SAINT-GERMAIN-SUR-SEVES Manche - 5 km north of Périers
A tragic setback for the 90th Infantry division
The Operation Cobra was launched on 24 July 1944, and must obtain the decisive breakthrough of the German defense display. Previously General Bradley attempted to reduce a German salient in the American front line. Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves was a small island in a stretch of marshy area. The position was held by a kampfgruppe of the Das Reich Division and the 6th Parachutist Regiment supported by several self propelled antitank guns. The 358th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division under general Landrum started the attack on 22 July, but without air support because of bad weather. The 1st Battalion suffered heavy losses but held on to the island. The 2nd battalion failed to cross the marshes. In the evening hours the Germans counter attacked with tanks of the 2nd Panzer Regiment. The Americans were hardly driven back, in one hour they had a hundred soldiers killed, 400 wounded and 200 prisoners. Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves was liberated a few days later with the Operation Cobra.
  
 
 
   
 
90th Infantry division monument
Monument in memory of soldiers of the 90th American Infantry division killed in the fighting for the liberation of Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves on 22 July 1944.
Situation : west of the town, at the edge of the D301 road, follow road-sign
 
   
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES

US Army official web site - US Army divisions structure
http://www.army.mil/cmh/lineage/cc/comp.htm
Manche departmental tourism office web site
http://www.manchetourisme.com/
Official web site of the 90th US Infantry Division
http://90thdivisionassoc.org/
Association web site of the 90th US Infantry Division
http://assoc.wanadoo.fr/normandy44-90div.us

 
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