Subscribe to download
(4-6) Mortain

The town of Mortain was taken by the US 3rd Armoured and 1st Infantry Divisions at the beginning of August. The occupation of the town was handed over to the 30th Infantry Division on 6th August, with the troops taking up the exact same positions,but without much in the way of armoured support. Hitler saw an opportunity of driving westwards to Avrancheswith the hope of cutting-off the American spearheads. vonKluge was given the task and developed a hasty plan tocounter-attack through Mortain and on to Avranches. Time was not on the side of the Germans, so the attack went ahead before all the planned forces were assembled. 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich led the attack during the early hours of 7th August.