LA HAYE-DU-PUITS Manche - 30 km north of Coutances The Norman hedgerow, nightmare of the American infantry On 5 July 1944, the 1st American Army launched an offensive toward La Haye-du-Puits. The Americans engaged in a “battle of the hedges” that was going to be very costly. Before entering La Haye-du-Puits the Allied had to push back the Germans from two hills that framed the city : Montgardon and Le Mont Castre. On 6 July, the 79th American Infantry Division seized Montgardon. On 8 July, the 90th Infantry Division took the northern slope of the Mont Castre, after the parachutists of the 82th Airborne Division captured several hills at the foot of the Mont. The battle caused heavy human losses; at the end of the day, the 79th Infantry Division cleaned La Haye-du-Puits of the last snipers from the 35th German Infantry Division.
79th Infantry Division monument Monument in memory of the 79th American Infantry Division soldiers, who participated to the liberation of the city on 8 and 9 July 1944. Situation : at the northern gate of the town, near the medieval keep     749th Tank Battalion plaque Plaque dedicated to the soldiers of the 749th Tank Battalion, who participated to the liberation of the city in July 1944. Situation : at western gate of the city, on the War Memorial
ROAD MAP			INTERESTING WEB SITES Web site about the 82nd Airborne Division http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/5340/division/campaigns/france.html US Army official web site - US Army divisions structure http://www.army.mil/cmh/lineage/cc/comp.htm Page of US Army official web site about units of D-day http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm Manche departmental tourism office web site http://www.manchetourisme.com/   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved