The Allied Thrust and the Mortain Counter Attack August 1944.

On the morning of August 7th, the Germans launched a major armoured counter-attack on Mortain from both sides. Operation Lüttich had been planned from start to finish by the General Headquarters of the Wehrmacht, against the advice of the military leaders on the ground. Its objective, imposed by Hitler in person, was to smash through American lines and reach the bay of Mont St Michel, some thirty kilometres distant, slicing through the Avranches bottleneck along the way. Cut off from their supplies, Patton’s troops would be isolated and become sitting ducks.

Mortain was briefly re-captured. The 30th US Division bore the brunt of this frontal attack and had to fall back. Some of its units found themselves like the famous “lost battalion” which remained under siege on Hill 314, to the east of the for six days, heroically resisting attacks from the SS, whilst directing allied artillery onto German positions.

Much of Mortain was destroyed during the war and the re-building work was completed to renovate the town to its former architectural style.

The 1944 landing beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword are situated along the coast between Cherbourg and Caen.