SAINTENY Manche - 20 km south of Carentan
War of attrition south of Carentan
On 4 July 1944 in Normandy, the VIIth American Corps attacked south of Carentan in a difficult area of marshes and rivers. The 83rd Infantry division ran up in front of Sainteny against the Götz von Berlichingen Division's SS grenadiers, supported by the parachutists of the 6th Regiment. Day after day the Americans renewed their attacks and suffered heavy losses. On 5 July, the 83rd Division under General Macon lost nearly 1,500 men for 200 meters progression. On 6 July, the 4th Infantry Division came as reinforcement, but without obtaining decisive result, while the Panther tanks of the Das Reich Division stabilised the german defense. It was only after ten days of fightings against the Götz von Berlichingen Division's SS grenadiers and the parachutists commanded by Lieutenant-colonel von der Heydte that the Americans entered in a heap of rubble named Sainteny.
   
 
 
   
 

83th and 4th Infantry Division plaque
Stele in memory of the 83rd and the 4th American Infantry Divisions who liberated Sainteny mid-July 1944.
Situation : at the edge of the D971 road, at the gate of the town
   
   
 

83th Infantry Division plaque
Plaque in memory of the soldiers of the 331st Regiment Combat Group of the 8th American Infantry Division, who fought and died in the marshes of Sainteny on June and July 1944.
Situation : on the wall of the town hall
 
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Page of US Army official web site about assault units of D-day
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm
Personal web site about the German paratroops
http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/index.html
Manche departmental tourism office web site
http://www.manchetourisme.com/
Official web site of the 4th US Infantry Division
http://www.4thinfantry.org/home.html

 
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