MORTREE Orne - 11 km south-east of Argentan
Traffic jam between French and Americans troops
On mid-August 1944, the 7th German Army was beleaguered in a pocket narrowing day to day. The 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc belonged to General Patton 3rd Army, who had been assigned the task to encircle the Germans by the south. On 12 August Colonel Warabiot column moved toward Mortrée through N158. This main road was already jammed by tanks of the 5th American Armoured Division. In front of Mortrée a German rearguard delayed the American progression. With help of the Resistance, the French took minor roads to bypass the obstacle. In the meantime the Americans entered Mortrée, they destroyed two Panthers tanks in the town; but at the western exit a Sherman was fired by an ambushed antitank-gun. The Americans called for artillery support to push back the Germans and around 3:30 pm Mortrée was liberated.
   
 
 

General Leclerc monument
 Monument in memory of General Leclerc, and the 2nd French Armoured Division soldiers. The stele recalls General Leclerc campaigns : Tchad, Kouffra, Fezzan, Tunisia and Normandy.
 Situation : at the eastern exit of the town center, 2nd Armoured Division place
 
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Orne departmental tourism office web site
http://www.ornetourisme.com/
Conseil général de l’Orne web site about the Department liberation
http://1944.orne.fr/
Personal web site about the 2nd French Armoured Division
http://www.marechal-leclerc.fr.st
Personal web site about the World War II tanks
http://www.chars-francais.net/de1942a1945.htm
Personal web site about D-day and the Normandy battle
http://www.debarquement-normandie.com/
 
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