WWII 1943 'Battle of Saint-Lô 2nd Edition France Invasion Combat Map

Description: *CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY INCLUDED*Size: 35 x 25.5 inchesThe Battle of Saint-Lô is one of the three conflicts in the Battle of the Hedgerows [fr], which took place between July 7–19, 1944, just before Operation Cobra. Saint-Lô had fallen to Germany in 1940, and, after the Invasion of Normandy, the Americans targeted the city, as it served as a strategic crossroads.This map is marked Geographical Section, General Staff, No. 4249 Published by the War Office 1942, 2nd Edition 1943. This is a rare full color single side grid U.S. paper map of the historic battle of Saint-Lô, France. The 1943 map is gridded for triangulation and shows roads and foot paths as well as other major and minor building in the German occupied area of the Normandy area. This map was a bring back of a WWII vet.Battle of Saint-Lô:The 29th Infantry Division attacked through the hedgerows to the northeast sector of Saint-Lô, near the Madeleine river, taking heavy casualties. On July 15, the 1st Battalion of the 116th Infantry Regiment, led by Major Sidney Bingham (called the "lost battalion"), unwittingly advanced ahead of other division elements and found itself isolated 1,000 yards east of Saint-Lô for an entire day without ammunition and with little food. They had 25 wounded, with only three nurses, and were surrounded by German forces. Planes were called in to drop plasma. Martainville hill was continuously showered by German artillery. On July 17, the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, under Major Thomas D. Howie, joined up with the "lost battalion" around 4:30 in the morning. Hidden by dense vegetation, the 3rd Battalion had orders not to return enemy fire, and use only their bayonets. The mission was successful, but Howie was fatally wounded by a mortar shell explosion. Their position was then heavily attacked, preventing any further movement that day.On July 17, Captain William Puntenney, Major Howie's executive officer, requested artillery and air support to disperse the German troops. Short of munitions, still at the crossroads of the Madeleine, they found themselves at a mine depot, abandoned by the Germans. Meanwhile, the 115th Infantry Regiment passed through La Luzerne, deploying at the bottom of the Dollée Valley. On July 18, a company from the 116th established position along the Madeleine and the Germans retreated west to Rampan. An operations group was placed under the direction of General Norman Cota to form Task Force C. Around 3:00 p.m., the tanks along the road to Isigny were followed by ranks of soldiers. They fought their way into the Bascule district of Saint-Lô, near the Saint-Croix (Holy Cross) church.When Major Howie died of wounds, room was needed in the ambulance for the living wounded, and his body was placed on the hood of the lead jeep, symbolically making him the first American soldier to enter the city. His body was then placed on some rubble and draped in a flag, in a photo that was widely circulated. Andy Rooney, who witnessed the event as a Stars and Stripes reporter, called this "one of the truly heartwarming and emotional scenes of a gruesome and frightful war".

Price: 800 USD

Location: Bloomington, Illinois

End Time: 2024-12-23T20:34:51.000Z

Shipping Cost: 9 USD