|
ÉCOUCHÉ
Orne -
7 km west of Argentan
General Leclerc wanted to close the pocket
On
12 August 1944 in the morning hours, the 2nd French Armoured Division
liberated Alençon. In a swift manoeuvre General Leclerc launched
his combat units northward, they destroyed armoured of the 9th Panzer-Division
in Ecouves forest. The French drove back the 116th Panzer-Division
in Carrouges, then they bypassed Mortrée where the Americans
were blocked. In the German High Command, General von Klûge
proposed a daring operation : encircling the XVth American Corps.
But the German Army was worn out, and could not stop the Allied Forces
onrush all along the front line. On 20 August in the evening, the
French were in the vicinity of Ecouché. The following day at
dawn, Colonel Warabiot took the Germans by surprise. The French destroyed
many vehicles of the 116th Panzer-Division on the RN 24 bis, they
liberated Écouché and crossed the river Orne.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
2nd DB Massoua tank
