SAINT-SYLVAIN Calvados 15 km south of Caen
First Poles killed under B17 bombs
On 8 August 1944 the staff of the IInd Canadian Corps thought the starting offensive stood a good chance of success. The Operation Totalize was launched under cover of darkness and after initial confusion the objectives were reached. The German Command was dismayed, did the Allied Forces succeded in piercing the front line ? In the second movement General Simonds poured two armoured divisions on the battlefield : the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and the 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Maczek. It started in bad conditions for the Poles since they lost about forty soldiers under the bombs of American B17. The attack began and the German lines were overcome, but a Kampfgruppe of the 12nd SS-Panzer-Division stopped dead the rush of Polish tanks near Saint-Aignan. On 9 August the Poles renewed the assault, support of artillery and bombers were required to destroy German defences in Saint-Sylvain. All the afternoon and until the nightfall the Chasseurs of Podhale Battalion fought German Panzergrenadiers in hand to hand fighting, they were kept in check. In the morning of 10 August the reinforcement of the 154th Brigade of the 51st Infantry Division afforded to liberate Saint-Sylvain.
   
 
 
 

1st Polish Armoured Division stele
Stele dedicated to the soldiers of the 1st Polish Armoured Division who fought and died to liberate the town on 9 August 1944.
Situation : at the northern entrance of the town through the D229 road, on a little place
 
   
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Personal web site about Normandy battle - articles and photographs
http://www.warchronicle.com/dday/contents.htm
Web site about the Royal Air Force - Squadrons and airfields
http://www.rafcommands.currantbun.com/home.html
Calvados departmental tourism office web site
http://www.calvados-tourisme.com/
 
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