The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Battle for Mortain (Aug. 7-12, 1944)

Mortain: the Battle for Hill 314

This small french village became the focus of a German counterattack on the evening of August 6, 1944. Operation Lüttich, as it was called, was ordered by Hitler with the intention of splitting the American forces between Hodges' First Army and Patton's newly formed Third Army. The Germans needed control of the vital road network around Mortain to allow a drive to Avranches on the coast. the Germans would later state that their failure to complete the separation of the American forces was a "turning point" in the battle of the western front. This failure was caused by the determined resistance of Old Hickory at Mortain.

Hitler personally ordered this attack contrary to the advice of his generals. It was opposed to such a degree that the commander of the 116th Panzer Division refused to follow the order, delaying the attack. Nonetheless, at approximately 0100 hours 7 August the lead elements of the 2nd SS Panzer Division made contact with members of the 9th U.S. Infantry Division. In addition to the 2nd SS "Das Reich" division, the 1st SS Panzer "Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler", 116th Panzer, and 17th SS Panzergrenadier divisions also participated.

The disposition of Old Hickory's troops around Mortain was as follows. On the eastern side of the town stood a tall hill, elevation 314. Hill 314 had been recognized by the Americans as a vital defensive position early on and was held by the 2nd battalion, 120th Infantry. The 1st of the 120th was on the west of Mortain holding hill 285. Two platoons of the 120th's company F, a platoon of the 120th's antitank company, along with 3rd platoon of Company A, 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion had established what would prove to be a crucial roadblock at L'Abbaye Blanche where they could cover the road junctions north of Mortain. Meanwhile, the 117th Infantry was in place at St. Barthelmy, approximately two miles north of Mortain. The 119th Infantry was to the northwest near Le Mesnil-Adelée.

Above are depicted part of the Anti-tank Company, 3rd Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division (N.C., S.C., Tenn.) during fighting on the second day. They had set up a roadblock adjacent to Hill 317, where the 2nd Battalion, 120th Infantry was dug in directly north of Mortain. The crews, manning the 57mm anti-tank guns, and troops of the 2nd Battalion with anti-tank rockets, were responsible for destroying over 40 vehicles during the action and stopped the German onslaught in the area. On the 7th of August, the roadblock and Hill 317 were surrounded and bypassed by the main body of German forces. The group surrounded on Hill 317, commanded by Capt. Reynold Erichson -- about 700 men -- were protected by a ring of artillery fire from the 35th Infantry Division artillery and fighter-bomber sorties flown by the 2nd Tactical Air Force RAF. This kept the Germans from taking Hill 317 and stopped the momentum of the counterattack in the area on the first day.

The Germans made significant gains in the early hours of the attack, actually capturing the village of Mortain. However the Nazis failed to gain control of the crucial high ground around Mortain. Such was the disposition in the initial stages of the attack.

Although they held Mortain, they had not gained control of the roads they so desperately needed. The directed artillery fire from Hill 314 prevented this. The 120th held the hill and despite being completely cut off from resupply and relief these infantrymen withstood the repeated assaults of combined German artillery, armor and infantry assaults.

The most important function of the battalion's stand was the continuing ability to call accurate artillery fire from the massed guns of ten artillery battalions, 120 tubes in all. The drive around Hill 314 became an artillery duel relying on forward observers like Lt. Robert Weiss on the hill with the 120th. However, due to the inability to resupply the besieged troops, the F.O.'s were running out of battery power for their radios. Despite multiple attempts to fight through the German positions surrounding the hill no penetration could be made.

The situation became so desperate that artillery resupply (packing plasma, dressings, and medicine in artillery shells normally used to fire propaganda leaflets and firing them into the 120th's position) of medical supplies was attempted, with little success. Airdrops were also attempted. After struggling through amazing amounts of beauracracy at corps level, the divisional G-4 was able get some C-47 drops but most of the supplies ended up in German hands, and most importantly, no radio batteries made it through. Even the light artillery spotter Piper Cubs attempted to get through, but they were driven off by heavy German fire. Radio calls were limited to fire missions, and then only the briefest of information could be transmitted.

The German convoys were camouflaged in an attempt to protect them from Allied aircraft

The plight of the 2/120th on 314 remained grave. They held out against more German attacks and most of the men were certain they would be overrun. Many veterans of the battle stated that the Germans could have walked right through them several times. It even progressed to the point that an SS officer presented a surrender ultimatum to Lt. Kerley, commanding Co. E. Kerley declined the offer, and at 2015 hours on the 9th the Germans attempted to make the doughboys pay for their insolence. The SS attacked yet again, yelling "surrender!" as they ran over the American foxholes. The resulting fight was so bitter that Kerley was forced to call in artillery on his own position to finally repulse the attack.

This situation continued until the troops on Hill 314 were finally relieved the morning of August 12th by elements of the 35th Infantry Division. The story of the battle is ripe with tales of heroism, sacrifice and determination by regular soldiers. However the drama at the individual level may be overshadowed by the theater level significance of the division's stand in Mortain.

The fact that the 30th division held out against such a major attack is amazing in itself. Additionally it was important that the German forces were fixed at Mortain, allowing the air strikes, artillery barrages, and tank hunting infantry teams to exact a terrible toll on the strongest divisions the Germans had in the region. The German losses in this failed attack were remarkable.

Remarkable as well was the opportunity the attack gave the Allies. By leaving the 30th unrelieved at Mortain, General Bradley was able to fix the Germans on this bait and begin an encirclement of the entire German Army Group B. Via Ultra intercepts the Allied high command knew the Germans were not going to retreat from the battle with the 30th. Bradley then developed operation Totalize designed to circle from the south with Patton's troops to meet Montgomery's striking from the north to Falaise.

30th Infantry Division Memorial - Mortain, france

Although little recognized in popular history, the heroic stand of the 30th Infantry Division at Mortain made a tremendous contribution to the allied victory in france.

Battle for Mortain

The enemy was well acquainted with the possibilities that presented themselves. He had been over the ground before. Four of his best Panzer Divisions were massed to thwart the developing threat to his line of defense. And on 8 August 1944, he struck with all the power he could muster on the main road between Mortain and St. Barthelmy ridge in the misty dawn of early- morning. The German plan called for driving a wedge through the Allies at this point, separating the Americans from the British forces, and driving them back some twenty miles, through Avranches and to the sea. The Third U. S. Army cut off from its supply bases would also be placed in a precarious position.

Typhoons attacking German Armour Convoys

The savage attack succeeded in piercing the American lines. Ground had to be given up. Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the do or die encounter. Then the 30th Division with the aid of the 823rd T. D. Battalion stiffened and held. Enemy artillery took a terrific toll. One Division, with its supporting components, had absorbed the impact of the most determined German drive of the war. But they also suffered heavily. What a welcome sight it was to see the British typhoons come into action! With their rocket firing weapons they piled up the enemy armor and helped slacken the momentum of the hostile offensive. Two days later, ground support arrived -- RCT 12 of the 4th Armored Division, and a combat command from the 3rd Armored Division.

This battle will never be forgotten by the Battalion! It stayed right with the doughboys and did not yield a foot of ground. The enemy used his most elite troops in the effort: the 1st SS Pz Div. (Leibstandarte) "Adolph Hitler", the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich", the 2nd Panzer Division, and the 116th Pz Div. But they were fought to a standstill. The savage attack which had penetrated to within a few feet of the Battalion destroyers was fought off with machine guns, hand grenades, and rifle fire. 823rd Tank Destroyers blocked the two main roads leading to Avranches and allowed no hostile armor or infantry to get through.

Villagers place flowers on the body of a GI who gave his life for their freedom

The action in and near Mortain and St. Barthelmy was so fast and furious that any attempts to describe it must leave the story only half told. Company "A's" roll consisted primarily of repulsing numerous counter attacks, knocking out tanks as well as general purpose vehicles and killing Germans. On 8 August 1944, at 0130 hours, hostile forces infiltrated friendly infantry lines, cut of Company "A's" third platoon outpost and attempted to enter Mortain from the Southwest. They were driven back, chiefly by fire from .50 caliber machine guns mounted on the TD halftracks. A second enemy penetration proved to be more successful. A large number of troops, presumably from the 116th Panzer Grenadiers, made their way through our lines occupied the town of Mortain. 1st Lt. Elmer L. Miller, the platoon leader could have withdrawn honorably, since no tanks were involved in the action; but knowing how thinly spread were the friendly troops, and that no reserves were available, he chose to fight it out until he was captured.

A Tiger tank in a defensive position

Concentrated small arms fire at close range made it impossible to use the three-inch guns, so the men of the Battalion were broken up into small isolated groups. Sixteen men of the third platoon fought north through the town for five days and eventually joined the first platoon. Nine others were cut off. They withdrew with the infantry and battled along side the doughs of the 2nd Battalion of the 120th Infantry Regiment for five days. One person, Nageeb A. David was so completely separated that he had to remain concealed in a ditch, for a similar period, without food or water, in order to escape detection by the enemy. He was rescued when the counter thrust was finally driven back.

The 1st and 2nd platoons of Company "A" underwent incessant mortar and artillery fire. They repulsed counterattack after counterattack for five long days and nights. Then the attack petered out and the German forces began their trek back to the Siegfried Line. In containing the enemy attack, the 2nd platoon knocked out two Mark IV tanks, two self-propelled guns, and 1 armored car, with three-inch fire. One Mark IV was put out of commission by a bazooka team. The platoon also killed about fifty of the enemy.

Town of Mortain - Aug 1944

The first platoon, with 1st Lt. Springfield leading, was maintaining a road block through the entire fracas; and although it was cut off at one time, it remained in position and accounted for a goodly share of the Panzers, including an estimated 200 Panzer Grenadiers killed. For five days and nights the for threw its strongest weight against the 30th Division line in a fierce attempt to break through, but it could never quite make it. Despite voluminous artillery fire, tanks and armored vehicles, the fighting spirit of the First platoon never wavered.

Company "B" was caught in the prong of the German offensive that was bent upon encircling St. Barthelmy, france. The 3rd platoon in the village was overrun, while the first platoon had a field day knocking out Panther tanks and destroying many of the invaders. At 2000 hours, 7 August 1944 the 3rd platoon moved into St. Barthelmy along with one gun of the second platoon. One section covered the approaches to the town from the Southeast; the other protected the Northwest approaches. At about 0300 hours hostile troop and tank movement could be heard. However, visibility was practically zero because of the fog that enveloped the area. At about 1615 hours, following a terrific artillery concentration for 1¼ hours, a coordinated tank and Panzer Grenadier attack was launched by the foe from the North, East and South. The friendly infantry lines were overwhelmed and had to withdraw West of the town. A few components managed to establish strong points within the village, however, and held their ground. The onrushing foe used every weapon at its command to the fullest extent. Behind extremely heavy small arms, rifle grenade, machine gun, mortar, and tank fire, they drove within sight of the Battalion's 3 inch gun positions. The guns themselves were being manned by abbreviated crews, all excess personnel being used as infantry.

Town of Mortain - Aug 1944

Despite the extreme valor of its men, the 3rd platoon was overrun by the higher superior force, and only a handful managed to escape. Lt. George I. Greene, group leader was last seen by one of the security men who got away, backing into a doorway firing a 30 caliber machine gun from the hip, as it might have been done in the movies .

With disintegration of the 3rd platoon, 1st Lt Leon L. Neel, in charge of the 1st platoon, spread out his gun positions in order to take up as much slack as possible. One gun, placed West of the town immediately accounted for a Panther tank. Pvt. Cecil O. Derr killed the tank commander with his carbine at 300 yards. A few rounds of HE got rid of the supporting grenadiers, and AP demolished the tank itself.

Not long afterwards the three inch gun became a victim of a German 88, and part of the crew was injured by rifle grenades. Lt Neel lost no time in bringing up a replacement which he set up in a field with a 57mm AT gun, and he coordinated their respective fields of fire. However, the 57mm gun departed just as additional tanks arrived, and part of the sector was left uncovered. Visibility was so poor during the early hours that firing had to be aimed at opposing gun flashes. Later investigation proved the system to have been highly effective. As the fog began clearing, a Panther tank was seen bearing down the main road. It was quickly put out of action with AP, and all its crew killed with HE as they attempted to flee the vehicle. Two more tanks were observed on the highway, but they stopped just short of the 3 inch gun range. One of them circled through the fields and assumed a position from which it could dominate the immediate area.

The tank destroyer weapon was in a hastily occupied position. Its crew could observe the marauding tanks, but was unable to fire upon them. For 45 minutes, the tank on the road conducted a vigilant search for the three inch piece. It knocked out two friendly vehicles that was traveling down the main highway, during the interval, but failed to find the concealed gun. Finally it maneuvered into range. The crew fired one round realizing only too well that by doing so would reveal their own position to the second hostile tank. The shot found its mark and another enemy tank was destroyed. The remaining marauder went into action at once. It succeeded in knocking out the three- incher and the crew was forcibly ejected by the impact.

Town of Mortain - Aug 1944

The personnel sought refuge behind a hedgerow, and moved to the rear where they joined other men from knocked-out guns in manning outposts, serving on bazooka teams, and making reconnaissance into enemy territory. Without specific orders they succeeded in recovering a half-track and a gun that had been abandoned in "no man's land". The balance of the company continued to man its weapons, guarding against any further penetration. The town of St. Barthelmy was taken but the foe was unable to make any appreciable gain to the West of the village for Company "B's" stout anti-tank defense.

The powerful enemy thrust had failed far short of its objective. Innumerable were the acts of gallantry performed during those hectic days. With utter disregard for personal safety, and in the face of a superior and fanatic foe, the members of the Battalion fought on. Opportunities for honorable withdrawal presented themselves time after time, but the men refused to quit the struggle for possession of this vitally important area.

In this memorable encounter the Battalion set a new Army record for tanks destroyed in one day's action, and also for the number of enemy vehicles knocked out. When the Germans withdrew, the battlefield was practically devoid of vegetation. Hardly a house or building remained standing. But German equipment, including tanks, half-tracks, motorcycles, anti-tank guns, self-propelled guns, trucks, bicycles, and enemy dead, cluttered the ground.

Additional Sources:

www.ngb.army.mil
home.nc.rr.com/oldhickory
www.823rdtdbn.org
home.earthlink.net/~crcorbin
www.normandiememoire.com
www.army.mil
www.normandie44lamemoire.com
www.dvrbs.com
www.mikerian.com
www.panzer-prints.com
www.skalman.nu

'The Battle of Mortain, sandwiched neatly between Operation Cobra and the Falaise Gap, took place precisely at the most turbulent juncture of the Normandy campaign.

Mortain was the first large-scale German counteroffensive against the American Army on the European continent. In effect, a miniature "Battle of the Bulge" occurred in and around that picturesque Norman town in August 1944. It is no exaggeration to liken Mortain to the Ardennes Offensive, as the scale and objectives of each are roughly comparable. Both operations featured massed panzer units designed to rapidly smash through thinly held American lines to seize critical objectives. While Mortain involved elements of six German panzer and panzergrenadier divisions racing to seize two bridges twenty miles from their line of departure, the attacking force in the Ardennes included the equivalent of thirteen panzer and panzergrenadier divisions heading for Antwerp, approximately 100 miles from their starting point. In both battles, the Germans hoped that success would regain the strategic initiative for them while dealing a serious military setback to the Allies.

One of the reasons why Mortain has been overlooked is that even key participants have often devoted only a few pages to this battle. Eisenhower, and Bradley, both intimate that the German counteroffensive could not have succeeded. German accounts echo these sentiments by claiming that Hitler's attempts to mandate every detail of the counterattack deprived the panzer divisions of a reasonable chance of success. This line of reasoning tends to minimize Mortain's importance by labeling it as an incidental or insignificant battle within the overall Normandy campaign.

Capturing the individual soldier's experiences is necessary to understand the events that occurred at Mortain and during the Second World War as a whole. To overlook this viewpoint is to ignore that warfare is an intensely personal affair. A visit to one of the many German and American cemeteries in France will remind the reader of this fact. They contain thousands of soldiers who are forever eighteen. It is my hope that these young men who fought at Mortain and whose extraordinary efforts have not been fully appreciated in the scope of World War 2 historiography, will receive the recognition they deserve.'

Charles R. Corbin Jr
A-391st. Armored FA, CCB in T.F.Lovelady

'The chief credit in smashing the enemy’s spear-head must go to the rocket-firing Typhoon planes of the Second Tactical Air Force. The result of this strafing was that the enemy attack was effectively brought to a halt, and a threat was turned into a great victory.'

General Eisenhower,
reflecting on the role of airpower at the Battle of Mortain, where the German Army attempted to split the invasion front at Normandy, supreme allied commander’s dispatch, 1945.

Today's classic warship, USS Wilson (DD-408)

Benham class destroyer
Displacement. 1,725 t.
Lenght. 341'4"
Beam. 35'6"
Draft. 10'9"
Speed. 38.5 k.
Complement. 184
Armament. 4 5", 4 .50-cal. mg., 16 21" tt., 2 dct.

USS Wilson (DD-408) was laid down on 22 March 1937 at Bremerton Wash., by the Puget Sound Navy Yard launched on ;2 April 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Edward B. Fenner, the wife of Rear Admiral Edward B. Fenner, the Commandant of the 13th Naval District, and commissioned on 5 July 1939, Lt. Comdr. Russell G. Sturges in command.

She operated along the west coasts of the United States, Central and South America into April 1940, when she went to Hawaii to participate in Fleet Problem XXI. In June 1941, after a year mainly spent in the Hawaiian area, Wilson was transferred to the Atlantic. In the last half of that year, and first months of 1942, she served an escort for major fleet units off the U.S. east coast and, in March-May 1942, steamed across the ocean to Iceland and the British Isles.

Wilson returned to the Pacific as part of a task group centered around USS Wasp, and accompanied it to the south Pacific in July 1942. Early in the next month, she provided bombardment and anti-aircraft services to the invasion force during landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi. While in that area on 9 August, Wilson engaged Japanese cruisers during the Battle of Savo Island, and later rescued survivors of the sunken cruisers Quincy, Astoria and Vincennes.

Following a west coast overhaul, Wilson was back off Guadalcanal in January 1943, in time for the last weeks of the fighting there. She subsequently participated in landings on the Russell Islands, bombarded enemy positions on New Georgia and escorted shipping in and around the Solomon Islands. In November 1943, the destroyer screened U.S. aircraft carriers during strikes on Rabaul and Nauru and was similarly employed during attacks on the Marshall and Caroline Islands in January and February 1944.

In June and July 1944, Wilson served with the carrier task forces during the Marianas Campaign and the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and also fired her guns at small craft and shore targets at Guam. After overhaul work in August-October 1944, she battled enemy suicide planes in late December while escorting a convoy to Mindoro, in the central Philippines. The next month, Wilson again engaged hostile aircraft and shore positions during the Lingayen Gulf invasion. On 16 April 1945, during the campaign for Okinawa, she was hit by a "Kamikaze", which cost the lives of five of her crewmen and left an unexploded bomb in her after hull. Soon repaired, she served in the Okinawa area until June and operated out of Saipan until the war ended in August.

Wilson was employed on occupation duty until December 1945, when she returned to the U.S. west coast. In May of the next year, she was assigned to Operation "Crossroads" target duty. Made radioactive by the July atomic bomb tests at Bikini, USS Wilson was decommissioned in August 1946 and sunk in deep water off Kwajalein on 8 March 1948.

Wilson received 11 battle stars for her service during World War II.

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