advance towards Saint-Lo through the bocage countryside.&nbsp;​On 17 July 1944, General Gerhardt issued new order for the advance to Saint-Lo. The 116th Infantry Regiment were positioned on the Martinville Ridge area. The 3rd Battalion would make and assault. Colonel Dwyer briefed all the men in the regiment that if the Germans made a counter everyone was to take arms and “fight like hell”. Replacements came in the night before the attack with 250 men and 19 officers. These were much needed replacements.&nbsp;​The 3rd Battalion was to make the attack, link up with the 2nd Battalion and then push west towards the town. Major Howie would be in command of the 3rd Battalion. At 04:30 the attack commenced, and they came under intense German fire from both flanks. By 05:00 Major Howie had skilfully got his men through the main line of German resistance using the fog and bayonets to not give away the full movement and positions of Americans.&nbsp;​Major Howie linked up with the 2nd Battalion but had limited supplies with him to pass on. The 2nd Battalion was also under strength and was meant to lead the attack onto Saint-Lo. Major Howie was asked by Colonel Dwyer if he could make the advance to which he replied, “Will do”.&nbsp;​He quickly replenished the battalion with supplies ready to continue the advance into the eastern side of the town. He issued the orders to the battalion to continue with the advance into Saint-Lo. Just as he had done this, a German mortar barrage came in. His command post was hit and Major Howie was killed in action.&nbsp;​The following day the US 29th Infantry Division entering Saint-Lo. The body of Major Howie had been placed onto a stretcher and draped in an American flag. It was respectfully placed on a pile of rubble next to the church of the Holy Cross. Eventually, Major Howie would be moved to the American Normandy Cemetery. He would be buried there in Plot 6, Row 14, Grave 12.&nbsp;

​​Memorial to Major Thomas D. Howie​ 

​​On 18 July, the US forces were tasked to continue with the pressure and advance towards Saint-Lo. The plan was now to enter the town and liberate it. After days of bitter fighting and casualties the men of the 115th Infantry Regiment were now able to push the Germans back.&nbsp;​The 1st Battalion were tasked to advance along the Isigny-Saint-Lo Road and moved swiftly into the outskirts of the town. They met limited German resistance and secured the high ground to the west of the road in the area of St-George-Montcocq. At 14:30 General Cota had briefed his men and they were set to now push on into the town from the north and northeast.&nbsp;​At 15:00 Task Force C headed towards Saint-Lo from the area of Couvains. The 1st Battalion were ahead and the furthest advanced unit at this point. Some patrols had already started to probe into the town.&nbsp;​Major Johns reported back that they were receiving heavy machine gun fire from around 60 Germans. There were in an orchard to the west of Saint-Gorge-Montcocq. This is to the north of the town. He was ordered to then move off to the east to avoid this and try to link up with Task Force C. They were aiming to advance towards the square that was to the west of the cemetery.&nbsp;​It was reported at 19:00 that after serious of skirmished around the town, it was now firmly in the hands of the Americans. Major Johns had advanced into the area of the cemetery and setup his CP inside the Blanchet Mausoleum.&nbsp;​It had taken 43 days to reach and take Saint-Lo. The Germans had now established the next line of defence. This was 1000 yards south of the town and were ready for the next phase of the battle.&nbsp;​The Blanchet Mausoleum and graves around the area show the scars of the fighting during July 1944. Signs of shrapnel hits can be seen on the sides. It is within here that Major Johns had setup his CP during the battle.&nbsp;

​​Major Johns Command Post​ 

​​Alfred was the son of Niels Sorensen and Dagmar Thomsen. He was born in Nebraska on 4 December 1897. He was a veteran of both the First and Second World Wars, having served in the Nebraska National Guard.&nbsp;​Lt Col Thomsen’s battalion slowly pushed southwards through the bocage towards Saint-Lo. On the Division's left flank were the US 29th Infantry Division and the US 30th Infantry Division. All were pushing to try to liberate the town and cross the river Vire; this was the main objective of XIX Corps.&nbsp;​The battles along the route would see the Division securing several areas of high ground, such as Hill 122. Hill 122 had a ridge which sat just to the south of L’Emelie. It was from here that the attack would advance on 17 July towards the hill’s crest.&nbsp;​At 04:30, the 3rd Battalion launched an attack to take the hill. It is recorded in the reports that on this day, the weather was poor with heavy fog, which reduced visibility to a point where the armoured support of tanks and self-propelled guns was deemed useless.&nbsp;​Before the attack, artillery and mortar barrages had been brought down onto the area, but not as close as was desired.&nbsp;​As the attack advanced and the US soldiers moved through the bocage and fields, they came under heavy enemy resistance from prearranged defensive German positions. Following flanking manoeuvres, the hill was still not taken by dusk; it fell 400 yards short of the crest. The attack would start again at 11:00 on 18 July.&nbsp;​On 17 July, Lt Col Thomsen had been wounded during this battle for the hill, and he was awarded the Purple Heart.&nbsp;​On 18 July, the weather had improved, and the tanks would be far more effective with their support. At 11:00, the attack commenced and by 14:00, German defences had weakened and shortly after that, the hill was taken.&nbsp;​The next phase was a downhill advance of 1100 yards. The high ground was finally secured. The edge of Saint-Lo was in view.&nbsp;​On 30 July, Lt Col Thomsen was wounded in action. His battalion headquarters was hit by a German shell. He was evacuated to England and would die of his wounds 16 days later.&nbsp;

​​Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Thomsen​ 

​​The town of Saint-Lo was critical for the American forces following their breakout from the Omaha beach area, pushing south and inland. Following the landings on 6 June 1944, the American forces had suffered considerable losses on that first day.&nbsp;​On 12 June 1944, the US 29th Infantry Division started to move southwards towards Sainte-Lo. By 13 June, the Division reached the area north of Couvains. This is three kilometres north east of the town of Saint-Lo. A week later, they had made a small advance, the frontline extending to the north of Villers Fossart and south of Couvains.&nbsp;​The Germans, following the landings on 6 June, had managed to regroup and bring up reinforcements. They defended this new frontline that stopped the Americans from advancing to the town of Saint-Lo. They began to use the bocage to deadly effect.&nbsp;​The attrition of casualties amassed for the Americans during this battle of the hedgerows. New tactics needed to be implemented to advance through the German lines, plus trying to limit the amount of casualties that were being taken.&nbsp;​Firstly, armoured support was of great benefit for advancing infantry and engineers. The Sherman tank had been adapted in some cases and was referred to as ‘Rhinos’. This was a design by Sergeant Curtis Culin, who had welded sections of German beach defences onto the front of the tanks. The ‘Culin cutter’ would dig into the earth banks below the bocage and remove sections. This allows armour, infantry and engineers to quickly break through.&nbsp;​The infantry would use the tanks as protection to advance through the fields surrounded by bocage and would be supported by engineers. The engineers would target stronger German defensive positions with explosives. Slowly, field by field, hedgerow by hedgerow, was cleared as the advance continued towards Sainte-Lo.&nbsp;​The advantage of the bocage lay with the defender as it offered ideal concealment for infantry. Well-sited and placed machine guns could have wide fields of fire across the open fields. German infantry with Panzerfausts (Hollow charge projectile) would also exploit this advantage to target American armour that advanced through the bocage and fields.&nbsp;​No definitive figure for casualties sustained during the fighting of the bocage is known; however, it is estimated that tens of thousands of US soldiers were wounded, with thousands killed. The US 29th Infantry Division suffered high casualties during this period in the bocage as they advanced from Omaha Beach to liberate Saint-Lo.​&nbsp;

Hedgerow hell in Saint-Lô

Foto's

Locaties en verhalen langs de route

Saint-Lô, the capital of ruins

Memorial to Major Thomas D. Howie

Major Johns Command Post

Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Thomsen

Battle in the bocage

Hedgerow hell in Saint-Lô

Foto's

Locaties en verhalen langs de route

Saint-Lô, the capital of ruins

​​Memorial to Major Thomas D. Howie​

​​Major Johns Command Post​

​​Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Thomsen​

Battle in the bocage

Memorial to Major Thomas D. Howie

Major Johns Command Post

Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Thomsen