Operation Lüttich

Battle of Mortain - Devastated German Tank

Aftermath of bombardment of Mortain in front of the station of Mortain-Le-Neufbourg, in the foreground a half-track vehicle Sdkfz of the 2.SS-Panzer division “Das Reich”, in the foreground the corpse of a dead German soldier.

American forces moving through the ruins of Mortain, during the German counterattack of Operation Luttich

Battle of Mortain - Devastated German Half-track

Carte bataille mortain

Cartemortain2

Photographer - Alan Hughes

mezzi corazzati tedeschi durante la battaglia di Normandia

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, greets well-wishers June 3 in Mortain, France before delivering featured remarks during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, marches toward an historic monument June 3 in Mortain, France. The DCG subsequently delivering featured remarks during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, surrounded by local and regional officials, marches toward an historic monument June 3 in Mortain, France. The DCG subsequently delivering featured remarks during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, delivers featured remarks June 3 in Mortain, France, during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, delivers featured remarks June 3 in Mortain, France, during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, prepares to lay a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, salutes after laying a wreath during a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain held on “Hill 314” – the site of a remarkable defensive stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers 79 years ago. For five days, the DCG told an engaged local national crowd, around 700 surrounded Americans fought off assaults by the 17th Panzer Division, despite running dangerously low on ammunition and almost entirely lacking food and supplies. Despite losing 400 men during fierce fighting, the “GIs” held their crucial position until relief arrived, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy during the process. Their courageous stand helped ensure the continued success of the U.S. breakout from Normandy in June 1944. The DCG joined town and regional officials, the USAF-E Band, support Soldiers, organizers and citizens of the small, picturesque Norman town for a captivating ceremony. Grateful local officials presented the DCG the town medal after the event. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)

Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, the V Corps deputy commanding general, receives the town medal from local officials in Mortain, France June 3 following a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Mortain. An enthusiastic crowd of U.S. support Soldiers and townspeople joined the DCG, state and regional officials, and event organizers for a reception following a poignant ceremony punctuated by speeches, wreath-laying and patriotic music conducted on “Hill 314,” site of a heroic stand by 30th Infantry Division Soldiers in June 1944. The DCG delivered well-received featured remarks during a powerful ceremony. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Litchfield, USACAPOC)