St-Christophe-le-Jajolet in Normandy 1944

ST-CHRISTOPHE-LE-JAJOLET Orne - 9 km south of Argentan
General Patton stopped in full swing manoeuvre
Thirty kilometers separated the IInd Canadian Corps to the north from XVth American Corps to the south. Thousands of the 7th German Army's soldiers escaped through the corridor. General Patton who commanded the 3rd American Army was convinced to be able to close the pocket. But he got furious when he received the order to stop south of Argentan. So was the 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc whose units were assembled between Sées, Carrouges et Écouché. In the night from 13 to 14 August several medical vehicles of the 2nd French Armoured Division hit a German armoured column in the vicinity of Saint-Christophe-le-Jajolet. After negociation the Germans let the nurses and their ambulances go. On 14 August the headquarter of the 2nd French Armoured Division settled in Saint-Christophe-le-Jajolet.

American Sherman tank
This tank, the "Keren", belonged to the 2nd French Armoured Division under General Leclerc. It remained where it was destroyed on 12 August 1944; it belonged to the Warabiot column commanded by Roger Denormandie. Three crew members were killed in the fighting, a plaque with their names is placed near the tank.
Situation : at the edge of a small road, follow the "Keren" road-sign from the town

ROAD MAP

INTERESTING WEB SITES
*Orne departmental tourism office web site* http://www.ornetourisme.com/ Personal web site about the 2nd French Armoured Division http://www.marechal-leclerc.fr.st Personal page about the 2nd French Armoured Division http://perso.wanadoo.fr/stephane.delogu/division-leclerc.html *Conseil général de l’Orne web site about the liberation of the départment* http://1944.orne.fr/ *Personal web site about the* French Sherman tanks http://www.chars-francais.net/listing_m4.htm

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