#OnThisDay, July 7, 1944, the Allies launched a massive bombardment of the French city of Saint-Lô. The offensive on Saint-Lô followed a month of fighting through the Normandy hedgerows and was nicknamed the âThird Battle of the Hedgerowsâ. The capture of the strategic crossroads would link the Normandy beachheads inland and ultimately pave the way for the Allied liberation of France.
The bombardment was followed by a ground assault by American forces. The American forces involved in the Battle of Saint-Lô were part of the First US Army, which was commanded by General Omar Bradley. The First Army was tasked with breaking through the German defenses in Normandy and opening up a corridor for the Allies to advance. These units were all well-trained and experienced, and they played a key role in the Allied victory.
The fighting at Saint-Lô was some of the heaviest of the Normandy campaign. The Americans faced well-entrenched German forces in the bocage, a type of terrain that was difficult to maneuver in. The fighting was also hampered by bad weather, which made it difficult for the Allies to get air support.
The German forces involved in the Battle of Saint-Lô were part of the Seventh Army, which was commanded by General Friedrich Dollmann. The Seventh Army was responsible for defending the western part of Normandy, and it was heavily outnumbered by the Allies. These units were all well-trained and experienced, but they were no match for the overwhelming Allied forces.
The fighting was fierce, and the city was almost completely destroyed (estimates put destruction at ~95%). Despite the challenges, the Allies eventually prevailed, and captured Saint-Lô on July 19, 1944.
The Battle of Saint-Lô was costly in terms of casualties. The Americans suffered over 12,000 casualties, and the Germans suffered even more. When combining the losses by the British and Canadian forces, the number of killed and wounded exceeds the number of casualties sustained by the D-Day landings.
The battle also resulted in the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô., but it was a necessary one. The battle was a major turning point in the Normandy campaign, and it helped to pave the way for the Allied breakout from the beachhead.
Check out a showcase of the two week conflict in the reel we cut together below.
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