To the right side, near the church entrance.

Monument

A rough-hewn stone monument bearing a rectangular plaque commemorating General Joseph Lawton and the 2^nd Armored Division's participation in the Roncey Pocket on July 29, 1944. The plaque was written in French.

On July 29, 1944, during Operation Cobra, the Roncey Pocket formed as Allied forces sought to break out from Normandy. General J. Lawton Collins, leading the U.S. VII Corps, directed a rapid encirclement of retreating German forces west of Roncey. The 2nd Armored Division used its mobility and firepower to close off escape routes for the Germans. By July 29, elements of the division, supported by infantry, had effectively trapped and decimated German units attempting to retreat.

Source of information: Hell on Wheels: 

• The 2nd Armored Division by Fred W. Crimson
• Steven J. Zaloga's Operation Cobra 1944: Breakout from Normandy

Source of photo: www.flickr.com

COBRA

LA POCHE DE RONCEY

AU GENERAL J. LAWTON COLLINS

AUX GLORIEUX SOLDATS DE LA

2EME ARMORED DIVISION U.S

A NOS VICTIMES CIVILES

29 JUILLET 1944

 English Translation:

COBRA

THE RONCEY'S POCKET

TO GENERAL J. LAWTON COLLINS

TO THE GLORIOUS SOLDIERS OF THE

2ND ARMORED DIVISION U.S.

TO OUR CIVILIAN VICTIMS

JULY 29, 1944