GRIMESNIL/CERENCES Manche - 15 km south of Coutances
5000 German soldiers were captured in Roncey
 The Operation Cobra, launched on 25 July 1944 by the American Army, had dismantled the German front line west of Saint-Lô. The Panzer-Lehr Division could be counted as nearly destroyed. On 27 July, the 1st Infantry Division reached Marigny, the 79th Infantry Division entered Lessay. On 28 July, the 4th Armoured Division liberated Coutances. The remnants of several German divisions were encircled in Roncey area : the 91st, the 243rd and the 353rd Infantry Divisions, the 6th Parachutist Regiment, the 2nd and the 17th SS Divisions, and the Panzer-Lehr Division. The Germans attempted to go through westward toward the coast, and southward, between Gavray and Cérences. The 2nd Armoured Division encircled the Germans in a wide manoeuvre, the Combat Command B moved to the west and crosses Grimesnil. The 4th Armoured Division, under General Wood, liberated Cérences. In the evening of 29 July, near 5000 German soldiers were made prisoners in the pocket of Roncey.
  
     
   
 
 
     
 
 

American soldiers stele
Grimesnil
 Stele dedicated to American soldiers and Norman people killed in the fighting of La Lande des Morts, on 29 July 1944.
 Situation : west of the town, at the edge of the D49 road, Le Chapitre locality
 
     
  John B. Thompson stele
Cérences
Stele in memory of Captain John B. Thompson, pilot in the 9th US Air Force, killed on 10 August 1944.
 Situation : 3 kilometres south of the town, in Bourey Hamlet take left at the church, cross a farm yard, the stele is 100 meters on the left
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Manche departmental tourism office web site
http://www.manchetourisme.com/
Personal web site about the US Army in Europe
http://www.lonesentry.com/index.html
Personal web site about the Medical units in US Army
http://home.att.net/%7esteinert/
Personal web site about the American helmet M1
http://www.M-1helmet.com/
 
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