ESTRY Calvados - 12 km north-east of Vire
The  Hohenstaufen, "pompier" du front allemand
At the beginning of August 1944, the Operation Bluecoat took the Germans by surprise. General Eberbach, commander of the Panzer-Gruppe West asked for reinforcements to stop the onrush of British tanks. The 9th SS Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen hastily moved in the area of Vire in the night of 2 August, and took position on the left wing of the 21st Panzer-Division. In the course of the day tanks of the Guards Division made a reconnaissance toward Estry. The next day the Germans counter-attacked and repelled the 11st Armoured Division south of Le Bény-Bocage. During the same day the 2nd Irish Guards and the 5th Coldstream Guards assaulted Estry, the Sherman broke against the ambushed Panther. The British attack was kept in check but the withdrawal of the 21st Panzer-division compelled the Hohenstaufen to built up a new defense line. On 5 August the Germans retreated again and crossed Estry under heavy shelling of the British artillery. The situation made worse when several armoured units of the 9th SS Panzer-Division were retired of the front line in expectation of the offensive on Mortain. On 8 August German artillery stormed Estry to prevent the British to enter the town. After the failure of the Operation Lüttich the 7th Army waited for a general retreat order to avoid destruction. On 13 August the Americans reached rear positions of the Hohenstaufen. The Germans pulled back and the Engineers evacuated Estry.
   
 
 
 
King's Own Scottish Borderers stele
Stele in memory of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, of the 9th Brigade (3rd British Infantry Division) who participated in the liberation of the town in August 1944.
Situation : on the main place, facing the town hall

  
   
 
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

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/
Television and Radio National Institute web site – News extracts about D-day
http://www.ina.fr/extraits/recherche_theme.php
France 5 TV web site about the the World War II
http://www.france5.fr/2gm/
 
All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved