SAINT-CONTEST Calvados - 2 km north-west of Caen
A tragic day for Caen population
The Allied kept on attracting the bulk of German forces west of Caen with the Operation Charnwood. On 7 July 1944 wave of bombers stormed Caen, then artillery shelled the German lines north-west of the city. The 59th Staffordshire Division soldiers progressed in smoke and dust, they were supported by the 1st East Riding Yeomanry tanks. In the center near Saint-Contest the British attack broke against the 12nd German SS Panzer-Division. The Germans were entrenched in houses, and as soon as the British reached the town, they were fired by German tanks machine guns ambushed near Buron. Despite reinforcement of a company of the 5th Battalion East Lancashire Fusiliers the Germans held their positions, and the British form ed hedgehog. The next morning on 8 July assault was renewed with support of flamethrower Sherman tanks. The SS grenadiers were expelled from ruins of the church and cemetery after fierce hand to hand fighting. In the morning of 9 July last snipers were eliminated and Saint-Contest was liberated.		  
     
   
 
     
59th Infantry Division plaque
Plaque in memory of the 59th British Infantry Division soldiers (59th Staffordshire Infantry Division) who fought for the liberation of Saint-Contest on 8 and 9 June 1944.
Situation : on the wall of the cemetery, next to the church
 
  59th Infantry Division stele
Stele commemorating the fighting that took place in this area - Galmanche locality - between the British troops of the 59th Infantry Division (59th Staffordshire Infantry Division), and the German soldiers of the 12nd SS Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend.
Situation : drive on the D79 road north of Malon, at the crossroads of Cambes-en-Plaine take a track to the left for 500 meters
   
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

Saint-Contest city web site
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/mairie.saint-contest/
Personal web site about the Hitlerjugend Division
http://home.att.net/~SSPzHJ/Index.html
Personal web site about the 59th Staffordshire British Infantry Division
http://59div.morssweb.com/?frontpage
Web page about the liberation de Caen
http://www.valourandhorror.com/DB/ISSUE/Liberating_Caen.htm

 
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