Attack on Hill 192

The attack on Hill 192 was only one part of a larger operation east of the Vire directed at St-Lo. This dominating height had been a thorn in the flank of the 1st army for some time. The enemy forces …

1944-07-11

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The attack on Hill 192 was only one part of a larger operation east of the Vire directed at St-Lo. This dominating height had been a thorn in the flank of the 1st army for some time. The enemy forces occupying the hill allowed observation over the entire countryside. The German 9th and 5th Parachute Regiments manned the defenses around Hill 192. No attempt was made to maintain a continuous defensive line. Relying on a number of strong points that supported each other, the German plan called for an elastic defense of the area. The attack of the 2nd US Division ordered the 38th Infantry supported by 741st Tank Battalion and 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion to clear 'Kraut Corner' and take Hill 192 proper. The 23rd infantry was ordered to secure St-Georges-d'Elle-la, and move south and take the la Croix-Rouge. The terrain difficulties in the battle on July 11th were essentially those normal to hedgerow fighting. After a hard fight, Kraut Corner was taken. Lighter opposition on Hill 192 allowed the 1st battalion of the 38th Infantry to move forward to the crest of the hill. On the left wing, the 23rd Infantry faced terrain which contained a draw that was almost impassable. "Purple Heart Draw" was well covered by enemy fire and the lack of tank support prevented the 23rd from gaining ground much beyond this point. The overall drive of the 2nd Division, although slowed by stubborn Resistance, could not be stopped and the battle for Hill 192 had been won.

La Croix-Rouge, France

The Battle of Saint-Lô is one of the three conflicts in the Battle of the Hedgerows, which took place between July 7–19, 1944, just before Operation Cobra. Saint-Lô had fallen to Germany in 1940, and, after the Invasion of Normandy, the Americans targeted the city, as it served as a strategic crossroads. American bombardments caused heavy damage and a high number of casualties, which resulted in the martyr city being called "The Capital of Ruins", popularized in a report by Samuel Beckett.

Wikipedia: Battle of Saint-Lô

German

American

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Countryside

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