FLEURY-SUR-ORNE/IFS Calvados - 1 km south of Caen
The liberation of Caen opened the road to Falaise
 On 19 July 1944, Caen had been liberated. The day before, the Germans were still harassing the Canadians and the British troops as they attempted to cross the river Orne. The Luftwaffe launched a last night raid, then the Germans withdrew from the ruined city. The engineer units worked all the night to build up Bayley-bridges. On 19 July at dawn, by a rainy weather, the Canadians of the 5th Infantry Brigade moved on. They went along the river Orne towards the south. As the Canadians came close to Fleury-sur-Orne the Germans opened fire with nebelwerfer; the Norman population who was running away from Caen, started to panic and found refuge in a nearby quarry. The Canadians entered Fleury-sur-Orne, with support of the 27th Armoured Regiment The Sherbrooke Fusiliers tanks. While Le Régiment de Maisonneuve and the Calgary Highlanders moved towards Saint-André-sur-Orne and hill 67, the Black Watch of Canada liberated Ifs.
   
 
 
Canadian stele
Fleury-sur-Orne
 Stele commemorating the liberation of Fleury-sur-Orne by the Canadian soldiers in July 1944.
 Situation : in front of the town hall
 
   
   
 

Black Watch of Canada monument
Ifs
Plaque presented by The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. A stele below honours the Canadians troops who liberated Ifs on 20 July 1944.
 Situation : on a wall in front of the city hall (old building)
 
 
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
City of Ifs web site
http://www.ville-ifs.fr
Personal web page about the liberation of Fleury-sur-Orne
http://www.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation1.php
Personal web site about the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment
http://www.rcaca.org/r-Sherbrooke.htm
France 5 TV website about the Second World War
http://www.france5.fr/2gm/
Personal web site about tanks – download Michael Wittmann's military file
http://www.panzermuseum.com/downloads/doc_details.html
 
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