CAUMONT L'EVENTE/SALLEN Calvados - 23 km east of Saint-Lô
Fighting in darkness for the Big Red one
 On 11 June 1944 in Normandy, the 1st American Infantry Division Big Red One was assigned the task to take Caumont-l'Éventé. On 12 June, at 6 am the 18th and the 26th Infantry Regiments started the attack ; the initial progression was easy, Sallen, three kilometers north of Caumont-l'Éventé was seized. But in the vicinity of the objective, the Big Red One, under General Huebner hit hard resistance from the 2nd Panzer-Division. The 26th Infantry Regiment entered the city, but the Germans counter-attacked with support of self-propelled guns and repelled the Americans. The battle raged all night long. On 13 June the next morning, with infantry and the 743rd Tank Battalion reinforcement, the Americans pushed back the Germans from Caumont-l'Éventé.
   
 
 
1st Infantry Division monument
Caumont-l'Eventé
 Monument dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division, who liberated the city on 13 June.
 Situation : place in front of the church
 
 
     
  Liberation stele
Sallen
 Stele commemorating the liberation of Sallen by the American troops
 Situation : down the town, on a car park near the church
  General Huebner stele
Caumont-l'Eventé
 Stele in memory of General Huebner who commanded the 1st American Infantry Division, the Big red one.
 Situation : at the northern exit of the city, at the edge of the D99 road
  Normandy Battle observatory, 60th anniversary stele
Caumont-l'Eventé
 Observatory facing the Landing beaches, a map presents the Allied Forces progression from 6 to 13 June 1944. At the same place a stele commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Normandy battle.
 Situation : at the north-eastern exit of the town, at the edge of the D99 road, 200 meters of General Huebner stele.
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Official web site of the First US Infantry Division
http://www.bigredone.org/
Personal web site about the World War II generals
http://www.generals.dk/
Personal web site about the World War II tanks
http://www.chars-francais.net/de1942a1945.htm
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/

 
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