On the east side of D82.

Monument

A gray stone monument bearing a rectangular white plaque that contains the names, units, and ranks of American soldiers of the 7^th Armored Division who fought and lost their lives during the liberation of Cesson, Saint-Leu, and Seine-Port from August 23 to August 26, 1944. The monument is written in French and was dedicated on August 24, 2019.

On August 23, 1944, the Germans were attempting to regroup and form a defensive line along the Seine River. The 7th Armored Division, part of General Patton's Third Army, was tasked with breaking through this line. The rapid advance of the Allied forces prevented the Germans from consolidating their defenses in Cesson and other nearby towns, leading to their liberation.

Seine-Port and Saint-Leu, also located near the Seine River, were liberated shortly after Cesson. The 7th Armored Division’s mechanized infantry and tanks, supported by artillery and air cover, launched coordinated attacks on German positions in the area. The retreating Germans, weakened and outnumbered, offered minimal resistance. The Allies were focused on securing key bridges over the Seine to prevent the Germans from escaping eastward and to maintain their supply lines for the next phase of the offensive toward Paris and beyond.

During this period, local French Resistance groups were also active, providing intelligence to the advancing Allied forces and sabotaging German communications and supply lines. The involvement of the Resistance helped expedite the liberation of these towns. By August 26, the liberation of Cesson, Seine-Port, and Saint-Leu was complete. German forces in the area had either surrendered or withdrawn across the Seine.

Source of information:

• World War II Campaign Histories
• 7th Armored Division Records
• Operation Overlord and French Resistance

Source of photo: www.7tharmddiv.org

SEINE-PORT                     SAINT-LEU                        CESSON

EN HOMMAGE

AUX COMBATTANTS AMERICAINS

DE LA 7 TH ARMORED DIVISION

TOMBES POUR LA LIBERATION

DE CESSON / SAINT-LEU ET SEINE-PORT

DU 23 AU 26 AOUT 1944

23 TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION

33 TH ARMORED ENGINEER BATTALION

48 TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION

87 TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON

EN RECONNAISSANCE DE LEUR SACRIFICE

POUR LE PEUPLE FRANÇAIS ET POUR LA LIBERTÉ

English Translation:

IN TRIBUTE 

TO THE AMERICAN FIGHTERS 

OF THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION 

WHO FELL FOR THE LIBERATION OF 

CESSON / SAINT-LEU AND SEINE-PORT 

FROM AUGUST 23 TO 26, 1944

IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SACRIFICE

FOR THE FRENCH PEOPLE AND FOR FREEDOM