[Lysandru]

I have read that the Germans called this division “Roosevelt’s SS.”

[yarddog]

I remember that one German panzer group fought their way to a nearby beach but when they got there, there was nothing they could do so they retreated.

[little jeremiah]

Beautiful. Gave me chills reading it.

[centurion316]

At the end of the war, Eisenhower developed a list of division level organizations that deserved the Presidental Unit Citation (then called the Distinguished Unit Citation). The 30th Infantry Division was on that list. But, none of those awards were ever made.

The 30th Infantry Division certainly deserved it, but the Army had a different notion than what prevailed in the Navy Department with their Naval Presidential Unit Citation. Marine Divisions were so recognized for their distinguished combat records, but Army divisions, with a few exceptions, were not. In the Army the DUC was generally limited to the Regimental and battalion level.

This ought to be fixed.

[colorado tanker]

This battle happened after Patton and Third Army had broken out of Normandy and were running roughshod over Brittany and Western Normandy. They were being supplied through a narrow corridor by the Channel around Avranches. Hitler's idea was to drive to the Channel, close the corridor and cut off Patton's supplies.

The bravery of these men ended yet another of Hitler's fantasy campaigns and allowed Patton to drive clean across France.