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SAINT-JAMES
Manche - 20 km south of Avranches
General
Patton 3rd Army entered the battlefield
At the end of July 1944 the German front was dismantled west of Saint-Lô.
The Americans obtained finally the breakthrough and they reached Avranches
on 31 July. The 3rd Army commanded by General Patton became operational,
its presence in Normandy was kept secret. The Americans entered Avranches
without fighting and captured a bridge intact in Pontaubault on 1st
August. General Patton made crossing thousands of troops, vehicles
and tanks over the river Sélune. During two days several American
divisions poured into Brittany, while Hitler went on with his static
resistance strategy. The objectives did not miss for the four Army
Corps of Patton's Army : Brest, Rennes, Fougères, Laval. All
attempts of German counter attacks were pushed back, Saint-James was
liberated on 1st August.
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American War cemetery
Saint-James
cemetery was temporary in 1944, and became a War
cemetery
in 1949. 4 410 American soldiers are buried there. The steles
are made of white marble, on a wall one can read the names of
498 missing soldiers. The memorial is built on the model of
a romanesque chapel, from the bell-tower one can look at the
Mont-Saint-Michel.
Situation
: at the edge of the D230 road toward Louvigné du Desert
(follow the road-sign)
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ROAD
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