YVETOT-BOCAGE
Manche
- 3 km south-west of Valognes
A
harbor for the allied bridgehead
On 19 June 1944 General von Schlieben took command of the German
forces in Cotentin. The peninsula was defended by the 709th Infantry
Division the stronger unit, by elements of three other weakened
units, and by a part of the 77th Division that came from Brittany
and had been split up by the cut of the Cotentin. The Americans
forces attacked with three full strength divisions. On 19 June they
pierced west of Montebourg while the Germans under cover of the
rain retreated on the axis Valognes-Quettehou. The following day
on 20 June the 79th American Infantry Division was in front of Valognes,
and skirted round the city by the west. Yvetot-Bocage was liberated.
On 21 June patrols of the 4th Infantry Division discovered Valognes
cleared from enemy. The fortress of Cherbourg surrendered on 26
June. General von Schlieben and admiral Hennecke were taken to the
castle of Servigny near Yvetot-Bocage where General Collins settled
his headquarter, they signed there the surrender act.
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Surrender plaque
