Sniper hunting in a church tower - Normandy #shorts 45

On June 14, 1944, the 359th Infantry Regiment (90th Infantry Division) was ordered to seize the municipality of Orglandes, the last obstacle before Sainte-Colombe. But the division is engaged in the difficult decision of Gourbesville: the German resistance, as well as the problems of coordination in the allied ranks, delay the tempo of the American global offensive. The 359th Infantry Regiment bypasses Gourbesville from the south and continues towards Orglandes. Defense is favored by a very compartmentalized terrain, where anti-tank weapons can cause significant damage to the assailant. On June 15, the German infantry attacked east of the town. One of them manages to infiltrate as close as possible to a Sherman tank of company B (commanded by Captain Pay) of the 746th Tank Battalion he is aiming with his grenades: one of them enters the turret of Lieutenant Kogut. The latter manages in extremis to throw them out of his tank, until Sergeant Garcia, in support with his armored, manages to neutralize the German soldier. The Americans cease the progression again and are on guard at the place called Les Tourelles.

The next day, June 16, the 1st Battalion 39th Infantry Regiment (9th Infantry Division) was ordered to restart its action and seize Orglandes, supported by the tanks of the third platoon of the B Company, 746th Tank Battalion. The tanks approached about 800 meters southeast of the village and opened fire on homes, particularly targeting the bell tower that allows the Germans to observe the progress of the enemy and guide artillery fire. Faced with a fierce defense of German forces, the Americans do not succeed in repelling the Germans who hold the village firmly. At 19:00, two companies of 39th Infantry Regiment (IR) launch a new attack after restocking their fighters in ammunition. Lieutenant Rainer’s tank platoon supports the assault on the infantrymen, but one of the tanks is destroyed by a mine during the maneuver.

If the Americans manage to commit themselves inside Orglandes before dark, the Germans repel them using heavy machine-gun fire. Unable to pin down the exact outline of their opponent, the 1st battalion of the 39th IR breaks contact and settles for the night just a few hundred meters southeast of the town, north and south of the locality Le Hare bridge. At the same time, the Americans managed to progress and the village of Sainte-Colombe is overtaken by the 60th IR (9th Infantry Division): for the Germans who have suffered heavy losses, the situation is untenable: in favor of the At night, most of their troops leave Orglandes and retreat west of the River Douve on a new line of defense.

At dawn on June 17, the Americans unleashed a powerful artillery fire on Orglandes, before relaunching 39th IR A and B companies to attack at 07:30. This time, the village definitely falls into the hands of the attackers and the last pockets of resistance fall before noon. On June 18, 1944, the 79th Infantry Division established its divisional command post in the village of Orglandes.

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