Next to the monument.

Plaque

A stone pedestal bearing a rectangular black plaque written in French in gold lettering with a commemorating message and the 35^th Infantry Division insignia at the top.

One of the most significant actions involving the 35th Infantry Division occurred during the battle near Mortain in August 1944. After the breakout from Normandy, German forces launched a major counteroffensive known as Operation Lüttich, aiming to cut off Allied forces and recapture the vital town of Avranches. As part of this counterattack, German forces surrounded the 2nd Battalion of the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, on Hill 317 near Mortain, isolating them from the rest of the Allied forces. This unit became known as the "Lost Battalion."

The 35th Infantry Division, alongside other Allied units, was tasked with relieving the trapped battalion. The division engaged in fierce combat against the Germans, who were well-entrenched and determined to hold their positions. On August 11, 1944, elements of the 35th Division, including the 320th Infantry Regiment and the 737th Tank Battalion, launched a coordinated assault to break through the German lines and reach the "Lost Battalion." After intense fighting, they successfully relieved the surrounding troops, who had been cut off for several days with dwindling supplies and mounting casualties.

The rescue of the "Lost Battalion" was not only a significant morale booster for the Allied forces but also a critical blow to the German counteroffensive. The failure of the German attack at Mortain marked the end of their last major attempt to turn the tide in Normandy and paved the way for the rapid Allied advance across France.

Source of information:

• The Story of the 35th Infantry Division
• Fighting Divisions" by Kahn & McLemore (1945-1946)
• The National WWII Museum and Official Military Histories

Source of photo: www.memorialgenweb.org

En hommage aux soldats de la 35ème Division 

d'Infanterie "Santa Fe", qui, du 10 au 13 août

1944, parvinrent à dégager les survivants du 

"bataillon perdu" au prix de lourdes pertes.

REMEMBER

English Translation:

In tribute to the soldiers of the 35th Infantry Division 

"Santa Fe" who, from August 10 to 13, 

1944, managed to rescue the survivors of 

the "lost battalion" at the cost of heavy losses.