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ARGENTAN
Orne
The
failed liberation of the Ornaise city
Argentan was the last objective to conquer in order to close Falaise
pocket. On 12 August, a dispute broke out between French and Americans,
when main road in Sées was congloted, the road was reserved
to American columns. The 116th Panzer-Division used this delay to
strenghten Argentan defences. When the 5th Armoured Division under
General Oliver entered the city on 13 August, the Americans were repelled;
a unit of the 2nd French Armoured Division joined up the Americans,
but the French were driven back facing overwhelming German force.
In the evening an order of General Haislip stopped the XVth Corps
progression. On 15-16 August the Americans attempted to seize the
station, but they underwent heavy losses face to German engineer troops
and Panther. This failure caused the ornaise city destruction; until
20 August Argentan had been continuously shelled by allied artillery.
On 18-19 August, the 80th Infantry Division under General Mac Bride
renewed unsuccessful assaults, despite support of the 610th Tank-Destroyer
Battalion. On Sunday 20 August, infantry of the 317th Regiment entered
a ruined city; they took some prisoners, but the Germans organized
Argentan evacuation the night before. |
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The Resistance monument
