To the right of the center monument, next to Major General Grow’s stele.

Plaque

A large panel in tribute to the 75 soldiers of the 6^th Armored Division who were Killed in Action during the fighting for the liberation of Plabennec and Plouvien between August 8 and 9, 1944. The panel is inscribed in French and English. The names of the soldiers are arranged in 5 columns. Etched images of tanks and soldiers can also be seen.

The 6th US Armored Division landed in Normandy on July 18, 1944, at Utah-Beach, with the mission of campaigning Brittany and capturing Brest. From Avranches, the division passed through northern Brittany, arriving in the region on the Sunday of August 6, liberating Lesneven after street battles. On August 7, columns reached Gouesnou via Plouvien and Bourg-Blanc, while other elements were bombarded on the outskirts of Saint-Thonan and Kersaint-Plabennec. On August 8, at Scaven-Roudoulévry, General Spang's staff was decimated by the 212th FA Batallion (Field Artillery Battalion) and the 25th Armed Engineer Batallion. Many Germans were killed.

On the same Tuesday, elements of the US Division had been on a reorganization break at Lormeau since the previous day. They bivouacked in the field behind the signpost and the one behind the Memorial. At 10:30 a.m., they came under heavy German artillery fire from the Brest area and Flak (anti-aircraft guns) from the Brest-Guipavas airfield. The intense shelling lasted until 2 pm, with sporadic firing continuing until 8.30 pm.

The 44th Armored Infantry Batallion was badly hit, with 43 killed and many wounded, making a total of 140 men (1/6 of the battalion) out of action. A further 30% of vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The maintenance battalion section performed prodigiously, evacuating the wreckage of salvageable vehicles under shellfire so that the 44th recovered most of its potential a few days later.

In 2008, based on information provided by Paul Tynévez, the local branch of the Union Nationale des Combattants (UNC) decided to erect a memorial to all those young Americans who fell here for their freedom. In 2009, the monument was inaugurated.

Source of information: abers-patrimoine.bzh

Source of photos: bretagne-39-45.forums-actifs.com, Google Maps

SOLDATS AMERICAINS DE LA 6è DIVISION BLINDÉE MORTS AU COMBAT

SIXTH ARMORED DIVISION AMERICAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION

PLABENNEC / PLOUVIEN

8 et 9 AOÛT 1944

Names in the 1^st to 3^rd columns:

Names in the 4^th to 5^th columns:

In memory of the 75 soldiers of the 6th USA Armored Division killed in action on 8 and 9 August 1944 to ensure liberty to this land - Engraved in stone and in our heart forever.

A la mémoire des 75 soldats de la 6^ème Division Blindée morts au combat les 8 et 9 août 1944 pour libérer cette terre - Sur la pierre et dans notre cœur à jamais.

E koun ar 75 soudard euz ar 6th USA Armored Division maro d'an 8 pe d'an 9 a viz eost 1944 evid difenn ar c'hom-vro-man - War ar mean hag en or c'halon da viken.

"La 6ème Division Blindée Américaine (6th Armd Div.) commandée par le Général Robert W. GROW et forte de 15 000 hommes a débarqué à Utah-Beach le 18 Jullet 1944.

Fer de lance de la campagne de Bretagne conduite par le Général George S PATTON Jr, elle a percé le front de Normandie à Avranches le 31 juillet et elle était devant Brest le lundi 7 août en fin d'apres-midi.

Du 18 juillet 1944 au 8 mai 1945, 1 275 hommes de la 6ème DB sont morts au combat - Killed in action".

English translation:

"The 15,000-strong 6th Armored Division commanded by General Robert W. GROW landed at Utah-Beach on July 18, 1944.

Spearheading the Brittany campaign led by General George S PATTON Jr, it broke through the Normandy front at Avranches on July 31 and was in front of Brest by late afternoon on Monday, August 7.

From July 18, 1944, to May 8, 1945, 1,275 men of the 6th DB died in action - Killed in action".