Pont-Gilbert, 0.15 a.m, a german column announced by fires progressed on the coast road. The Americans, who were not numerous, withdrew on the Sée bridge, on the road to Villedieu-les-Poêles. They freed their prisonners, who were now too numerous and who had become a real burden. A shell destroyed one of their lorries that carried munitions.

Avranches, 2.00 a.m, american General Dager was informed of the arrival of reinforcements.

Le Mans, 2.10 a.m., Von Kluge controled the operations from his blookhaus, hidden under a girls' school in the Mans. He asked for help to Paris but there were no reserves left. Von Kluge ordered Farmbacher, Commander of the West Front (Brittany), to recapture Avranches. He insisted : « The battle on the occidental frontline depended on the recapture or loss of Avranches ». (E. Florentin).

Pont-Gilbert, 5.00 a.m., the routed Germans got into Avranches by Pont-Gilbert and installed cannons all along the hill, in front of the road to Granville. One of their columns fled towards Mortain. The Germans captured the Americans and Mont-Jarry in the rear. William Whitson killed 50 enemis and destroyed 20 vehicles with a cannon before being killed in his turn.

At the american headquarters, the day didn't start in a positive way for Patton. His dog Willie, a bull terrier, had a violent fight with a french-lady­dog and, above all, it disintered a german corpse. Georgie decided to bring his generals together .« We are standing at the eve of grandiose events. My advise is : be audacious, very audacious, always audacious. Charging is the only way to avoid the death of our soldiers ».

Pontaubault, the routed Germans came back and recaptured Pontaubault. Progressing towards Avranches, they destroyed resistance positions and stopped the allied tanks at the outskirts of the city.

Le Mans, 9.23 a.m., Speidel, staff officer of the B Army Group (Normandy) encouraged Von Kloge not to give up. The latter informed Berlin that the situation had got really dramatic.

(Galery photo-ciné-son TEL: 0233605820
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American soldiers on Littré square

Avranches, Mont-Jarry, Colonel Bacherer installed 14 cannons in Saint-Martin-des­Champs and Saint-Quentin­sur-le-Homme. The Americans used phosphorus mortars to face the huge and powerful german column. Shells flew over the Carmel chapel in which nuns were praying. The battle was extremely violent and lasted about four hours.

Towards 12 p.m., the sky became clearer with planes. At Mount-Jarry, a P.47 flight machine-gunned the Germans, who started giving themselves up. General Dager recaptured Pont-Gilbert. Emile Jugan, a real death dodger, was once again on the front line.

«I was heading towards Marcey when I fell into Canadian and black guys. A canadian tank was entering the drive to the Manoir de Vains.

Two soldiers, who only carried a gun with them, went to meet about thirty Germans who immediately surrendered. Then the tanks marched past for about 30 minutes ». Emile Jugan went to Pont-Gilbert.

« American Shermans burnt down all along the Sée. They had been destroyed by a Tiger tank which shot from the area of Par­en-Dessous road. The Americans were overexcited and behaved as if they were completely crazy. Near the beach crossroads of Marcey-les-Grèves, I saw a tank stop. The corpse of an American who had been cut in two was taken out of it. Another tank was still shooting far away. »

The infantrymen ran towards the hill to neutralize the german cannons installed in Notre-Dame Institute. Four Sherman and a supply lorry were destroyed during this battle.