D-Day+28

swampy approach

As day broke on July 4^th 1944, the American armies jumped off on their continued inch-by-inch battle of the hedgerows. The 331^st Infantry Regiment of the 38^th Infantry Division were positioned just South of the small village of Meautis. 

German artillery behind these trees

The German 6^th paratroop regiment von der Heydte were waiting for them.

 Preceded by a preliminary artillery barrage, and accompanied by a couple of medium tanks, the Americans headed into the swampy ground, toward the farmhouse of Les Ormeaux.

There is a good, first hand description of the battle for Les Ormeaux farm and how it repeatedly changed hands at this site.

On the 331st's left flank, the 330^th Regiment would launch their attack down the main Carentan-Perriers road to try and seize the small town of Santeny, located just 9kms south of Carentan. This town was held by the 17th SS panzer grenadiers, aided by panther tanks from the dreaded 2^nd SS ‘Das Reich’. 

the pharmacy is now a salon

By evening, the attack on Sainteny had stalled on the outskirts of the village, but a pfc, Tony Vaccaro, a keen photographer, wanted to develop his film. He made his way into the town, which was still under fire, and found a pharmacy. With the butt of his rifle, he broke the window. He climbed in and found the chemicals he needed. 

On arriving back at his foxhole, Tony borrowed some helmets from his buddies and set to work developing his film, which he hung on the branch of a tree. “It was a dark night with no moon,” recalled Vaccaro, "and we were still trading artillery with the enemy, but  I managed to develop my photographs” 

artifacts from the Sainteny area

The attacks and counterattacks on Sainteny would continue until July 10^th, when with the help of the 4th Infantry Division, the town fell to the Americans.

 Further West, the 90^th Infantry Division were on the outskirts of the village of St Jore. They had been bloodied all the way after crossing the Merderet River  and They were about to experience their most ferocious combat to date, the battle for Mont Castre, known as Hill 122, which rises 300 feet above sea level. The Germans, who held this hill, maintained an unrivaled vantage point, which had to be taken by advancing American forces. Yet again the weary paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne would have to come to the rescue. 

German view from hill of road leading to Periers (Nat'l Archives photo)

Overall, the whole advance was starting to stall. The enemy were still in a position to maneuver despite Allied air supremacy. They had a relatively intact communications system and their supplies were still getting through. The weather had been atrocious with a deluge of rain, which made areas of already marshy ground often impassable. The Germans had also demonstrated their willingness to defend positions regardless of cost.

US National Archives

Poor visibility had hampered Allied aerial patrols. In addition, numerous American tanks were being lost to German attack as they ‘bellied up’ over the hedgerows, presenting their lightly armored underside to enemy panzer grenadiers.

The pressure was mounting on General Bradley to do something bold and decisive, fast!